When it comes to energy drinks, it seems that the health risks they can cause seriously outweigh any benefits.
If you consume these drinks, you will surely be interested in the results of the latest research published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, which warn of the association of health risks with the increased consumption of energy drinks.
Experts claim that their consumption is becoming a "significant health problem of the future". Here's what damage energy drinks do to your body:
1. Mental health
The research revealed that teenagers who drink energy drinks have a higher risk of depression, while adults have more problems with stress and are dissatisfied with the quality of their sleep. The risk to mental health was greater the more of these drinks the study participants drank.
2. Kidney damage
Excess caffeine has been linked to kidney disease, as it can cause high blood pressure, and caffeine and the popular ingredient taurine have been reported to worsen chronic kidney disease. It is not yet clear whether smaller amounts of taurine can damage healthy kidneys, because as the scientists state, "we currently do not know the long-term effects of frequent use of this amino acid."
3. Type 2 diabetes
Energy drinks increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, because high caffeine consumption reduces insulin sensitivity. Many energy drinks contain eight times more caffeine than coffee, and the amount of sugar in them is even more worrying. The average energy drink contains about 54 grams of sugar, which is more than the recommended daily intake of 30 grams.
4. Cardiovascular problems
Excessive consumption of energy drinks can cause serious heart problems. Excessive caffeine consumption can thus cause high blood pressure, increased heart rate and heart palpitations ("fluttering" of the heart). Energy drinks have also been linked to cardiac arrest and, in rare cases, even death.
5. Tooth erosion
The acidity and high sugar content of these drinks can cause major problems in the mouth: with the teeth, dental cavity, tooth erosion, as well as the removal of the layer through which sensitivity and pain occur, reports B92.
Bonus video:
