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A long day where you need to concentrate? An extensive sports session? Or a car journey that takes a few hours? All reasons to reach for an energy drink, but how (un)healthy are those drinks? And what happens to your body when you drink them?
Previously wrote Metro about the contents of a coke can and this time it’s the turn of energy drinks. Nutritionist Sanne Mouha took for the Belgian HLN different energy drinks.
Short energy boost through energy drinks
To start with, Mouha emphasizes that energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks. She says that energy drinks often contain ingredients such as taurine and glucuronolactone, supplemented with extra vitamins and plant extracts. “The aim is to stimulate energy metabolism. I’m sorry to say, but there is no – absolutely no – scientific evidence that these substances effectively combat fatigue.”
Anyone who has ever tried an energy drink knows that you actually get a kind of boost from such a drink. “It is the high caffeine content in an energy drink in combination with the fluid that gives you energy. Although such an energy boost is often short-lived.” And now comes the point that some people may also recognize. “Once the energy peak is over, fatigue hits twice as hard.”
Caffeine against fatigue
If you eat or drink something with caffeine, your body absorbs the caffeine very quickly. “For most people, 99 percent of the caffeine is absorbed into the body after half an hour to two hours. The effects and their intensity depend from person to person and are genetically determined.”
Caffeine suppresses the neurotransmitters (signals in the brain) that make you feel tired. After a few sips of an energy drink you will feel more energetic, sharper and your concentration level will increase. “But your body builds up a tolerance and habit after a while.” And according to the nutritionist, this ultimately causes drowsiness or irritability if you no longer consume it. “That also means that you have to drink more and more to experience the same benefits. Energy drinks are a boost, but they lead you straight to the next slump.”
Coffee and coke
A cup of coffee contains on average 60 mg of caffeine, a can of cola contains about 33 mg. A can of energy drink contains 80 mg of caffeine. It is recommended to drink a maximum of 5 cups of coffee per day.
Energy drinks are often popular with the younger generation. “It is best for a 16-year-old girl to consume no more than 140 mg of caffeine per day, which corresponds to 400 ml of energy drink. Of course, no other sources of caffeine such as cola, coffee or tea should be consumed.”
Energy drinks and alcohol
In addition to the caffeine in energy drinks, acids and sugars are also ubiquitous. Which in turn is an attack on your teeth.
And then one more point. Some people mix energy drinks with alcohol. And according to the nutritionist, that is a completely dangerous combination. “Caffeine is a stimulant, while alcohol has a narcotic effect. When these two are combined – which often happens in nightlife – they can neutralize each other. Often users do not realize this and continue drinking, which can ultimately lead to alcohol poisoning.”
An occasional can
“An occasional can ‘to get through’ won’t hurt, but it shouldn’t replace breakfast, a healthy diet or rest, and it’s important to always listen to the body. Continuously drinking energy drinks is not beneficial,” concludes Mouha.
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2023-09-27 11:28:59
#energy #drinks #body #drink
