On the shelves of many stores you can find various tin cans, glass and plastic bottles filled with drinks, which are popularly called energy drinks.
The companies producing the product point to their ability not only to quench thirst, but also to stimulate the activity of the human nervous system, since the effect of these drinks on the human body is anti-sedative.
Of course, not everything is so simple, and the use of such drinks can lead to various negative consequences for the human cardiovascular system, brain and body as a whole. We will look at what happens to the human heart and the body as a whole when consuming energy drinks and how to reduce the risk in our article.
What's hiding inside a can of energy drink?
The composition of energy cocktails is, for the most part, identical. What’s important is that manufacturers are not at all shy about indicating the amount of nervous system stimulants added to sweet soda that tastes like lemonade, despite the fact that the components of the cocktails are quite harmful.
The basic composition of any energy drink is as follows:
- synthetic nervous system stimulant (guarana, caffeine, etc.);
- “energy carriers” (sucrose, glucose);
- elements that accelerate the metabolic process (vitamins, taurine, etc.);
- dyes and flavors (often artificial or identical to natural ones).
The main ingredient is caffeine or guarana, which began to be added just a couple of years ago. The benefits of caffeine are questionable, but it’s not for nothing that nutritionists literally force all their patients to give up morning coffee and replace it with apples and green tea. In addition, it should not be drunk in such crazy quantities as it is added to energy drinks.
A half-liter jar of “clean energy” contains ~100-150 mg of caffeine - the same as 200 grams of strong, freshly brewed Arabica. Of course, such replenishment will invigorate and enable the body to activate hidden reserves, however, at the expense of a double load on all organs, especially the heart.
In addition to the energy component, drinks of this type are generously flavored with vitamin essences. But this does not add any benefit to them. Vitamins, in this case, are needed exclusively as the most easily digestible sources of energy necessary for a person. However, there can be a lot of vitamins, which is proven by the far from pleasant consequences of hypovitaminosis. So even in terms of vitaminization, the creators of cocktails with taurine overdid it and created a slow poison in bright jars.
pros
- The choice of energy drinks is huge. Everyone can find an energy drink that will fully suit their tastes and preferences. Some drinks may be fruit flavored, while others may be plain. There are drinks with a high content of vitamins, and there are those with a high caffeine content.
- Energy drinks can lift your mood in a matter of minutes; they can also quickly improve mental activity.
- Energy drinks are a real lifesaver for students, workaholics, drivers and athletes.
- Many energy drinks contain added glucose and various vitamins. Glucose gives strength and energy, and the benefits of vitamins are known to absolutely everyone.
- The energy drink lasts about 4 hours, which is 2 times longer than the effect of a cup of coffee. Moreover, energy drinks begin to act much faster than coffee.
- Energy drinks are convenient to drink: you can always keep them in your bag or car. Energy drinks are always at hand!
Dangerous consequences of drinking energy cocktails
The first risk group is even mentioned on the labels of energy drinks; it includes children, pregnant women, hypertensive patients and asthmatics. But the fact that a person does not suffer from heart disease and has long graduated from school does not mean that energy drinks are not harmful for him.
The basic chemical law notes the fact that in our world nothing appears from nowhere and disappears to nowhere. So where does the energy that energy drinks provide come from? The answer is simple, there is no liquefied energy in energy drinks, it’s just that after receiving a dose of taurine or caffeine, the organs begin to work for wear and tear, which obviously does not benefit them. Drinking a jar of sweet cocktail for vigor delays the moment of sleep, thereby stimulating the accumulation of fatigue in the body. And after a sleepless night “under energy poison,” you will have to sleep twice as long.
Manufacturers recommend drinking no more than one jar of the product per day, arguing that it contains concentrated sugar and taurine (caffeine, guarana), which are harmful in large quantities. In turn, laboratory experiments that studied the harm of energy drinks show that even one jar a week is already a dangerous dose.
To maintain the healthy functioning of all body systems, the body should not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine per month, and, as mentioned above, energy drinks with taurine contain many times more of the substance in just one can.
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 time. People have been cheering themselves up for a long time. The most common stimulant was caffeine. Its source in India and the Middle East was coffee; in China, India and Southeast Asia - tea; in America - the yerba mate plant, cocoa beans, guarana leaves and cola 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 their industrial production began in the 20th century. These drinks are still very popular in Southeast Asia.
The appearance of energy drinks in Europe is associated with the name of the Austrian entrepreneur Dieter Mateschitz. In 1984, he became acquainted with Asian energy drinks, appreciated them and modernized them to suit 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 American and Pepsi-Cola released their own brands of non-alcoholic energy drinks, and now there are much more manufacturers. The recipe for 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 takes a little longer. Carbohydrates also include a glucose derivative - glucuronolactone, which promotes the removal of metabolic products. Half a liter of energy drink contains about 54 grams of sugars, that is, a quarter cup. Responding to the demands of the times, most manufacturers are producing low-calorie tonic drinks without sugar, with artificial sweeteners, and energy drinks without an energy source have joined 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 on the list is inositol, or vitamin B8, which protects cell membranes from damage, stimulates mental activity, improves concentration and memory, reduces brain fatigue, and helps survive stress. Inositol is recommended 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 hematopoiesis, prevents the formation of blood clots, and helps restore strength after heavy physical exertion.
Taurine is a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, its name comes from the Latin “taurus” - ox, because taurine was first isolated from bovine bile extract. This is a very common compound that is synthesized in the body of most mammals and is present there in significant quantities (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 the removal of 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, improves performance and increases endurance. Some energy drinks also contain other tonic ingredients, most often ginseng and eleutherococcus.
Guarana extract, the main source of caffeine added to energy drinks, contains, in addition to caffeine, the alkaloids theobromine and theophylline.
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 elimination of metabolic products. Their combination should make drinking the drink as effective, enjoyable and safe as possible. Now we'll talk about safety.
Energy drinks with alcohol: twice as harmful
In addition to the fact that energy drinks negatively affect the functioning of all body systems, lead to insomnia, depression and can even be addictive, akin to hard drugs, they are also mixed into alcoholic cocktails. But here it already smells like a mortal risk.
Caffeine and alcohol, which have opposite effects, are harmful individually, but mixed in one cocktail, they literally “drive the heart crazy”
. It does not understand whether to slow down the rhythm under the influence of ethyl or speed up from taurine. And just one glass of a “dangerous” cocktail on an empty stomach already causes the pancreas to stop working; two such cocktails can lead to irreversible consequences.
Conflicting Research
Not everyone, however, believes that energy drinks are harmful. As News.ru previously wrote, the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology has a different opinion, believing that non-alcoholic tonic drinks pose a health threat no more than sweet tea, coffee and other sugar-containing drinks. Also, experts from the Federal Research Center about.
The chief freelance psychiatrist-narcologist of the Russian Ministry of Health, Evgeniy Bryun, indicates that he “did not have to deal with the fact of disruption of the nervous system and cognitive functions caused by the use of non-alcoholic tonic drinks” (E. Bryun’s letter is available to the editors of News.ru).
However, the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg considered a bill that proposes not to sell energy drinks to minors, as well as to stop their sale “in organizations operating in the field of education, upbringing, development of minors, organizing their recreation and recovery, social protection and social services , in the field of children’s and youth sports, culture and art.”
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Verdict
From all of the above, the conclusion suggests itself that the harm of energy drinks is indescribably great, just as the risk of death caused by a can of alcoholic energy drink drunk on an empty stomach is great. Therefore, if there is a need to stay awake despite fatigue, drink a cup of green tea or, as a last resort, natural coffee. This is many times better than poisoning with a chemical mixture, the invigorating effect of which is not as strong as the poisonous one.
Energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular in our lives. 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 those places where you least expect it - in gyms and fitness centers.
If you believe the advertising of energy drinks, they give you a huge amount of energy, a wonderful and cheerful state of health, and you can be in an active state for several days 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 ever larger audience - they are drunk by students, office workers, tired drivers behind the wheel, and regular visitors to nightclubs.
Those people who are already addicted to regular energy drinks are now moving on 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 “commands” our heart is simply torn into two parts, not knowing how to work. The result is wear and tear of the heart and early 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 energy drinks in the world. But their composition is almost the same. The main ingredients are regular sugar and glucose. Well, don’t forget that it also contains caffeine, which is a powerful stimulant of the nervous system that increases blood pressure. As a result, all this allows a person to stay awake for several days, while having high performance.
Do not forget that this effect does not last long and after the influence of the energy drink on the body ceases, great fatigue sets in. If you do not rest after this, but drink a cup of coffee or black tea, then a person may exceed the desired level of caffeine in the body.
Excess caffeine leads to insomnia, nervousness and irritability, and impaired heart function.
When consuming large doses of caffeine, severe abdominal pain and cramps occur. 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 different proportions. However, they add all the substances without exception, without which our modern food industry does not take a single step. These are our “favorite” dyes, various preservatives, all sorts of flavorings and stabilizers.
On the cans we can read that energy drinks contain various vitamins and natural ingredients. But do not forget that all vitamins are produced artificially and contain synthetic ingredients.
The harm of energy drinks
Let's look at some facts:
- The energy drink itself does not provide any energy at all, but only promotes the release of reserve energy by the body itself. And this energy is stored by the body “for a rainy day.”
- The consumption of such drinks should be strictly limited. Because drinking more than one jar a day can lead to sad results.
- Under no circumstances should you drink energy drinks immediately after exercising. The body is dehydrated after exercise, and caffeine is a diuretic and also increases blood pressure.
- If a person often drinks energy drinks, then he develops chronic insomnia, which, in turn, leads to irritability and depression.
- A high content of various synthetic vitamins leads to allergic reactions in the body
- Due to the huge amount of sugar and various acids, tooth enamel is destroyed and the acid-base balance in the mouth is disrupted.
- In various countries, you can only purchase an energy drink with a doctor's prescription and exclusively at a pharmacy.
A person who knows what energy drinks are made of is unlikely to be surprised by the information that they harm the body. But then why are they sold freely even for teenagers? It's simple.
The substances in the composition themselves do not have a harmful effect. Death from energy drinks occurs if consumption is regular or a one-time dose was consumed that provokes death.
In addition, energy drinks are firmly entrenched on shelves next to alcoholic beverages. But the explosive mixture of caffeine, taurine and ethyl alcohol is a different story, and not always with a good ending.
Chemistry of energy
According to one of the authors of Wiki, energy drinks are non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks , advertising of which promotes their ability to stimulate a person’s physical and intellectual abilities (not literally). Be that as it may, an energy drink is, first of all, a mixture of 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 quite a long time. In the East they consume coffee, in Asia they drink tea, in South America they drink the unusual drink mate, which I will definitely mention later, in Africa they eat cola nuts. In the North-Eastern part of Asia, people are addicted to various stimulant plants: ginseng, eleutherococcus, Chinese lemongrass and aralia.
The 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 began producing their energy drinks - Burn and Adrenaline Rush. Today, with energy drinks, things are not as smooth as they used to be. A couple of overdoses, a couple of deaths, and the governments of different countries sensed the threat. In some countries, energy drinks can only be bought at a pharmacy; in Russia there is an entire article of the law that specifies restrictions on components and sales rules.
The composition of all energy drinks is approximately similar. The origins lie in sucrose and glucose . Sucrose is regular sugar and is broken down into carbohydrates, the body's main source of energy. 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 the cardiovascular system. Tonic substances are caffeine (mateine, theine, etc.) , theobromine (cocoa alkaloid) , taurine, guarana, carnitine and many others. Energy drinks also contain a heavy dose of vitamins.
Caffeine is the most popular component of energy drinks, which is a powerful psychostimulant. It gives a temporary effect (about 1-2 hours) - relieves fatigue, drowsiness, accelerates the pulse, etc.
Theobromine is a cocoa alkaloid that is found in small doses even in chocolate. In principle, the substance is poisonous, but after chemical treatment it is quite tonic.
Taurine is a derivative of cysteine (an amino acid). Stimulates the activity of the nervous system, accelerates metabolism, etc. It is synthesized in the body independently.
Carnitine is something like a B vitamin. It is synthesized in the body independently and affects metabolism.
Ginseng and guarana are natural stimulants found in plants. They contain the same caffeine, so the effect is similar.
Mate – contains matein, which has the same effect as coffee.
We recommend reading: Low blood sugar: what does it mean, reasons for a drop in glucose levels, symptoms and signs in adults, treatment, what to do and how to raise it, possible consequences
In general, the list could go on forever. In one jar of energy, almost the entire periodic table. I don’t think it’s worth telling how all these components work. In a nutshell, caffeine-like substances accelerate the blood, which already contains a shock dose of vitamins and other “energy” substances that accelerate metabolism, the breakdown of carbohydrates, and brain and muscle function. But this is, in essence, the removal of a large amount of energy from the body overnight, after which total fatigue sets in.
I'm a shameless pig - I have a lot of people on my blog here, and I'm kicking ass =). 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 search engines gave me a plus and great uncle Google dumped a whole bunch (on a modest scale) of targeted traffic on the blog, which I am immensely happy about.
Okay, now to the point. Summer! That's it, actually. What can I say? Unexpected =). Ahead are 3 months of complete fun, warm days, the sea, summer terraces and other delights of this time of year. And, of course, a lot of sleepless nights, which then lead to very, I must say, difficult morning hours. The body will gradually become exhausted and require more energy, but people cope with this problem quickly. Some people will get hooked on coffee, some will prefer to take time to sleep, and some will simply start pouring liters of energy drinks into themselves, pushing their body to its limit. Today I would like to pay attention specifically to the issue of energy drinks, namely their overdose.
Working at a bar for 15 hours and getting only 4-5 hours of sleep, I know first-hand what it’s like to be hooked on energy drinks. Sometimes they really save you – they tone you up for a couple of hours and bring your body into at least some order. But, sooner or later, you stop feeling the measure, and the so-called medicine turns against you. Let me start, perhaps, with the basics, namely, what are energy drinks and how do they act on the body?
In general, the list could go on forever. In one jar of energy, almost the entire periodic table. I don’t think it’s worth telling how all these components work. In a nutshell, caffeine-like substances accelerate the blood, which already contains a shock dose of vitamins and other “energy” substances that accelerate metabolism, the breakdown of carbohydrates, and brain and muscle function. But this is, in essence, the removal of a large amount of energy from the body overnight, after which total fatigue sets in.
What are energy drinks 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 have an effect as quickly and effectively as possible.
However, all organisms are different, and energy liquid is produced in standard volumes. This explains the frequent overdoses of the drink.
Ingredients of a standard energy cocktail:
- nervous system stimulants 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).
Colors and flavors are also common ingredients in many energy drinks. Often these substances are artificial or identical to natural ones, which is not beneficial.
Vitamins, which make up the smallest part of the composition, carry a hidden meaning. A person who sees information about a vitamin complex on a jar a priori begins to consider the product healthy. But that’s not why they were added to energy drinks.
The vitamins in the energy drink allow you to speed up your metabolism so that you can open up the body's internal reserves.
However, poisoning from energy drinks most often occurs when they are alcoholic. During a fun party, it is difficult to control the amount of alcohol you drink. Because of this, a serious overdose occurs, which often leads to death.
Package
The first rule is that it couldn’t be simpler. Aluminum cans - yes. Plastic - no. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, energy drinks often sit in warehouses and stores long enough for microplastic particles to get into the drink. It all depends on the storage conditions, but aluminum still wins.
And if you think that it’s stupid to pay attention to such trifles when you buy an initially harmful thing, then you’ll like the second reason. I haven't seen a single good energy drink sold in plastic. As an alternative to a can of the same brand - yes. But this is the maximum.
For the most part, in plastic they will sell you the most vile and chemical slurry in the world - for example, “Tornado”, “Power Torr” or, excuse me, “Anarchy”. So when a new title comes out in plastic, we can immediately conclude that this is not our option.
The influence of energy drinks on the human body
A person who has drunk too much energy drinks first feels cheerful and uplifted. But gradually, when more and more harmful substances are absorbed through the gastrointestinal mucosa, signs of overdose are observed.
One jar of such a cocktail is equivalent to brewing and drinking a 200-gram pack of strong coffee once.
Energy drinks do not supply the body with additional strength, as is commonly believed. Energy is extracted from the body by force. Each of the cocktail ingredients has a specific function. Due to their impact, the body is forced to find additional strength.
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All this happens to the detriment of the health of internal organs, especially the heart, which has to work hard. In addition, the body loses a large amount of fluid necessary to process caffeine. Subsequently, this disrupts all metabolic processes.
Lethal dose
The lethal dose of an energy drink that contains caffeine is at least 70 half-liter cans for a person weighing 70 kg. However, signs of poisoning can be observed 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.
Complications
Complications may occur if the heart hurts for a long time after a revival (energy cocktail). Changes in the functioning of the heart muscle and the circulatory system as a whole can become chronic diseases:
- arrhythmia;
- tachycardia;
- hypertension.
In severe cases, life threatening may occur due to cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction or acute thrombosis.
To whom are they prohibited?
However, the standards described above are suitable for the average, and most importantly, healthy human body. Energy drinks have several contraindications for use. Persons who are at risk are strictly prohibited from drinking cocktails.
- pregnant women, nursing mothers;
- minor children;
- elderly people;
- persons who have diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys;
- for diabetes mellitus;
- for allergies, bronchial asthma.
A few words about proper diet
People with problems with the cardiovascular system should be careful about their diet for heart health. There are a number of products that can be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. Among them:
- Fruits are essential for the heart. It is best to include lemons, persimmons, pomegranates and bananas in the menu.
- Vegetables are also important. “Healers” of the heart are tomatoes, garlic, onions, avocado, pumpkin, all types of peppers.
- Berries. Especially grapes, viburnum, cranberries, hawthorn and blueberries.
- Nuts. Hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts and walnuts.
- Dried fruits. Dried apricots, prunes, figs, raisins, dates.
- Dairy products. Butter, skim cow's milk, sheep's cheese, yogurt.
- Fish. Herring, mackerel, capelin, halibut, salmon.
- Turmeric.
- Bitter chocolate.
- Olive and linseed oils.
- Beverages. Tomato, cranberry and pumpkin juices, green tea, dry red wine, limited quantities of coffee and cognac.
All types of food should be eaten fresh or freshly prepared.
Symptoms of poisoning
An overdose of energy drinks differs in the severity and duration of symptoms. Initially, the victim may not feel any abnormalities in the functioning of the internal organs, but as the active substances are absorbed from the stomach into the blood, the symptoms of poisoning will intensify.
What signs appear due to a cocktail overdose:
- tremor of the hands or the whole body;
- headache;
- nausea, vomiting;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- a sharp increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate;
- facial hyperemia;
- loss of consciousness;
- nervous manifestations.
In case of an overdose of an energy drink that contains ethyl alcohol, in addition to all the symptoms, the patient experiences inappropriate behavior and a complete or partial lack of consciousness.
However, health problems are observed not only in those individuals who have once abused a large dose of coffee drink.
If a person takes energy shakes on a regular basis, they may also experience a number of health problems. As a rule, such individuals are diagnosed with diseases of the cardiovascular system, disorders of the digestive tract and nervous disorders.
Is it possible to overdose
Unfortunately, in addition to the benefits, energy drinks also pose a real danger to the human body. An overdose of such drinks causes serious poisoning, leading to overload of the central nervous system and increased stress on the arteries and heart.
An overdose of energy drinks usually occurs against the background of their frequent use for carrying out some kind of intellectual work. Statistically, energy drink poisoning most often occurs in students before an exam and in knowledge workers (programmers, writers, professional gamers, etc.).
The reason for overdosing on energy drinks is that they increase the body's performance by increasing the load on all its systems. The most affected are the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, which, with heavy consumption of energy drinks, are worn out.
Simply put, energy drinks turn on the body's reserve systems for a long period of time, whereas they are designed to work for a short time ( no more than 30 minutes and only in critical situations
).
Symptoms of an energy drink overdose
Symptoms of poisoning
(overdoses) of energy drinks are as follows:
- a significant increase in heart rate (up to 160 beats per minute);
- persistent and prolonged insomnia;
- irritability, aggressiveness;
- facial redness and feeling of heat;
- increased blood pressure;
- diarrhea;
- tremor of the limbs;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- frequent urination (less often, inability to control it);
- cold sweat;
- increased body temperature;
- repeated vomiting, sometimes without relief;
- anxiety, panic, suspiciousness;
- confusion;
- visual and auditory hallucinations;
- loss of consciousness (syncope).
Possible consequences
Consequences of frequent use
energy drinks, as well as an overdose of them, are quite serious.
Let's try to list all of them (according to PubMed):
- Decreased libido, impotence.
- Gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis and heartburn develop especially often).
- Cognitive impairment, including problems with academic performance in adolescents.
- Development of mental illness.
- Depression, apathy, indifference, aggressiveness.
- Cardiac dysfunction, thrombosis.
- Persistent chronic insomnia.
- Overexcitement, nervous tics.
- Seizures, epilepsy.
- Decreased interest and motivation.
- Fatal outcome (relatively rare).
First aid and further treatment
If you suspect an overdose of energy drinks, the patient should immediately call an ambulance. Before her arrival, you should give him 2-3 liters of warm water and induce vomiting. This is quite simple to do: after the patient drinks warm water, you need to press your finger on the root of his tongue.
After vomiting, the patient should be given 10-12 tablets of activated carbon. To neutralize caffeine, if possible, the patient should be given green tea or milk. Dishes with magnesium (cabbage, avocado) may be beneficial.
In the hospital, the patient's stomach will be rinsed again and an IV will be placed. Treatment will be carried out with an emphasis on detoxifying the body and “unloading” the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
An energy drink is an energy drink that stimulates brain activity and invigorates. With increasing tension and lack of energy, a person resorts to additional stimulants to strengthen the body. What is the harm from energy drinks? Harm from energy drinks is caused by the components they contain.
How does the composition affect the human body?
Composition of energy drinks:
- . Stimulates mental and physical activity. Increases heart rate and stimulates the nervous system. How much caffeine is in energy drinks? The indicator ranges from 80 to 150 grams, the same content in a cup of coffee.
- Sugar, . Improves brain concentration.
- Taurine. Helps concentrate, improves performance and promotes the absorption of minerals. Included in most vitamins for children and adults.
- L-carnitine. Accelerates metabolic processes and has a positive effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels.
- Glucuronolactone. Cleanses the gastrointestinal tract and removes toxins from the body.
- Guarana and ginseng root. It is invigorating, but useful taking into account proper dosing; if the drink is abused, sleep is disturbed.
- Matein. Used to combat obesity and reduce appetite.
- B vitamins stabilize the nervous system.
Energy drinks contain useful elements, but does this mean that you can drink them all the time? Or do energy drinks only cause harm?
Treatment
If the victim shows signs of a severe overdose, he must be given first aid, and then consult a doctor. This is especially necessary if the person is intoxicated.
First aid:
- Place the patient on a horizontal surface, unfasten all the top buttons on the clothes. Provide fresh air flow. To do this, open the window.
- Give the victim at least 2 liters of water with potassium permanganate diluted in it to drink. Subsequently, induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue with a tablespoon.
- When the main part of the cocktails has left the body through vomiting, the patient should drink the intestinal sorbent, following the instructions on the package. This could be charcoal, smecta, polysorb or any other means at hand.
- Call an ambulance and make sure that the person does not lose consciousness until the doctor arrives.
It is prohibited to give the victim any medications. 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 energy drink poisoning, they 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 vigor have only a temporary effect, and it is also very harmful to the body.
The chemical composition of such a drink is extremely harmful to the body,” said Alexey Rafailovich. - It contains a lot of synthetic substances, for example, taurine. This additive is present in many food products, but the amount of it in one can of energy drink is 600–700 times higher than the daily intake.
- How is the stimulating effect achieved?
Caffeine, contained in large quantities in energy drinks, has a strong stimulating effect on the central nervous system. There is a powerful release of adrenaline, as if under stress: all organs are mobilized, breathing and heart rate increase. Thus, the body exhausts its reserves, and after the end of the energy drink, a person feels lethargic, drowsiness, and experiences a state of fatigue.
- Shuya youth often drink energy drinks along with alcohol. What is the result of such interaction?
This combination is the most dangerous for humans. Due to the large amount of caffeine, an unpleasant sensation of a strong heartbeat appears for a person, while alcohol, being a tranquilizer, smoothes out this sensation. A person who has taken an energy drink feels a surge of strength, his performance increases, but his sense of caution is dulled.
- To whom, first of all, energy drinks are contraindicated, and is there a dose of an energy drink that is harmless to the body?
Energy drinks are completely contraindicated for children, the elderly and people in poor health. Such cocktails can be consumed only in extreme cases by people in good health, if it is necessary to complete a large amount of work in the shortest possible time. The dose of one energy drink should not exceed a can. But drinking energy drinks should be the exception, not the rule!
- Are there medications that can be a safe alternative to energy drinks?
A healthy person does not need additional stimulants. You can make a number of recommendations that will help you avoid the need to take energy drinks. Firstly, it is a healthy sleep of at least eight hours a day, drinking vegetable juices and vitamins. Secondly, you need to make it a rule not to leave things until the last day. We recommend medications in rare cases and mainly for people with health problems.
- Is coffee harmful to health?
If a person is not hypertensive, drinking a cup of coffee in the morning will help you wake up faster and cheer up. But drinking this drink during the day is not advisable, because it is equivalent to the effect of an energy drink.
- Should the sale of energy drinks be banned?
It is best to limit the distribution of energy drinks to pharmacies and sell them exclusively to people who have reached the age of majority. It is also necessary to increase the cost of such drinks to make them unaffordable for teenagers going to discos.
Voice of the people
Neither I nor my friends drink energy drinks. Firstly, there is no such need, and secondly, we have heard about their harm to health. If I need to cheer myself up, I drink coffee, but mostly I try to limit myself to tea and fruit juices.
For me, a good example was the case of my friend. After two cans of energy drink, the girl felt very nauseous and almost lost consciousness. After this, none of our friends are interested in such things, and we advise everyone we know not to drink such cocktails.
Svetlana:
I have heard a lot about the dangers of energy drinks for the body, so for myself I absolutely do not accept the use of these cocktails. I live in a private house, drink water from a well, and I can say that pure natural water gives a person much more energy.
Stimulating non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks are called energy drinks. The composition of the energy drink stimulates the human central nervous system. By drinking a jar of the 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 drinking energy drinks is safe. Few people know about such a thing as energy drink poisoning. Regular consumption causes deterioration in health and depletes the resources of the human body.
Composition of energy drinks
A universal healer or a bone of contention?
Сaffeine, guaranin, theinum - all these are Latin “names” of the main culprit in coffee-related disputes - caffeine.
Overdoses of caffeine, an alkaloid with psychostimulant properties, deplete nerve cells. This was first proven by the creator of the science of higher nervous activity, Ivan Pavlov. The Russian physiologist also found that caffeine enhances positive conditioned reflexes and motor activity, dispels drowsiness and improves performance.
Later it turned out that its psychostimulating effect depends on the type of nervous system. Easily excitable people should remember this.
Among the main “advantages” of the drink for the central nervous system (CNS) are the following:
- one cup of coffee a day strengthens the blood-brain barrier - a kind of filter between the blood and the central nervous system that prevents microbes and toxins from “slipping” from the bloodstream into the brain;
- coffee increases the stress threshold and reaction speed, improves cognitive function and helps you think. Its regular use is beneficial for the body of people whose professional duties require constant composure and efficiency in solving problems;
- caffeine changes the electrical potential of the brain, while blocking receptors responsible for age-related memory loss. Therefore, people who drink coffee 4-5 times a day are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease in old age.
Huge doses of it will disrupt the coordinated functioning of the heart and digestive organs, instead of vigor they will bring anxious feelings, lethargy and depression, headaches and insomnia.
Ingredients of energy drinks
People who care about their health should know what happens 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 are successfully filling store shelves with new jars with a variety of flavoring additives. However, this product contains active ingredients that are dangerous to humans. Frequent use is dangerous; there have been cases of death from energy drinks.
Let's take a closer look at the composition and properties of the components of this product:
- The stimulant component is caffeine.
- The sulfonic acid taurine, which accumulates independently in human muscle tissue. Research shows that taurine has antioxidant properties.
- L-carnitine. It is worth remembering that the human body itself produces such a component in the required volume.
- Some brands add pharmaceutical herbs such as ginseng and guarana. They have tonic and biostimulating properties.
- Metabolic processes are supported by B-vitamins.
- Substance Matein (quenches hunger, burns excess calories, 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. Overdose is very dangerous for people. Before consuming such products, it is worth studying the label.
Should you drink energy drinks?
What do they contain?
Buyers of products of this type are well aware that they are produced in containers with a volume of 0.33 liters, less often 0.5 liters. This is due to a number of reasons. One of them is the desire of manufacturers to limit the one-time consumption of energy drinks by the person who bought them.
In various countries around the world there are restrictions on the sale of such drinks. For example, in the USA, since 2010, it has been prohibited to sell energy drinks in all states. In some European countries, products of this type are sold only in pharmacies.
The composition of most energy drinks includes:
- Caffeine. Included in all types of energy drinks. Acts as the main stimulator of brain function. Caffeine itself is even good for the heart, but only in adequate dosages and in the form of natural coffee.
- Taurine. Stimulates metabolic processes in the body and has anticonvulsant properties.
- Carnitine. Reduces muscle fatigue and accelerates the oxidation of fatty acids.
- Guarana. It has tonic properties and removes lactic acid from muscle tissue.
- Matein. Dulls the feeling of hunger and promotes weight loss.
- Sugar. It has a destructive effect on blood vessels and the body as a whole.
Also check out the infographic:
Each type of drink contains vitamins of different groups. The carbon dioxide contained in cola promotes the rapid absorption of the drink into the human blood. The effect of invigorating the body is felt from the first sips. For a short time, a person feels a surge of strength.
The effect of energy drinks on the body lasts no more than 4 hours. A 0.25 ml can of energy drink equals 2 cups of espresso coffee.
The effects of energy drinks on the body
Many people don't think about the possibility of getting poisoned by energy drinks. They are confident that they are restoring their resources and receiving benefits. Of course, energy drinks have a stimulating effect on the endocrine and nervous systems. But after consuming it, the body experiences severe stress, and there is a large burden on the body as a whole.
Adrenaline, entering the blood, causes a feeling of a surge of energy, euphoria and an unbridled desire to work with new forces appear. Overdosing on energy drinks can have dangerous consequences. The effect of energy drinks on the human body causes the following symptoms:
- regular loss of strength;
- insomnia;
- feeling irritable;
- depression;
- frequent stomach upsets.
Death from energy drinks can eventually occur. Young people love energy drinks, but they should always remember the consequences of overdosing on energy drinks.
The influence of energy drinks on human health
Getting addicted to energy drinks
Numerous studies on energy drinks report disappointing results. Systematic use of the product inevitably causes strong and lasting addiction to it. People develop an addiction that is so strong that it can be compared to alcoholism.
And here you need to find the line and seek help from doctors in time. The harm of energy drinks for teenagers causes enormous damage to their life. You shouldn’t put your life in danger, and you need to remember what harm they get from energy drinks. Each person must understand for himself why the effects of energy drinks are 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 correctly
Before you drink a delicious jar, remember the dangerous properties:
- Under no circumstances should you mix alcohol with energy drinks. It causes a strong surge in pressure. Which can lead to a hypertensive crisis and even death.
- After sports training, you should not overload the body with such a product. This causes dehydration and a spike in blood pressure.
- During the hot season, there is no need to overuse it. The autonomic and cardiovascular systems work at double capacity to balance the temperature load. And the energy drink accelerates such processes, warming up the human body even more, which leads to severe stress. Therefore, do not drink drinks more than twice a week.
- The energy drink is not compatible with caffeine-containing products. An overdose can lead to severe poisoning of a person.
Energy drinks are drugs
Is it possible to drink coffee before an ECG?
An ECG is a procedure that results in heart rate measurements. Before diagnosis, you should observe some restrictions. For example, you should not smoke, take stimulants, drink alcohol or coffee. The latter quickly provokes activation of internal organs and systems. This leads to a violation of the electrocardiogram coefficient.
Contraindications
An energy drink, the harm and benefit of which has a negative effect on the human body, has its own categorical contraindications:
- A pregnant or breastfeeding woman who drinks an energy drink does great harm to her baby.
- Drinks are not recommended for children and teenagers.
- Not for elderly people, as well as patients with heart problems and thrombophlebitis.
- Not recommended for sleep-related problems.
- Diabetics, ulcer sufferers, and epileptics should not drink such products.
- People with vision problems are also not recommended to abuse this product.
Those who have good health should remember that the harm or benefits of energy drinks have been proven by medical research. The risks of poisoning are reduced with the correct dosage of the drink.
How do energy drinks affect a teenager’s body?
How to reduce harm - 4 rules
Taking energy drinks has a number of contraindications and can greatly harm your health, which will be difficult to restore later. There are a number of diseases, the presence of which makes drinking the drink deadly. These diseases include hypertension, angina and other heart diseases.
Under no circumstances should you:
- combine energy drinks with coffee, strong tea and medications;
- drink more than 2 cans of the product at once;
- drink the drink during training, on the dance floor or while doing heavy physical work;
- Do not drink energy drinks immediately after going to bed in the morning.
Emergency care for poisoning
If a person neglects the rules for consuming energy drinks, he can 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.
- It is necessary to induce a gag reflex in the patient in order to clear the stomach of the energy drink.
- Take the person out into the fresh air.
- You need to drink sorbents and drink as much water as possible (drinking plenty of water will remove toxic substances from the body).
It should be remembered that rapid heartbeat, redness of the skin, a jump in pressure, loss of consciousness are signals that necessarily require going to the hospital.
Energy drinks, the harm and benefits of which have been proven by numerous studies, require only a healthy person. Decide for yourself whether such drinks are harmful for you. But remember that they all have their contraindications. By consuming them in recommended doses, you will not cause yourself much harm.
