Are energy drinks bad for you?

Question

some say they are. why would they be? cause the caffiene or what?

Answer 1

Not if they're enjoyed in moderation.

Answer 2

Yeah I'd say its the caffeine. Try to find an energy drink that just has herbs and vitamins that pep you up instead.

Answer 3

Look at the sugars! It is loaded with sugars and it is not good especially if you have no plans on doing a work out right away, you will increase body fat percentage. I see they are making some with less or no sugar. Try Those!!!

Answer 4

Most of the common ones are total trash! You don't need stuff like that unless you are actively running or cycling in a long race (over 30 minutes of sustained activity).

Answer 5

Energy drinks are ment to give u energy and as long as u don't drink 20 Red Bulls a day, you're allright! :)

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

Too much sugar and caffeine.

Once in a while won't hurt but regular use will cause you to gain weight and may make your nerves jittery.

Answer 8

Some have a high sodium content and that causes high blood pressure.

Answer 9

just dont drink more then 5 a week and you'll be OK

Answer 10

Not that I know of...I drink them all the time

Full Throttle

Answer 11

Read the label to find out the ingredients. Do not be swayed by the vitamin content.

The xanthines draw a lot of attention, chief of which is caffeine. Others are theophylline and theobromine. All of the xanthines have a similar stereo-chemistry but each has its own unique set of dose-dependent properties. .

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) can cause premature ventricular contractions and other dose dependent symptoms listed below.

The plant Paulina cupana Mart. (Iles paraguayensis) yields yerba maté from its leaves and "guarana" from its seeds. Leaves and beans contain caffeine, theophylline and theobromine - all methyl xanthines. Many yerba maté enthusiasts insist that mateine is a stereoisomer of caffeine and thus a different substance altogether. However, this is impossible; caffeine is an achiral molecule with no stereogenic centers (also known as a chiral centers), and therefore has no stereoisomers.

The name 'guaraná' comes from the Guarani tribe that lives in Brazil. Guarana plays a very important role in their culture, as this herb is believed to be magical, a cure for bowel complaints and a way to regain strength. They also tell the myth of a 'Devine Child', that was killed by a serpent and whos eyes gave birth to this plant. Botanists actually believe that the current plants, even those found in dense forests, are the remains of indigenous cultivation in the past. Guaraná was also grown by the Maués, Andira and other tribes from the 'lower Amazon'. The botanical name of Guaraná, Paullinia cupana H.B.K. variety sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke, is derived from C. F. Paullini, a German medical botanist who lived in the 18th century.

The main chemicals found in guaraná are: adenine, allantoin, alpha-copaene, anethole, caffeine, carvacrol, caryophyllene, catechins, catechutannic acid, choline, dimethylbenzene, dimethylpropylphenol, estragole, glucose, guanine, hypoxanthine, limonene, mucilage, nicotinic acid, proanthocyanidins, protein, resin, salicylic acid, starch, sucrose, tannic acid, tannins, theobromine, theophylline, timbonine, and xanthine.

The theory behind how guaraná works is relatively straightforward. The major active constituent is caffeine (sometimes called “guaranine” to make you think it’s different in some way) and similar alkaloids such as theobromine and theophylline (which are also found in coffee and tea). Guaraná contains about twice the caffeine found in coffee beans (about 3-4% caffeine in guarana seeds compared to 1-2% for coffee beans). Concentrated guaraná extracts, however, can contain caffeine at levels of as much as 40-50%, with popular supplements delivering 50-200mg of caffeine per day (about the same amount found in 1-2 cups of strong coffee

An overdose of caffeine can result in a state termed caffeine intoxication or caffeine poisoning. Its symptoms are both physiological and psychological. Symptoms of caffeine intoxication include: restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushed face, diuresis, muscle twitching, rambling flow of thought and speech, paranoia, cardiac arrhythmia or tachycardia, and psychomotor agitation, gastrointestinal complaints, increased blood pressure, rapid pulse, vasoconstriction (tightening or constricting of superficial blood vessels) sometimes resulting in cold hands or fingers, increased amounts of fatty acids in the blood, and an increased production of gastric acid. In extreme cases mania, depression, lapses in judgment, disorientation, loss of social inhibition, delusions, hallucinations and psychosis may occur.

Because caffeine increases the production of stomach acid, high usage over time can lead to peptic ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Furthermore, it can also lead to nervousness, irritability, anxiety, tremulousness, muscle twitching, insomnia, heart palpitations and hyperreflexia

Individuals who consume caffeine regularly develop a reduction in sensitivity to caffeine; when such individuals reduce their caffeine intake, their body becomes oversensitive to adenosine, with the result that blood pressure drops dramatically, leading to an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), causing a headache. Other symptoms may include nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, anxiety and irritability; in extreme cases symptoms may include depression, inability to concentrate and diminished motivation to initiate or to complete daily tasks at home or at work.

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is one of the active ingredients commonly found in energy drinks and in pills which often feature caffeine and/or other stimulant ingredients. Taurine (from taurus = ox, (as it was discovered in ox bile) or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid is an acidic chemical substance found in bile: Bile (or gall) is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline fluid secreted by the liver of most vertebrates.

Taurine has two major roles in human metabolism:
It plays a role in digestion as part of chenodeoxychloic acid (bile). It may assist in the formation of reactive oxygen species for the respiratory burst in neutrophil granulocyte and there is some evidence it is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

Taurine possesses hypotensive effects and has an adverse effect on phosphatidylcholine hepatic synthesis.