Stop Taking Energy Drinks Right Away! Find Out Here…
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In recent years, the business of energy drinks has expanded exponentially.
Do they add to your hearth? Or, Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?
The increased popularity of the drinks in teens and young adults has made a new business emerge at a big level.
The greed of quick energy stimulation may seem to work in the short term.
Still, different groups of nutrition and diet experts have raised concerns.
Various scientific studies and reviews are also putting forth bigger pictures of the dangers of energy drinks on the body
By understanding the effects of energy drinks on the teenage body and young adults, we can know its pros and cons.
Before exploring the disadvantages of energy drinks, let’s know what actually energy drinks are…
What Are Energy Drinks?
Energy drinks are currently the most popular beverage among teens and young adults.
They encompass components marketed as superb energy and cognitive performance-boosting effects.
These promising benefits arrive from the presence of caffeine as a key constituent.
- Not only does it boost your brain functions, alertness, but even focus.
The only difference is the quantity of caffeine in different energy-boosting drinks.
Besides, other ingredients play a main role in the making of the product.
Here, we have listed the key component present the top-notch energy drinks:
- Sugar: It mainly constitutes the calories of energy drinks. However, some energy drinks skip the sugar and are low carb.
- B vitamins: The nutrient plays a key role in food energy conversion.
- Amino acid derivatives: This include taurine and L-carnitine. Natural compounds have various roles in different body functions.
- Herbal extracts: For example, Guarana adds to the effects of caffeine, while ginseng boosts brain functions.
These are key players constituting energy drinks.
Thus, the beverage carries a natural ability to enhance your energy level and promote mental performance.
Why Using an Energy Drink?
While energy drink has become an inseparable part of the current lifestyle, it is an evolution of the fast-paced life.
The constant busy schedule and unhealthy diet lead to exhaustion both mental and physical. Thus, people rely on energy drinks for instant boosts.
This not only improves brain function by providing instant stimulation but energy boosts.
It makes you feel active and energetic at different levels.
This is why energy drinks are getting highly popular. Still, the effects of energy drinks on the teenage body differ from person to person.#1: Elevated Brain Function
With the presence of vital stimulants like caffeine, guarana, and other ingredients, energy drinks offer instant energy surges.
- It revives your energy tanks making you active physically.
At the same time, other constituents deliver instant brain stimulation increasing focus and concentration.
#2: Fights off Fatigue
One of the primary use of the supplement is fatigue.
People require an instant way to kill the sense of exhaustion and hit the work with a bang on energy. Energy drinks effectively supply such demands.
The ingredients in the beverage deliver an instant energy supply for kickass performance.
Whether you want to uplift your physical activity or stay active during work hours, energy drinks are an instant solution.
The reason behind the usage of the beverage is clear — MORE ENERGY!
The breakthrough energy supply offers an edge to your regular lifestyle. Whether it is your professional life or person, the benefits are obvious.
However, Various Studies Have Addressed Different Negative Effects of Energy Drinks Raising Concern.
Are energy drinks bad for your kidneys and overall health? Let’s find out…
Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?
Energy drinks may seem like an easy solution to energy deprivation. However, not all energy drinks have similar construction, but all are good in the long run.
Various factors contribute to the negative effect of the beverage.
- Mainly, this occurs due to improper quantity and combination of ingredients.
Here’s why are energy drinks bad for you:
#1: Artificial Sweeteners
Surplus sugar isn’t the only problem, the energy drinks usages, artificial sweeteners, exemplify the sweetness of the drink.
This may appear good to the eyes, but it isn’t good for health.
Sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal or NutraSweet), and saccharin (Sweet N Low) are some calorie-free artificial sweeteners. Still, they can fluctuate your insulin levels.
Research has shown the link between metabolic syndrome, higher calorie consumption, decreased satiety, obesity, and weight gain. Thus, avoid energy drinks with artificial sweeteners.
#2: Medication Interactions
Energy drinks are full of artificial ingredients and unknown herbs.
There is a high chance can negatively interact with your medicine.
Thus, before using any energy drinks, go through the label of the ingredient. Also, ask your doctors about using such a beverage.
#3: Surplus Sugar
The main reason why energy drinks are bad for you is because of the additional sugar.
While they make up the main part of the calories present in them, they may contain almost 40g of sugar in just one drink.
Even If You Are Fighting Off Low Blood Sugar Levels, Opting For Such A Drink Isn’t Wise.
It’s better to rely on the natural form of sugar present in fruit, juice, yogurt drink, and other natural options.
Instead, try a protein shake to power up your energy tanks before hitting the gym. Also, it promotes muscle recovery at the same time.
#4: High Amounts of Caffeine
Caffeine, in control, may help in weight management, physical performance, mental activeness, and body composition.
Contrarily, an exceeded quantity of the compound prompts adverse effects and may harm your health.
Some of the health drinks contain an unnecessary amount of caffeine to provide a skyrocketing energy boost.
For a moment, it energizes you, but in the long run, it heaps up various adverse complications.
Look for Symptoms of excessive caffeine consumption to figure out if your energy drinks are bad for you. Take preventive measures and stop using them immediately.
Here are the Symptoms of excessive caffeine consumption:
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Nervousness
- Feeling jittery
- Muscle tremors
- A fast heartbeat
- Frequent urination
- Inability to control urination
Besides, having caffeine near bedtime or late in the day hinders your sleep. You may find it hard to sleep after having the compound after 3 p.m.
It can also interact with supplements and medication resulting in adverse complications as well.
If you are planning to have energy drinks make sure you don’t exceed the daily limit to stay on the right end.
#5: High Costs
The energy-boosting beverages come with huge price tags. The price is sometimes higher than a regular cup of coffee.
If caffeine is what you are actually paying for, why buy it for a bigger price. Just make a cup of joy for instant energy stimulation.
When experts talk about are energy drinks are bad for you, these points make up their main argument.
There is much truth in what they have to speak.
Mainly, the beverage is a blend of sugar, caffeine, and calories with some other constituents. This is what leads to harmful effects with long-term usage.
If you really boost your energy level, it’s better to look for some healthier alternatives.
Healthier Alternatives that Boost Energy
While energy drinks are the unhealthy way to replenish your energy stores by loading caffeine, surplus sugar, and artificial sweeteners, other alternatives provide more promising benefits with no adverse complications.
If the energy deprivation is creating havoc on your health, you can begin by sticking to Healthier Alternatives that Boost Energy.
#1: 100% Fruit Juice or Fruit
People into intense training require instant energy boosts.
- Consider, having a piece of fruit like banana, apple, or kiwi. Or, try 100% pure fruit juice. Also, taking an energy bar or sports gel is good.
You can also try dried fruit or energy-boosting snacks.
#2: Better Hormone Balance
Imbalanced hormone shifts your energy levels to the negative side. This can make it challenging to give up energy drinks and other caffeinate beverages.
The effects are more evident in females than in males. They may suffer from low thyroid hormone levels or hypothyroidism.
This can result in a slow metabolism and low energy levels. As they age, females also face the risk of low estrogen, another factor depleting energy levels.
If you struggling to get sufficient sleep, get your thyroid and other hormone levels. Your doctor will prescribe an effective treatment for the health issue.
#3: Water
Water is the best beverage.
It hydrates your body while flushing out the toxins. Also, less fluid intake results in dehydration and energy drain.
Try ice-cold water or mix up some fruits chunks to enhance its flavor.
Instead, you can also try fruit juice.
#4: A Good Night’s Sleep
There is no alternative to quality sleep to maintain energy levels. Struggling to get a good night’s sleep?
Here’s what you need to do…
- Exercise daily
- Get a minimum of 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night
- Never hit the sack hungry or too full
- Avoid caffeine, energy drinks, smoking, and alcohol before hitting the bed
- Sleep in a cool, dark room
- A white noise machine can help
- Employ stress reduction techniques (guided sleep meditation, yoga, massage, etc.)
- Stick to your bedtime
Proper rest wears off fatigue energizing you for the next day.
#5: Brewed Coffee
A cup of joy is a go-to drink for instant energy boosts. Particularly, taking coffee in the morning revives for you for the day.
A cup of brewed coffee has almost 100mg of caffeine. To keep it clean and beneficial, skip sugar from your morning beverage.
Instead, add whipped cream, plant milk, milk, or a bit of stevia. Even erythritol or monk fruit can add flavor.
Or, you can prepare an iced coffee mixing it with plant milk and protein powder.
#6: Unsweetened Tea
Another energy drink alternative is unsweetened tea like green or black tea.
They contain a significant amount of caffeine providing with intense energy boost naturally.
In fact, a cup of brewed green tea delivers almost 30mg of caffeine. Whereas, a cup of brewed black tea offers almost 50 milligrams of caffeine.
According to your preferences, you flavor tea with a few drops of natural sweeteners. Instead, try iced tea.
#7: All-Natural Energy Drinks
Unlike the popular ones, natural energy drinks encompass a small quantity of caffeine, while a host of herbs, fruit juice, fruit, vitamins, or minerals makes way to the formula.
Without excess caffeine, extra sugar, artificial sweeteners, fillers, and synthetic ingredients, all-natural energy drinks are safe and effective.
These are the healthiest ways to restore your energy while supplying your body with essential nutrients.
Buy the packs with less than 5g of added sugar per serving.
#8: Regular Exercise
Working out regularly helps build strength and endurance while maintaining fitness.
- It helps in weight management while spiking energy levels.
Your training program should have a combination of cardio with weights or other resistance workouts.
Focus on a minimum of 30 minutes of physical workouts and at least 45 minutes of daily living to maintain fitness.
#9: Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate comprises almost 70 to 85% of cocoa.
In other words, it is a host of energy-boosting caffeine and essential anti-oxidants and nutrients.
The go-to energy-boosting snack offers many other advantages. It reduces the risk of high cholesterol, cancer, high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and age-related cognitive decline.
Most importantly, the sugar content of dark chocolate is much lesser than milk chocolate.
You can add them to your smoothies to add extra flavor to get an additional energy boost.
#10: Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result in fatigue.
In particular, the inadequacy of nutrients like iron, iodine, vitamin D, and B vitamins in women has significant effects.
Thus, eating a well-balanced diet is important to fight off the deficiency specifically for women.
Instead, taking a multivitamin supplement can replenish the nutrients gap to restore your energy tanks.
Sugar-free Vitamin water is also helpful. Your medical health provider may recommend additional supplements of vitamin D, calcium, or iron.
Try spending more time outdoors to receive more vitamin D for energizing yourself.
#11: Weight Loss
One of the main reasons behind weight gain is exhaustion.
If your BMI is already high, you need to go for a weight loss program. Read more about meal plans, fat-burning workouts, and social support.
This will help you create a healthy weight loss plan to get in shape.
You can also try a fat-burning supplement to exemplify your weight loss goals.
The Final Verdict: Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?
Advertisements focus on reasons why energy drinks are good for you.
Yes, they do offer you instant energy, but it comes at cost of your health.
- It is expensive. Extra sugar, excessive caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and synthetic ingredients are harmful to your health.
In the long run, the constituents deteriorate your heath while compromising your body functions.
Not only are energy drinks bad for your heart, but they can affect renal functions.
Latest studies have brought the side effects of energy drinks to light. More studies are required to establish the true effects of the packed product.
The only precautionary measure you can take is by switching to energy drinks alternatives.
The above-mentioned tips can help replenish your energy store without adding sugar or caffeine overdose.
Hope this article helped you find out how and why are sugar-free energy drinks bad for you.
Thanks for reading!!