Effects of Energy Drinks on the Body

Most of you reading this have drank an energy drink at some time in your lifetime an never once thought of the dangers or side effects associated with them.
If you haven't then nows the time to learn.

Energy drinks like Red Bull, Rockstar and Amp have large doses of ephedrine, guaranna, ginseng, caffeine, taurine, and glucuronolactone. The average amount of caffeine in a energy drink is 80mg which is equal to a cup of coffee. The average soda has between 23-37mg of caffeine in one can.

Caffeine, Taurine, and Glucuronolactone are naturally made in the body, however the amounts of these contained in energy drinks are high.
Caffeine has an effect on the brain that can cause a decline in the immune system.

Taurine - an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. Amino acids help to build protein. They are also believed to detoxify and cleanse the body of harmful substances. In times of stress and high physical activity, the body can lose small amounts of taurine. Some people use energy drinks to try to replace or build up their body's level of taurine.
Glucuronolactone - also occurs naturally in the body. It is a natural metabolite and carbohydrate formed when glucose breaks down, and is believed to be helpful in ridding the body of harmful substances and providing an instant energy boost.
Caffeine - is a stimulant which acts on the central nervous system to speed up the messages to and from the brain so that the person feels more aware and active.

Who should not drink them?

Children
these drinks are marketed to young people, and kids as early as 12 have been seen drinking these popular drinks. Research shows the ingredients in these drinks can boost heart rate, raise blood pressure, dehydrate, prevent sleep, cause bed wetting, anxiety, irritability, and anxiousness.

these drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar, if your child were to drink one it would be like drinking a cup of coffee and eating a cup of pure sugar.

Pregnant Women
The high amounts of caffeine found in these drinks can increase miscarriage, difficult birth, and low birth weight babies, especially if drank in the first three months of pregnancy.

Remember that whatever you put into your body you are also giving to your unborn child.

People who drink alcohol
Mixing energy drinks with alcohol can be harmful, there have been reports of young people dying while mixing alcohol and energy drinks.

Since energy drinks are a stimulant it can make you feel energized and you may not realize how intoxicated you actually are. After the stimulant wears off the depressant in alcohol will kick in and may make you vomit and/or cause respiratory depression.

Both the energy drink and the alcohol cause dehydration and can increase the intoxity level and the hangover the next day.

Active sports people
Unlike Gatorade that replenishes minerals and water lost during activity, drinking energy drinks can cause severe dehydration.

Other
People with heart disease and people with low caffeine tolerance should not drink these.

Do not drink energy drinks on an empty stomach doing so can make you light headed, sick to your stomach, head aches, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Energy drinks aren't necessarily bad for you, but they aren't considered good for you either, take precautions when drinking these. Researchers recommend not consuming more than two of these drinks a day.