Depreciation of the body and death from energy drinks. What do we know about energy drinks? Death from energy drinks - what harm do they carry

A quarter of a century ago European market the first non-alcoholic tonic (energy) drink appeared. Over the past years, the number of brands of such drinks has exceeded one hundred, they are sold in 169 countries around the world, and sales increase by 17% per year, despite the high cost of the product. And against the backdrop of this wild popularity, in one country or another, the sale of tonic drinks is required to be limited, or even completely banned, although they do not contain either alcohol or narcotic substances. Well, they didn't deserve a ban, but they should be handled with care.

Four elements

Let's start with the fact that tonic drinks are not intended to quench thirst, but to maintain the physical and mental strength of a tired person who does not have the opportunity to rest. This task is as old as the world. People have been pampering themselves for a long time. The most common stimulant was caffeine. Its source in India and the countries of the Middle East was coffee; in China, India and Southeast Asia - tea; in America, the yerba mate plant, cocoa beans, guarana leaves, and kola nuts. Other tonic plants were also used, including ginseng, eleutherococcus, and Rhodiola rosea. In medieval Japan, sweet energy drinks with ginseng extract were very popular. The first information about them appeared in the 18th century, and in the 20th century their industrial production began. These drinks are still very popular in Southeast Asia.

Appearance energy drinks in Europe is associated with the name of the Austrian businessman Dieter Mateschitz. In 1984, he met with Asian power engineers, evaluated them and modernized them taking into account European tastes. In 1987, the first non-alcoholic energy drink "Red Bull Energy Drink" appeared on the European market, carbonated and with less sugar than its Asian prototype. Then the American companies Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola released their brands of non-alcoholic energy drinks, and now there are much more manufacturers. The recipe of drinks varies, but they always include tonic components, amino acids, B vitamins and carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates, glucose and sucrose serve as sources of energy. Glucose in the body breaks down quickly, sucrose - a little longer. Carbohydrates also include a derivative of glucose - glucuronolactone, which promotes the excretion of metabolic products. Half a liter of energy drink contains about 54 g of sugars, that is, a quarter of a cup. Responding to the demands of the time, most manufacturers produce low-calorie tonic drinks without sugar, with artificial sweeteners, and an energy drink without an energy source added to the list of such strange products as non-alcoholic beer and decaffeinated coffee.

B vitamins (niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamins B6 and B12) improve cognitive function and stimulate metabolism. By participating in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, they contribute to the release of energy. A separate line in the list is inositol, or vitamin B8, which protects cell membranes from damage, stimulates mental activity, improves concentration and memory ability, reduces brain fatigue, and helps to survive stress. Inositol is advised to be taken during exams.

The main amino acids in energy drinks are L-carnitine and taurine. Carnitine is synthesized in the body and is involved in lipid (fat) metabolism. In addition, L-carnitine stimulates blood formation, prevents the formation of blood clots, and helps to restore strength after heavy physical exertion.

Taurine is a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, its name comes from the Latin "taurus" - bull, because taurine was first isolated from an extract of ox bile. This is a very common compound that is synthesized in the body of most mammals and is present there in a significant amount (in humans - 1 g per 1 kg of live weight). Taurine increases physical endurance and stress resistance, participates in the supply of hemoglobin to tissues, promotes the breakdown of fatty acids and excretion harmful substances.

The main tonic component of the vast majority of energy drinks is the plant alkaloid caffeine. Caffeine gently stimulates the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, helps to concentrate, increases efficiency and increases endurance. Some energy drinks also contain other tonic components, most often ginseng and eleutherococcus. Guarana extract, the main source of caffeine that is added to energy drinks, contains, in addition to caffeine, theobromine and theophylline alkaloids.

The components of energy drinks are selected in such a way as to quickly release energy from sugars and a person's own fat reserves and accelerate the excretion of metabolic products. Their combination should make drinking the drink as effective, pleasant and safe as possible. Now we're talking about security.

How can

Experts and the media most often pay attention to two components of energy drinks: caffeine and taurine. Taurine in small doses is not dangerous, it is even included in infant formulas. An adult can consume 3 g of taurine daily without harm to health, but what will happen with regular intake more, unknown. Opponents of energy drinks especially rest on this circumstance. However, the amount of taurine that contains the daily rate of energy drinks cannot affect health. However, taurine is usually remembered when you get tired of scolding caffeine.

According to most doctors, caffeine is the only ingredient in non-alcoholic energy drinks that should be limited. The main complaint against him is undesirable side effects, we wrote about it. An adult can absorb 400 mg of caffeine per day without harm to health. (so much is contained in about 200 ml of espresso or about a liter of regular instant coffee).

During pregnancy, caffeine metabolism slows down, so its effects last longer. In addition, caffeine increases the tone of the uterus and narrows the placental vessels, which is harmful to the unborn child. Therefore, pregnant women should reduce their daily caffeine intake to 200 mg.. Even more severe restrictions exist for children, whose nervous system is very sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Babies 4-6 years old are allowed 45 mg of caffeine per day, at 7-9 years old - 62.5 mg, children from 10 to 12 years old - 85 mg. The norm for adolescents over 13 years old is 2.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight. As a cardiovascular stimulant caffeine is definitely bad for hypertensive patients.

A daily dose of 750-1000 mg leads to the development caffeine addiction and withdrawal syndrome. It is expressed in the fact that people who have spent 12 to 24 hours without caffeine suffer from headaches, sometimes very severe, complain of fatigue, drowsiness, bad mood, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain and distracted attention.

In case of excessive consumption of energy drinks, caffeine poisoning is possible. In the United States alone, dozens of cases are reported each year. Symptoms of poisoning - nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, dizziness, tremor, high blood pressure, tachycardia - well known, but easily confused with other anxiety disorders. Therefore, both the patient and the doctors cannot always correctly diagnose.

In fairness, we note that not only fans of energy drinks are at risk of poisoning with caffeine, but also passionate lovers of coffee and tea. To avoid unfortunate consequences, first of all, adequate labeling of products is needed, which indicates the amount of caffeine and other ingredients. And in this respect, high-quality energy drinks are safer than coffee, because the can of the drink indicates how much caffeine it contains, but not on a cup of coffee.

In 2007, the National Standard was introduced Russian Federation"Non-alcoholic tonic drinks" - GOST R 52844-2007, which defines the requirements for the composition and labeling of the product. The working group of the non-profit organization "National Consumer Protection Fund", the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the All-Russian Research Institute of the Brewing, Non-Alcoholic and Wine Industry of the Russian Agricultural Academy and the largest producers of non-alcoholic tonic drinks interested in having no complaints about their drinks took part in its development: Red Bull LLC, PepsiCo Holdings LLC and Coca-Cola Export Corporation. The standard defines non-alcoholic tonic drinks as "special purpose non-alcoholic drinks containing caffeine and/or other tonic components in an amount sufficient to provide a tonic effect on the human body." This amount is strictly defined: caffeine should be at least 151 and not more than 400 mg / l. So Coca-Cola, with its 100-130 mg of caffeine per liter, does not apply to energy (tonic) drinks.

The standard also stipulates that non-alcoholic energy drinks should contain no more than two tonic components, and all ingredients, their concentration and sources of caffeine must be indicated on the labels.

The standard also defines daily allowance drink consumption. In Russia, it is limited to 500 ml per day, which is about 160 mg of caffeine, about the same as in a large mug. strong coffee. The package indicates how many cans per day you can drink. Energy drinks should not be sold in liter containers.

There are no restrictions on the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks in our country, the consumer is protected only by a label that clearly indicates who can and in what quantity these drinks, and who cannot. The wise will read, the wise will take note.

Some countries have adopted standards for daily caffeine intake similar to those in Russia. In the UK and Canada, pregnant women are not allowed to exceed 200 mg of caffeine per day from all sources, while adults are allowed 400 mg. The code of international food standards of the EU countries, the Codex Alimentarius, does not provide for restrictions on the daily consumption of non-alcoholic energy drinks and the content of caffeine in them. Actually, he does not even single out energy drinks in a separate category, but classifies them as carbonated flavored drinks based on water. In the United States, restrictions on content and daily consumption no caffeine either. So be careful with drinks made for the US market by a little-known company: one can can contain up to 500 mg of caffeine, which exceeds the safe daily allowance, and sometimes the concentration of caffeine is not indicated at all.

Who needs it

The National Standard defines non-alcoholic tonic (energy) drinks as special purpose drinks. Their intended consumers are truck drivers who spend many hours behind the wheel; people working day and night; students who, on the last night before the exam, try to learn everything they have been told about the whole semester. From one serving (250 ml, 80 mg of caffeine) drowsiness disappears, attention and reaction speed increase, endurance increases. In many situations, an energy drink is more convenient to drink than coffee because it is not hot.
There is a lot of research on the effectiveness of energy drinks. They are often funded by manufacturers who seek to prove that their caffeine solution is as good as any other.

Energy drinks help students by increasing their nighttime performance: they drive away drowsiness, improve concentration and memory, and reduce reaction time. A serving of an energy drink increases stamina, blood pumping and oxygen consumption by 8-10%. This reaction is within the physiological norm, but given that in modern sports participants are separated by centimeters or fractions of a second, the effect is tangible. Until recently, caffeine was on the list of doping drugs, the International Olympic Committee excluded it just a few years ago.

What is not written on the label

In general, energy drinks have proven to be effective, and they are readily consumed. And they even think that the more they drink, the best result achieve. This is the time to remember that caffeine intake must be limited. This task is entirely up to the consumer, since there are no official restrictions on the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks. However, there are situations when even the most responsible and informed consumer cannot avoid an overdose.

Let's imagine a student who needs to study all night, and even think something during the exam in the morning. The daily allowed dose of an energy drink will not be enough for him. By one in the morning, he gets tired and drinks the first can of energy drink, let's say the smallest one - 80 mg of caffeine. The drink is valid for two or three hours, and no later than four in the morning our student drinks the second portion, at seven o'clock - the third and before the exam - the fourth. Five hundred milliliters, twice the safe daily dose. For healthy person a single overdose will pass without a trace. However, it must be borne in mind that after the tonic effect comes fatigue, lethargy, and decreased ability to work. This is a natural physiological response to any stimulant, not just caffeine. And the greater the dose of the stimulant, the stronger and longer will be its inhibitory effect.

A person who has been invigorating himself with energy drinks all night will be completely broken in the morning. He will need rest, and let him provide it for himself, and not go to celebrate the successful passing of the exam, drinking another can of tonic. Unfortunately, the marking does not warn about this, which is a pity, because there are people for whom night vigils are a way of life. They drink energy drinks to go out all night or play computer games. During the day they have no time to sleep - they need to work or study. So they cheer themselves up all day strong tea, coffee or an energy drink to get through the evening and sit down at the computer, and then complain of tachycardia and chest pain. Or half asleep, they cross the road without looking around. But are energy drinks to blame?

In 2007, 28-year-old English motorcycle racer Matthew Penbross thundered all over the world. He drank four cans of an energy drink daily, despite frequent complaints of chest pain. Energy drinks replaced food for him, because of work, Matthew did not have time to eat. And now, having already undermined his health, this poor fellow, during long, responsible races, drank eight cans of energy drinks, 80 mg of caffeine each, in five hours, and his heart could not stand it - it stopped. The doctors were nearby, and the young man was saved. When he was strong enough to make statements, he made claims to the labeling. Yes, he read on the jar that you can drink no more than a certain amount, but no one warned that an overdose could be fatal.

The jar is small, the label is even smaller. Warnings for all occasions simply will not fit there, and the likelihood that energy drinks will be released with an accompanying brochure is extremely small. Therefore, we formulate a few more simple rules that did not fit on the label.

1. An energy drink does not replace food and sleep, it only helps to get through an emergency, and then you need to eat and rest. It is impossible to regularly use an energy drink to stay awake at night, otherwise a person will upset the nervous system and develop tachycardia. Need to drink a drink in small portions, 250 ml, no more than once every three to four hours.
2. You should not go to the other extreme, trying to cheer yourself up with a tiny amount of caffeine. If the dose of the stimulant is insufficient, it will not have a tonic effect, but it will certainly depress. This old rule is supported by recent studies at Loughborough University (Human Psychopharmacology, 2006, 21, 299-303). Sleep-deprived subjects were given an "energy drink" containing just 30 mg of caffeine or a decaffeinated placebo of the same flavor. The stimulant could not overcome drowsiness, and people who drank it reacted more slowly and made more mistakes when completing control tasks than participants in the experiment who got a placebo.

With alcohol or without?

There are two complaints about caffeinated drinks. One of them, the danger of overdose, we have just discussed. The second problem is the combined consumption of energy drinks and alcohol. Energy drinks are diluted with alcohol for taste, like others soft drinks, or drink it specifically to drink more alcohol, believing that caffeine reduces the effect of intoxication. Some manufacturers are counting on fans of fun nightlife and not on cramming and professional drivers, as indicated by the names of their energy drinks with the words "gorilla", "sex" and "cocaine".

Alcohol-infused energy drinks have even appeared on the Russian market, and alcoholic drinks containing caffeine and some other ingredients that are commonly found in non-alcoholic tonic drinks (such as taurine and B vitamins) have appeared in the US. Both options should be considered alcoholic beverages rather than tonics. Large companies producing non-alcoholic energy drinks do not promote the joint consumption of their products with alcohol.

Caffeine does not speed up the elimination of alcohol from the body. A non-alcoholic energy drink or coffee does alleviate some of the signs of intoxication: headache, dry mouth and incoordination. However, other symptoms, such as a change in gait, deterioration of vision and diction, as well as the ability to drive a car, are not affected by the addition of an energy drink.

According to studies conducted in many countries, students who drink alcoholic mixtures with energy drinks are more likely to get into accidents and other unpleasant stories than those who consume undiluted alcohol.

Specialists from the University of Utrecht, the University of Vienna and the University of the West of England analyzed a large number of scientific literature on sharing caffeine with alcohol, and concluded that energy drinks do not affect the amount of alcohol consumed (Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2009, 99 (1-3), 1-10). If we were talking about experiments on mice, when one group is given energy drinks, the other is given a placebo, and then they are watched how much they drink vodka and how they then behave in the maze, one could talk about the effect of the drink on alcohol consumption and behavior.

But with people the situation is different, they themselves decide what to drink, and the choice depends on the personality of the drinker. According to the data collected by the researchers, people who mix alcohol with energy drinks prefer a risky lifestyle with booze and drugs. They like thrill, aggressive, tend to violate the rules of the road, so they often get into all sorts of unpleasant stories. So all problems are related to excessive use alcohol, not energy drinks. From a scientific point of view, there is nothing reprehensible in mixing non-alcoholic tonic drinks with alcohol, provided, of course, that consumers are clearly aware of the amount of pure alcohol they drink and know their rate.

I am a shameless pig - I have people on my blog here, and I beat the buckets =). Laziness is the main ailment that crippled my enthusiasm. But, as they say, for every action there is a reaction. For me, the cure for laziness, at the moment, is you, my dear readers. I don’t know how it happened, but the search engines gave me a plus and the great uncle Google dumped on a whole bunch (on a modest scale) of targeted traffic, which I am immensely happy about.

Okay, now to the point. Summer! Here, actually, and it. What can you say? Unexpected =). Ahead of 3 months of complete separation, warm days, the sea, summer terraces and other delights of this time of year. And, of course, the mass of sleepless nights, which then result in very, I must say, difficult morning hours. The body will gradually deplete, require more energy, but people deal with this problem quickly. Someone will get hooked on coffee, someone will prefer to take time to sleep, and someone will simply start pouring liters of energy drinks into themselves, bringing their body to the limit of its capabilities. Today, I would just like to pay attention to the issue of energy drinks, namely, their overdose.

Working at the bar for 15 hours and getting only 4-5 hours of sleep, I know firsthand what a subnet for energy is. Sometimes they really save - they tone up for a couple of hours, bring the body into at least some order. But, sooner or later, you cease to feel the measure, and the so-called medicine turns against you. I’ll start, perhaps, with the basics, namely, what are energy drinks and how do they affect the body?

According to one of the wiki authors, Energy drinks are non-alcoholic or low alcohol drinks , advertising which promotes their ability to stimulate the physical and intellectual abilities of a person (not literally). Be that as it may, but the energy drink is, first of all, a mixture chemical components that affect the functioning of the human body. In principle, substances that tone the body have been known to the population of our planet for a long time. In the East, in Asia they are dispersed by tea, in South America unusual drink mate, which I will definitely mention, in Africa there are kola nuts. In the North-Eastern part of Asia, the people are addicted to various stimulant plants: ginseng, eleutherococcus, Chinese magnolia vine and aralia.

The very first energy drinks appeared at the end of the 20th century, when the “inspiring” Red Bull hit the market. Of course, the Pepsi and Cola conglomerates immediately sensed the threat and started producing their own energy drinks - Burn and Adrenaline Rush. Today, with energy drinks, everything is not as smooth as it used to be. A couple of overdoses, a couple of deaths and governments different countries sensed a threat. In some countries, energy drinks can only be bought at a pharmacy, in Russia there is a whole article of the law that specifies restrictions on components and sale rules.

The composition of all power engineers is approximately the same. At the origins lie sucrose and glucose. Sucrose is regular sugar and broken down into carbohydrates main source energy for the body. Glucose is quickly absorbed into the blood and supplies energy to all vital organs. Glucose is also closely related to adrenaline, which is known to stimulate work. of cardio-vascular system. Tonic substances are caffeine(matein, thein, etc.) , theobromine(cacao alkaloid) , taurine, guarana, carnitine and many others. Energy drinks also contain a high dose of vitamins.

Caffeine- the most popular component of energy drinks, which is a powerful psychostimulant. It gives a temporary effect (about 1-2 hours) - relieves fatigue, drowsiness, speeds up the pulse, etc.

Studies have shown that among people who regularly drink coffee, the number of suicides is significantly lower than among those who neglect this drink.

Theobromine- cocoa alkaloid, which is contained in large doses oh, even in chocolate. In principle, the substance is poisonous, but after chemical treatment it completely tones itself.

Taurine- a derivative element from cysteine ​​​​(amino acids). Stimulates activity nervous system, speeds up metabolism, etc. Synthesized in the body on its own.

Carnitine- something like a B vitamin. It is synthesized in the body on its own and affects metabolism.

Ginseng and guarana are natural stimulants found in plants. They contain the same caffeine, so the effect is similar.

Mate- contains mateine, which has the same effect as coffee.

In general, you can list forever. In one bank, energy is almost the entire periodic table. How all these components work, I think, is not worth telling. In a nutshell, caffeine-like substances accelerate the blood, which already contains a shock dose of vitamins and other “energy” substances that speed up metabolism, the breakdown of carbohydrates, the work of the brain and muscles. But this, in fact, is the removal of a large amount of energy from the body overnight, after which total fatigue sets in.

Energy overdose syndromes

You can get an overdose from any product, whatever one may say. But going out into the street, seeing the bright advertisements of Red Bull and other energy drinks, immediately there is a desire to follow the crowd. As a result, energy drinks are consumed as a fashion statement, not as a necessity. And they are used, I must say, in exorbitant quantities. One can of Red Bull contains more than 2 daily doses of caffeine, an exorbitant amount of taurine (400 mg) and even nicotinic acid, which is mildly addictive. In fact, you can drink only 1 can of 250 ml per day, but we, as a rule, are content with at least three. With coffee, the situation is the same - a cup in the morning, then another, then another, and then an overdose.

• insomnia;
• irritability;
• redness of the face;
• rapid pulse;
• disorder digestive tract;
• tremor (when your hands and everything else is cowardly);
• cold sweat;
• a period of restlessness;
• increased anxiety, etc.

I got my first overdose of coffee while working at Caffeine - about 6 cups were enough for me. Then the guys were preparing for the championship of Ukraine, and I had the honor of being a taster - a part-time waiter. Most clear sign caffeine overdose - tremor and cold sweat, total fatigue, lack of concentration. So, how to deal with it?

What to do with an overdose of caffeine, taurine, guarana and other components of energy drinks

1. Of course, you should stop, in the sense, put the next jar of energy or a cup of coffee aside.
2. Provide yourself with fresh air.
3. Excess B vitamins are easily excreted in the urine, so drink plenty of fluids. In principle, any overdose of vitamins is eliminated by drinking plenty of water and stopping the use of these vitamins.
4. Caffeine is neutralized green tea(due to flavonoids), protein (cream, milk) and foods rich in magnesium. I took off my overdose of coffee with milk and meat - as if by hand. This method was suggested to me by Val, a barista with many years of experience.
5. The accelerating effect of energy drinks, oddly enough, can be slowed down with alcohol, with the calculation of 50 ml in terms of pure alcohol. The same rule has another side - some symptoms of alcohol overdose can be neutralized with a cup of coffee. For the same reason, you should not use energy drinks together with alcohol. The power engineer masks the harm of alcohol - for this reason, you can get a very strong alcohol poisoning(another fad for an article about).

Gag

Drink the right energy drinks. Here I don’t mean specific manufacturers (by the way, Burn energy contains the largest number caffeine, guarana and taurine compared to other brands). Better stimulate yourself natural substances- brew mate, drink tinctures of natural stimulants (eleutherococcus, ginseng, guarana), coffee, tea (tea also contains caffeine, even green tea), cocoa. I have personally tested mate - it stimulates, dulls the feeling of hunger, tones. Last summer, I periodically drank tincture of Eleutherococcus - excellent. Also tested not by me, but by a good friend, ginseng tincture - helped him survive at the bar during the summer.

Well, happy first day of summer to you, my dear readers. Have a wonderful holiday, warm sea, delicious drinks. Relax with the mind and taste, and the mood will follow by itself =)

P.S. What happens when there is too much coffee?

Energy drinks are gaining more and more popularity in our life. Their sale can be found everywhere - in any bar or nightclub, in every kiosk or store. And very often you can see the sale of energy drinks even in places where you least expect it - in gyms and fitness centers.

If you believe the advertising of energy drinks, then they give a huge amount of energy, excellent and cheerful state of health, the ability to be active for several days and without signs of fatigue. But for some reason, not a word is said about the dangers of energy drinks on the body.

Gradually, energy drinks are gaining an increasing audience - they are drunk by students, office workers, drivers who are tired at the wheel, regular visitors to nightclubs.

Those people who are already addicted to conventional energy drinks are already moving to drinks containing alcohol. The combination of energy drinks with alcohol leads to very complex and dangerous consequences. Caffeine and alcohol contained in the drink have the opposite effect (caffeine activates the body, alcohol relaxes). From such "teams" our heart is simply torn into two parts, not knowing how to work. The result is wear and tear on the heart and death.

Scientists have proven that even short-term use of energy drinks causes addiction similar to drugs or alcohol.

What do energy drinks contain?

There are already a huge number of power engineers in the world. But their composition is almost the same. The main ingredients are regular sugar and glucose. Well, do not forget that the composition also includes caffeine, which is a powerful stimulant of the nervous system that increases arterial pressure. As a result, all this makes it possible for a person not to sleep for several days, while having high performance.

Don't forget what's going on this effect not long, and after the influence of the energy drink on the body stops, great fatigue comes. If after that you do not relax, but drink a cup of coffee or black tea, then a person may exceed the desired rate of caffeine in the body.

An excess of caffeine leads to insomnia, nervousness and irritability, and disruption of the heart.

With the use of large doses of caffeine, severe pain in the abdomen and cramps appear. After this, damage to the heart muscle and complete paralysis of the nervous system occurs. Ultimately, this leads to death.

Manufacturers mix the substances contained in energy drinks in various ratios. However, without exception, all substances are added, without which our modern food industry does not take a step. These are our "favorite" dyes, various preservatives, all sorts of flavorings and stabilizers.

On the jars, we can read that energy drinks contain various vitamins and natural ingredients. But do not forget that all vitamins are artificially produced and they contain synthetic ingredients.

The dangers of energy drinks

Let's look at some facts:

1. By itself, the energy drink does not give any energy at all, but only contributes to the release of reserve energy by the body itself. And this energy is stored by the body "for a rainy day."

1. The use of such drinks should be strictly limited. Because drinking more than one jar a day can lead to sad results.

1. In no case should you use an energy drink immediately after exercising. The body is dehydrated after a workout, and caffeine is a diuretic and also raises blood pressure.

1. If a person often consumes energy drinks, then he develops chronic insomnia, which, in turn, leads to irritability and depression.

1. A high content of various synthetic vitamins leads to allergic reactions in organism

1. Because of huge amount sugar and various acids destroy the enamel of the teeth and disturb the acid-base balance in the mouth.

1. IN various countries You can only buy an energy drink with a doctor's prescription and only at a pharmacy.

Stimulant non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks are called energy drinks. The composition of the energy drink stimulates the human central nervous system. Drinking a jar of drink, a person gets a feeling of relief, feeling a surge of energy and a desire to speed up the work process.

Athletes, students, workers and simply tired people believe that it is safe to drink energy drinks. Few people know about such a thing as energy poisoning. Regular use causes a deterioration in health, the resources of the human body are depleted.

Composition of energy drinks

Ingredients of energy drinks

People who care about their health should know what will happen if they drink a lot of energy drinks, as well as the effect of these drinks on the body. Manufacturers claim that the product is not harmful, and successfully fill store shelves with new jars with a variety of flavorings. However, this product contains active ingredients that are dangerous to humans. Frequent use dangerous, there are known cases of death from power engineering.

Let us consider in more detail the composition and properties of the components of this product:

1. The stimulant is caffeine.
2. Sulfonic acid taurine, which accumulates independently in human muscle tissues. Studies show that taurine has antioxidant properties.
3. L-carnitine. It is worth remembering that the human body itself produces such a component in the required volume.
4. Some brands have added pharmaceutical herbs such as ginseng and guarana. They have tonic and biostimulating properties.
5. Metabolic processes are rendered by B-vitamins.
6. Substance Matein (satisfies hunger, burns excess calories, is used in South America as an additive in mate).

In addition to all the substances listed above, all energy drinks include a large amount of carbonic acid. The drinks are highly carbonated. An overdose is very dangerous for people. Read the label before using these products.

Should you drink energy drinks?

The impact of energy drinks on the body

Many people do not think about the fact that you can get energy poisoning. They are confident that they are recovering their resources and benefiting. Of course, the energy drink has a stimulating effect on the endocrine and nervous systems. But after its use, the body experiences severe stress, there is a big load on the body as a whole.

Adrenaline, getting into the blood, causes a feeling of a surge of energy, euphoria and an unbridled desire to work with new forces appear. An overdose of energy drinks leads to dangerous consequences. The effect of energy drinks on the human body causes the following symptoms:

• regular decline in human strength;
• insomnia;
• feeling of irritation;
• depression;
• frequent indigestion.

Ultimately, death from energy drinks can occur. Young people love energy drinks, but they should always remember what an overdose of energy drinks leads to.

The impact of energy drinks on human health

Energy drink addiction

Numerous studies on energy drinks report disappointing results. The systematic use of the product inevitably causes a strong and persistent addiction to them. People develop an addiction so strong that it can be compared to alcoholism.

And here it is already necessary to find the line, in time to seek help from doctors. The harm of energy drinks for teenagers causes enormous damage to their life. You should not expose your life to dangers, and you need to remember what harm they receive from energy drinks. Each person must understand for himself why the action of energy drinks is dangerous for him.

Manufacturers actively promote their products, they do not think about the consequences at all. In the CIS countries, the production of energy drinks is most controlled, which cannot be said about European countries.

Use it right

Before you drink delicious jar, be aware of the dangerous properties:

1. Never mix alcohol with energy drinks. It causes the strongest jump in pressure. Which can lead to a hypertensive crisis and even death.
2. After sports training do not overload the body with such a product. This causes dehydration of the body and a jump in blood pressure.
3. In the hot season, you do not need to abuse the use. The vegetative and cardiovascular systems work with double the power to balance the temperature load. And the power engineer accelerates such processes, warming up the human body even more, which leads to severe stress. Therefore, do not drink more than twice a week.
4. The power engineer does not tolerate compatibility with caffeine-containing products. An overdose can lead to severe human poisoning.

Energy drinks are drugs

Types of stimulant drinks

Beverage manufacturers offer consumers a wide range of their products:

1. With alcohol content.
2. With vitamin content.
3. Caffeine-containing (Cause energy stimulation).
4. Sports energy (Improve the performance of people, regulate the load on the muscles and fluid loss during physical exertion).

Contraindications

An energy drink, the harm and benefit of which has a negative effect on the human body, has its own categorical contraindications:

1. A pregnant or breastfeeding woman who drinks an energy drink causes great harm to your child.
2. Drinks not recommended for children and teenagers.
3. It is impossible for the elderly, as well as patients with heart problems and thrombophlebitis.
4. Not recommended for sleep related problems.
5. Diabetics, ulcers, epileptics should not drink such products.
6. People with vision problems are also not recommended to abuse this product.

Those who have good health, it should be remembered that the harm or benefit of energy drinks has been proven by medical research. The risks of getting poisoned are reduced with the right dosage of the drink.

How do energy drinks affect a teenager's body?

Emergency care for poisoning

In the case when a person neglected the rules for using energy drinks, he will easily get poisoned. In this case, you need to act quickly and take the patient to the hospital. If it is not possible to take the patient to a medical facility, then certain measures should be taken.

1. It is necessary to induce a gag reflex in the patient in order to clear the stomach of the drunk energy drink.
2. Take the person to fresh air.
3. You need to drink sorbents and drink as much as possible more water(Plentiful drinking will remove toxic substances from the body).

It should be remembered that a rapid heartbeat, redness of the skin, a jump in pressure, loss of consciousness are signals that require a visit to the hospital.

Energetics, the harm and benefits of which have been proven numerous studies require only a healthy human condition. Whether such drinks are harmful to you, decide for yourself. But remember that they all have their contraindications. Using them in the recommended doses, you will not do yourself much harm.

Video

Be sure to watch this video and find out how energy drinks kill the body.

A person who knows what energy drinks consist of is unlikely to be surprised at the information that they harm the body. But then why are they sold freely, even for teenagers? Everything is simple.

By themselves, the substances that are in the composition do not have a detrimental effect. Death from energy drinks occurs if the use is regular or if a single dose was drunk that provokes a fatal outcome.

In addition, energy drinks are firmly rooted on the shelves next to alcoholic products. And the explosive mixture of caffeine, taurine and ethyl alcohol is a different story, and not always with a good ending.

What are energy sources made of?

The invigorating effect after taking one jar of such a cocktail is quite easily explained. The ingredients are selected in such a way as to influence as quickly and effectively as possible. However, all organisms are different, and the energy fluid is produced in standard volumes. This explains the frequent overdose of the drink.

The composition of a standard energy cocktail:

• stimulants of the nervous system of synthetic origin (one of the main components is caffeine or guarana);
• substances that help the body produce energy as quickly as possible (sugar, glucose, etc.);
• components that speed up metabolism (taurine).

Dyes and flavors are also common ingredients in many energy drinks. Often these substances are artificial or identical to natural, which is not useful.

Vitamins, which make up the smallest part of the composition, carry a hidden meaning. A person who sees information on a bank vitamin complex, a priori begins to consider the product beneficial to health. But they are added to the energy drink is not at all for this.

The vitamins in the energy drink allow you to speed up your metabolism so that you can open up the internal reserves of the body.

However, the most common poisoning with energy drinks occurs when they are alcoholic. During fun party it is difficult to control the amount of alcohol consumed. Because of this, a serious overdose occurs, which often leads to death.

The influence of energy drinks on the human body

A person who drank too much energy drinks first feels vivacity and a rise in strength. But gradually, when more and more harmful substances are absorbed through the gastrointestinal mucosa, signs of an overdose are observed.

One jar of such a cocktail is equivalent to a one-time brewed and drunk 200-gram pack of strong coffee.

Energy drinks do not supply additional forces to the body, as is commonly believed. Energy is extracted from the body by force. Each of the cocktail ingredients has a specific function. Due to their influence, the body is forced to find additional forces.

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All of this comes at the cost of health. internal organs, especially the heart, which has to work for wear and tear. In addition, the body loses a large amount of fluid necessary for the processing of caffeine. Subsequently, this disrupts all metabolic processes.

Lethal dose

The lethal dose of an energy drink containing caffeine is at least 70 half-liter cans for a person weighing 70 kg. However, signs of poisoning can be observed even after two jars. It all depends on the health of the body, the presence or absence of chronic diseases and other factors.

The lethal dose of caffeine for humans is 10-15g.

To whom they are forbidden

However, the above standards are suitable for the average, and most importantly, healthy human body. Energy drinks have several contraindications for use. Persons who belong to the risk group are strictly prohibited from drinking cocktails.

• pregnant women, nursing mothers;
• minor children;
• elderly people;
• people who have diseases of cardio-vascular system, liver and kidneys;
• with diabetes;
• with allergies, bronchial asthma.

Symptoms of poisoning

An overdose of energy drinks is characterized by the severity and duration of symptoms. Initially, the victim may not feel any abnormalities in the functioning of the internal organs, but as they are absorbed active ingredients from the stomach into the blood, the symptoms of poisoning will increase.

What signs appear due to an overdose of a cocktail:

• tremor of the hands or the whole body;
• headache;
• nausea, vomiting;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• a sharp increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate;
• hyperemia of the face;
• loss of consciousness;
• nervous manifestations.

In case of an overdose of an energy drink that contains ethanol, in addition to all the signs, the patient has inadequate behavior, complete or partial lack of consciousness.

However, health problems are observed not only in those individuals who once abused a large dose of coffee drink.

If a person takes energy cocktails on a regular basis, he may also exhibit a number of health problems. As a rule, such persons are diagnosed with diseases of the cardiovascular system, disruption of the digestive tract and nervous disorders.

Treatment

If the victim shows signs of a severe overdose, he must be given first aid, and then consult a doctor. This is especially true if the person is under the influence of alcohol.

First aid:

1. Lay the patient on a horizontal surface, unfasten all the top buttons on the clothes. Ensure inflow fresh air. To do this, open a window.
2. Give the victim at least 2 liters of water to drink, with potassium permanganate diluted in it. Subsequently, induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue with a tablespoon.
3. When the main part of the cocktails has left the body along with vomiting, the patient should drink the intestinal sorbent, following the instructions on the package. It can be coal, smecta, polysorb or any other improvised means.
4. call an ambulance medical care and before the doctor arrives, make sure that the person does not lose consciousness.

Do not give any medication to the victim. This is especially true for heart medications and drugs that lower blood pressure. Incorrect selection and dosage of the drug can cause shock, collapse or cardiac arrest.

To prevent poisoning, energy drinks should be consumed in moderation and only when absolutely necessary. Under no circumstances should this be done on an empty stomach.

To feel good, a person needs to get enough sleep. All other means for vivacity have only a temporary effect, moreover, very detrimental to the body.