With a sleepless night on the horizon and the idea of making coffee hard to digest, many people choose the easiest option to consume energy drinks. Thus, they can be sure to finish their work. But what about the real effects of these drinks on human health?
You do not have to be a nutritionist to know that drinking so much sweet caffeine is a bad idea and it is bad for your health.
Negative effects proven by science
Previous studies have already linked Red Bull or Monster with stomach, nerve and heart problems, but a new study suggests that consuming a single energy drink could increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. 90 minutes.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Houston say energy drinks shrink blood vessels, limiting blood flow to vital organs.
The team says these findings are among the first to shed light on the possible mechanism linking high energy drink consumption to an increased risk metabolic syndrome.
They discovered that drinking a single can of an energy drink could shrink blood vessels in just 90 minutes, restricting blood flow to vital organs, leading to dangerous health problems such as heart attacks or strokes. (AVC).
During the study, the team examined 44 20-year-old students from the University of Texas Medical School, all of whom were non-smokers and classified as "healthy." The researchers wanted to test the effect of energy drinks on the endothelium, a layer of cells covering the surface of veins, arteries and other blood vessels.
When testing the endothelial function before the test subjects drank a single energy drink of 710 milliliters and 90 minutes later, the team found that the internal diameter of the blood vessels was on average almost twice as small as 90 minutes before. But why did this happen?
The team suggested that the negative effect on blood vessels could be related to the effects of the ingredients in energy drinks, including caffeine, taurine, sugar and other herbs.
A large amount of sugar and caffeine
Most energy drinks contain a large amount of sugar. For example, a 355 ml can of Red Bull contains 37 grams of sugar, the equivalent of more than nine teaspoons.
According to a study conducted by researchers at the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester and led by Dr. Richard Rainbow, a specialist in cardiovascular cell physiology, high blood glucose can cause greater contraction of blood vessels, reducing the amount of blood reaching the vital organs.
These drinks also contain 80 milligrams of caffeine per 250 milliliters, or about the equivalent of 2.5 cans of Coca-Cola.
Caffeine can also cause contraction of blood vessels and the release of adrenaline, a hormone that can temporarily increase blood pressure.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, nearly a third of American teens aged 12 to 17 regularly consume energy drinks.
According to Dr. John Higgins, a professor of medicine at McGovern School where the University of Texas study was conducted, with energy drinks becoming more and more popular, it is important to study their effects on those who use them. drink frequently and better determine what constitutes, if any, a safe drinking pattern.
In the face of the health hazards of energy drinks, why not opt for natural energizing foods? Here is a list of foods that naturally contain caffeine and are rich in energizing nutrients such as fiber and vitamin B12.
Natural energizing foods
Oatmeal
The low glycemic index of oatmeal makes the oat bowl a good choice instead of a cup of coffee in the morning. The complex carbohydrates found in oats provide slow-burning energy so you can get enough energy until late in the morning. Oats stimulate serotonin production to fight stress and improve learning and memory functions.
Dates
This fruit has a naturally high sugar content, 18 grams in 25 grams of dates. Because it is natural and accompanied by fiber, you will not experience a sudden spike or sudden drop in blood sugar. Take one or two dates for an energizing snack.
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is rich in theobromine, a natural stimulant similar to caffeine. Dark chocolate can also stimulate serotonin production, helping to improve mood, which can give extra energy boost.
