Energy drinks are a relatively recent invention of mankind. Although their components have been used as invigorating agents since centuries before the invention of aluminum cans. It seems that the invention of energy tonics is a panacea for students during the session, workers on deadline days, fitness athletes going for a record, tired drivers and nightclub visitors and everyone who is very tired, but must continue to be in a cheerful state of mind and body. Drink a jar - and you no longer nod off, but can continue again and again...

Manufacturers claim that their drinks bring only benefits and produce more and more new varieties. If everything is so rosy, why did legislators try to pass a law limiting the distribution of the miracle drink? Let's figure it out.

Caffeine. All energy drinks without exception contain it. Acts as a stimulant: 100 mg of caffeine stimulates mental activity, 238 mg increases cardiovascular endurance. To get this effect, you need to drink at least three cans, but energy drink manufacturers recommend drinking no more than 1-2 cans per day.

Taurine. One jar on average contains from 400 to 1000 mg of taurine. This is an amino acid that accumulates in muscle tissue. It is believed that it improves the functioning of the heart muscle. However, recently, among doctors, opinions have emerged that taurine has no effect on human body.

Carnitine. It is a component of human cells that promotes the rapid oxidation of fatty acids. Carnitine increases metabolism and reduces muscle fatigue.

Guarana and ginseng. Medicinal plants with tonic properties. Guarana leaves are used in medicine: they remove lactic acid from muscle tissue, reducing pain during physical activity, prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis and cleanse the liver. Doctors, however, believe that the stimulating properties attributed to guarana and ginseng have not been confirmed by research.

B vitamins. Necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system and the brain in particular. The body can feel their deficiency, but increasing the dose will not improve your productivity, mental abilities or anything else, as energy drink manufacturers try to convince you.

Melatonin. Contained in the body and is responsible for the daily rhythm of a person.

Matein. A substance that is part of the South American green tea mate. Evergreen tree extract Ilex Paraguarensis helps cope with hunger and promotes weight loss.

Energy drinks: harm or benefit?

Facts "Pro"

If you just need to perk up or activate your brain, energy drinks are great for these purposes.

You can find a drink according to your needs. Energy tonics are divided into groups for people with different needs: Some contain more caffeine, others contain vitamins and carbohydrates. "Coffee" drinks are suitable for inveterate workaholics and students who work or study at night, and "vitamin-carbohydrate" drinks - active people who prefer to conduct free time in gym.

Energy drinks contain a complex of vitamins and glucose. There is no need to talk about the benefits of vitamins. Glucose is quickly absorbed into the blood, is included in oxidative processes and delivers energy to the muscles, brain and other vital organs.

The effect from drinking coffee lasts 1-2 hours, from energy drinks - 3-4. In addition, almost all energy drinks are carbonated, which speeds up their impact - this is the third difference from coffee.

The packaging allows you to consume energy drinks in any situation (dance floor, car), which is not always possible with coffee or tea.

Facts against:

Drinks can be consumed in strictly dosed quantities. Maximum – 2 cans per day. As a result of drinking a drink in excess of the norm, a significant increase in blood pressure or blood sugar levels.

In France, Denmark and Norway, until 2009, “energy drinks” were prohibited for sale in grocery stores; they could only be bought in pharmacies, as they were considered a medicine.

People with blood pressure or heart problems should avoid these drinks.

The opinion that tonic saturates with energy is absolutely unjustified. The contents of the jar, like a key, open the door to the body's internal reserves. In other words, the jar does not give energy, it sucks it out of you. A person uses his own resources, or, more simply, borrows them from himself. The debt, of course, sooner or later has to be repaid, paying with fatigue, insomnia, irritability and depression.

Caffeine contained in tonics, like any stimulant drug, depletes the nervous system. The effect lasts on average from three to five hours - after which the body requires a break. In addition, caffeine is addictive. However, it is worth noting that the EU safety authority food products conducted studies on the basis of which it was concluded that the risk from consuming non-alcoholic tonic drinks does not exceed the risk from consuming coffee - again, only if you do not exceed the recommended dosage.

Energy drinks, like a drink containing sugar and caffeine, are unsafe for a young body.

Many energy drinks contain large quantities vitamin B, which can cause rapid heartbeat and tremors in the arms and legs.

Fitness enthusiasts should remember that caffeine is a good diuretic. This means that you cannot drink the drink after a workout, during which we lose water.

In case of overdose, side effects are possible: tachycardia, psychomotor agitation, nervousness, depression.

Tonics contain taurine and glucuronolactone. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an opinion on these constituents as ingredients in non-alcoholic tonic energy drinks in February 2009. It turned out that in the quantities in which they are contained in energy drinks, taurine and glucuronolactone are safe for human health. However, these supplements also have their contraindications: in particular, under 18 years of age, long-term use by diabetics (possible exacerbation of the disease).

As you can see, there are more arguments against than arguments for. And yet, it is quite possible that there may come a time in your life (hopefully a one-time event) when you feel the need to drink a can of energy drink. In this case, read the rules for using tonics to help you avoid harming your beloved body.

Caffeine is eliminated from the blood within 3–5 hours, and even then by half. Therefore, you cannot mix tonics and other caffeine-containing drinks (coffee, tea) during this time - you may greatly exceed the permissible dose.

Many drinks are very high in calories. If you drink energy drinks at the gym, drink them only before your workout. If your plans are only to restore strength, but you do not intend to lose weight, you can use such tonics both before and after classes.

You cannot mix tonics with alcohol (as, for example, visitors to nightclubs often do). Caffeine increases blood pressure, and when combined with alcohol, its effect is greatly enhanced. As a result, a person can easily experience a hypertensive crisis.

Health and medical experts say that tonics are nothing more than fortified coffee substitutes, only more dangerous to health. A fruit juices and glucose contained in many products can lift our spirit to the same heights. So it’s up to you to decide whether to use tonics or not. But now we have a reason to drink a cup of coffee with your favorite chocolate (instead of tonic) without remorse!

Tatiana POLYAK

Energy drinks appeared relatively recently and almost immediately conquered the market. Students and office workers drink them to improve concentration, and athletes and workers use energy drinks to maintain their tone. It would seem that a panacea for fatigue and drowsiness has been found. But everything is not so rosy. The harm of energy drinks to the human body has already been proven. It is better to completely exclude these drinks from the diet or drink them rarely and with extreme caution.

What components are included in energy drinks?

Reading the composition of energy drinks, you can come to the conclusion that they are very useful, because there are no harmful components. Most often energy drinks include:

Caffeine. Required ingredient. The substance has a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, which increases endurance, improves concentration, and relieves the feeling of fatigue.

Taurine. This is an amino acid that accumulates in muscles. The effect of the substance on the human body has not been fully studied. It is believed that it stimulates the heart muscle, but this has not been proven.

Carnitine. The substance is popular among athletes. It improves the oxidation of fatty acids. This speeds up metabolism and reduces muscle fatigue.

Melatonin. An important substance for the body that regulates human daily biorhythms.

Matein. This is an active substance that tones well and reduces appetite. Contained in South American mate tea.

Phytocomponents: ginseng and guarana. These are natural stimulants of plant origin. They perfectly tone up, relieve fatigue, and help cope with muscle pain during physical activity. Ginseng and guarana are also credited with the ability to cleanse the liver.

B vitamins. They are needed for the normal functioning of the central nervous system. A deficiency of B vitamins negatively affects brain function, well-being, and the condition of hair and nails.

Individually, the ingredients in energy drinks are not harmful, quite the opposite. But their combination and huge concentrations in drinks can cause serious damage to the body.

Why have energy drinks become so popular?

Energy drinks act almost instantly. If you need to quickly cheer up, concentrate, relieve fatigue and drowsiness, a jar of drink is what you need. Moreover, the range of energy drinks is extensive, and each buyer can easily select exactly the composition that is best suited for his purposes.

Drinks with a high concentration of caffeine are chosen by people engaged in mental work. And compositions with vitamins and carbohydrates perfectly support the strength of athletes. Tonics invigorate instantly (this is ensured by the gas), and the duration of the effect is twice that of other caffeine-containing drinks.

Another plus that is often forgotten is convenient packaging. A can of drink is easy to carry in your purse, hold in your hand, and the opened drink does not spill out. A cup of tea or coffee does not have such benefits. In addition, the harm of energy drinks is often downplayed, and many people think that the drinks are relatively safe.

The harm of energy drinks: why you should give them up

Energy drinks have powerful effects on the human body. Until 2009, several countries (for example, France, Denmark, Norway) prohibited their free sale. It was possible to purchase tonics only at the pharmacy, since they were considered medicines, were used strictly in doses, ideally on the recommendation of a doctor.

Energy drinks affect all organs and systems:

Raises blood pressure. This is unsafe, and is strictly prohibited for hypertensive patients.

Increases blood sugar levels. This leads to dysfunction of the endocrine glands.

Reduce overall tone. Energy drinks provide only a short-term burst of energy, and then a decline occurs. This manifests itself in the form of irritability, weakness, depression, insomnia, and increased fatigue.

They deplete the nervous system. Drinks do not add strength, they simply provoke the body to expend additional energy.

Causes rapid heartbeat and tremors. A deficiency of B vitamins depresses the functions of the nervous system, but an excess is no better. An overdose leads to trembling and uncontrolled motor activity.

Lead to dehydration. Many components of energy drinks have diuretic properties, which negatively affects the condition of the kidneys and the water-salt balance of the body.

Exacerbate symptoms of diabetes. Although energy drinks in moderate quantities do not cause disease, they do contribute to the deterioration of the condition of diabetics.

Doctors believe that systematic consumption of energy drinks in large quantities can provoke cancer, lead to obesity, blood clots and even cause epilepsy. Although there is no 100% scientific evidence, it is worth giving up energy drinks so as not to expose yourself to unnecessary risks.

The modern rhythm of life involves spending a lot of energy. After hard work or a night out, a hard workout or studying for an exam, you need a boost of energy. Many people solve this problem with energy drinks. They appeared recently, but have gained wide popularity.

They contain ingredients that can stimulate the nervous system and relieve fatigue.

Are they safe for the body, and in what quantities can they be consumed? This material will tell you about energy drinks and their effect on health.

Compound

The benefits and harms of energy drinks are determined by their composition. Despite the large offer on the market, the main components of the drinks remain the same.
So, the composition of the energy drink includes the following elements:

• Caffeine – stimulates mental and physical activity. With its help, drowsiness and fatigue disappear, but at the same time blood pressure increases. The effect of caffeine is short-lived and lasts about three hours. After it ends, fatigue returns and proper rest is required. An overdose is manifested by nervousness, insomnia, irritability, accelerated heart rate, convulsions;
• Taurine is an amino acid that tends to accumulate in muscle tissue. It is necessary for the normal functioning of the immune and nervous systems. In small quantities, it relieves muscle fatigue and improves the functioning of the heart muscle. Overdose studies have not been conducted;
• Carnitine is necessary for the oxidation of fatty acids. Its action is aimed at reducing muscle fatigue and increasing metabolism;
• Guarana and - produce a tonic effect and are natural psychostimulants. Thanks to them, physical and mental activity increases and fatigue disappears. Abuse leads to insomnia, anxiety and increased blood pressure;
• B vitamins – ensure the functioning of the brain and nervous system as a whole. Their deficiency negatively affects the human body and well-being, however, these vitamins do not have any energy value, nor do they increase mental abilities;
• Melatonin – determines a person’s daily rhythm, ensures activity and vital functions;
• Matein – helps reduce hunger and weight;
• Theobromine is a strong stimulant.

The KBJU of various energy drinks may differ due to the variety of various additives included in their composition. There are no proteins or fats in them, carbohydrates are 11 g, calorie content is 45-52 kcal. There is no alcohol in energy drinks, however, there are also alcoholic drinks of about 7%.

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Benefits of drinking energy drinks

Are energy drinks healthy? Manufacturers convince of their high usefulness and absence of harm from their use. Is it so?
The following facts speak in favor of energy workers:

• Activate the brain and help you cheer up in a short time;
• Contains vitamins and glucose. There is no point in talking about the benefits of vitamins. Glucose provides organs and muscles with energy and is therefore necessary for the body;
• Provides a selection of drinks to suit everyone's needs. There are energy drinks with a lot of carbohydrates and vitamins, while others are more concentrated on caffeine content. In the first case, the drink is preferable to athletes and active people, and in the second - to workaholics, students, people who work at night;
• The effect of the energy drink lasts 3-4 hours, while the effect of coffee is noticeable for only 1-2 hours. Also, almost all energy drinks are carbonated. This helps accelerate their effect on the body;
• Convenient packaging that allows use in any situation and place.

A great way to cheer up without harming your health is to drink a cup of green coffee.

Why is energy drink harmful?

Every product has contraindications, energy drinks are no exception. They are prohibited for pregnant women, the elderly, hypertensive patients, children and adolescents, people with increased excitability and sleep disorders. So, are non-alcoholic energy drinks harmful, and why are there such restrictions?
The negative aspects of energy drinks are as follows:

• Exceeding the recommended norm threatens an excessive increase in blood sugar levels, or there is a high probability of an increase in blood pressure;
• The vitamins contained in the composition are insignificant and do not replace a multivitamin complex;
• They have a negative effect on the heart and blood pressure, so if the functioning of the cardiovascular system is disrupted, it should be avoided;
• The drink does not saturate with energy, but activates reserves of available resources. The body spends even more energy that needs to be replenished. Because of this, fatigue, depression, insomnia, irritability appear;
• Caffeine depletes the nervous system, so a break is required after the effects wear off. In addition, addiction is possible;
• An unhealthy concentration of vitamin B can lead to tremors in the legs and arms, rapid heartbeat;
• Caffeine has a diuretic effect, which means energy drinks are not suitable for training, especially after physical activity when the body has already lost a lot of water.

You will learn more about the dangers of energy drinks from the video:

Negative effects on men's health

The effect of energy drinks on a man’s body cannot be called positive. After a short euphoria comes fatigue and rapid heartbeat. Due to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure rises, placing a huge burden on the cardiovascular system.

Erection problems begin due to impaired blood circulation to the genital organ. It is due to overload of the cardiovascular system that this dysfunction can occur. Of course, a one-time use of an energy drink will not lead to such an effect, however, abuse of them can lead to an overdose and problems with potency.

Is it possible for pregnant women?

During pregnancy, energy drinks are among the prohibited products that negatively affect the body of a pregnant woman and the development of the baby. What does the product affect? Energy drinks are dangerous primarily due to their high concentration of caffeine. This component has a negative effect on the nervous system of the mother and child, increases the tone of the uterus, blood pressure, heart rate, and disrupts blood circulation.

Components such as taurine, guarana, and carnitine also produce a negative effect. Taurine leads to the destruction of pancreatic cells. A high concentration of glucose provokes the release of adrenaline, which causes the blood vessels to sharply constrict. In general, all components can lead to a decrease in fetal weight, disruption of the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

What are the dangers for teenagers?

Children are not allowed to drink energy drinks. Excessive load on children's body can lead to many negative consequences. How do energy drinks affect the body of a teenager and child? In fact, the effect is no different from the effect on an adult body. The main nuance is that even a small dose of energy drink can cause an overdose and associated negative symptoms in a child.

These drinks increase the risk of high sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes. In addition, this is a source high blood pressure, due to which there is a high probability of developing hypertension. Even an excess of B vitamins leads to complications, namely trembling and increased heart rate. In addition, caffeine is a strong stimulant and depletes the nervous system. At what age can you drink energy drinks? Due to the high risks of overdose, it is not recommended to drink them before the age of 18.

Features of use

To avoid negative consequences from drinking energy drinks, you should follow certain rules. The best solution will refuse to include them in the diet. However, if necessary, it is important to remember the following:

• You can drink energy drink no more than 2 cans per day;
• It is not recommended to drink two drinks in a row; you should first rest and recuperate after the end of the effect;
• You should not drink the product after playing sports, since both provoke an increase in blood pressure and dehydrate; the product is prohibited for athletes;
• It is forbidden to drink them in case of problems with the cardiovascular system, in the presence of hypertension, sleep disorders, glaucoma;
• Energy drinks and alcohol lead to an enhanced effect on increasing blood pressure, which can result in a hypertensive crisis.

Energy drinks force the organs to work hard, after which a long time is required to recuperate and rest. Their frequent use leads to migraines, arrhythmias, convulsions, increased blood pressure, diarrhea, ulcers, heart attacks, and irritability. An overdose of energy drinks causes nervousness, apathy, depression, mental agitation, tachycardia, and chronic problems with the functioning of the heart.

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Let's sum it up

The influence of energy drinks on the human body is characterized by a negative impact. Despite the short-term surge of strength and energy, the boost of vivacity quickly wears off, and fatigue becomes even stronger.

It will take much longer to recover.

How to replace energy drinks? It’s best to drink regular energy drinks instead cold water. Dehydration leads to drowsiness and lethargy, and adding a tonic effect will help lemon juice or honey Foods such as chocolate, whole grain bread, and oatmeal can energize you with vivacity and energy.

Similar materials

Energy drinks or “energy drinks,” as they are more often called, appeared on the world market relatively recently. But in just a few years since the release of the first “invigorating jar”, ​​they have already banned it in the USA and Australia, and in France and Denmark they have equated it with narcotic drugs and allowed their sale exclusively in pharmacy chains. The harm of energy drinks is visible to the naked eye, but so far, only specialists; ordinary citizens still believe in the benefits of taurine, theobromine and caffeine in the fight against fatigue.

What's hiding inside a can of energy drink?

The composition of energy cocktails is, for the most part, identical. What is 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 an apple 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.

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.

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 your 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.

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 They are popular among people who are forced to engage in vigorous activity for a long time. These people do not have time to complete tasks due to a lack of strength, which they try to find in the notorious drinks.

The problem lies in a lack of understanding of the harm from this, because how can a “vitaminized invigorating cocktail” created by skillful marketers harm? Yet medicine has a strictly negative attitude towards such liquids. To realize the truth, it is worth weighing the real pros and cons.

What it is

Energy are non-alcoholic drinks aimed at stimulating the active functioning of the body. Their main goal is to make the mind and body function at their best without feeling tired.

A miracle remedy appeared in 1938. Then the first invigorating drink called Lukozade was created, which was used to stimulate athletes. The latter showed excellent results, but then ended up in the hospital with food poisoning. The product was no longer produced for a very long time.

However, in 1994, the Redbull company appeared, creating its own brand and seemingly high-quality products, which became one of the most popular energy drinks on the market. There were no poisonings, so other corporations gradually emerged wanting to get their “piece of the pie” in a new promising niche. Today there are more than a hundred brands producing invigorating cocktails. And these are only the most famous ones in the CIS.

Video: Energy drinks: harm and benefit.

Compound

The effect of any energy drinks directly depends on their composition, the main components of which are:

• caffeine;
• ginseng;
• guarana;
• taurine;
• B vitamins;
• sugar.

Additional components, flavors, and taste enhancers are usually different for each manufacturer's products. It is clear that they do not provide anything useful, and excessive amounts of the same sugar lead to diabetes and vascular problems.

To understand the effects of the ingredients, you need to learn about each of them in more detail.

Caffeine

Caffeine has long been known for its psychostimulating and tonic properties. It contains adenosine, which suppresses communication with the central nervous system, which is why a person is not aware of fatigue. Under the influence of caffeine, adrenaline is produced, which maintains and even increases energy resources, as well as mental activity.

The disadvantages of coffee lie in the depletion of the central nervous system, restless sleep or insomnia, physical dependence, and problems with the cardiovascular system. To prevent this from happening, it is enough to drink no more than two or three small cups of coffee or one can of energy drink per day.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid produced as a result of the metabolism of cysteine ​​and methionine. It is contained in food (especially meat and fish), so a person even unconsciously consumes the required dose of the substance per day.

In energy drinks, the concentration of taurine exceeds 3180 mg/l, taking into account the daily dose of 400 mg/l. This amino acid is harmless to the body, but as a component of an energy drink it simply “takes up space” without providing any benefit.

It is added for its “quick stimulation of brain activity and benefits for cell membranes,” according to marketers. But in fact, no scientific evidence has been found for such big words.

Ginseng

Ginseng extract increases physical endurance, improves a person’s mood and memory, stimulates psychomotor activity and mental activity. Overall, this is very useful plant, which is added to many teas and various liquids.

There is no need to talk about the disadvantages. One can only take into account the fact that during laboratory studies, scientists were unable to confirm or refute both the positive and negative aspects of using ginseng.

B vitamins

Energy drinks also contain B vitamins, the amount of which exceeds the daily dose by 360% -2000%. However, you should not grab your heart, because unnecessary vitamins are eliminated in the “classical” way and do not have any effect on the body negative influence. But their presence in drinks is not justified in the same way as taurine.

They also play the role of “baits” that the consumer is led to. After all, when we all hear the word “vitamins,” we consider the product useful, right? Marketers skillfully manipulate this. Alas, the desired effect cannot be expected.

Guarana

Guarana is a caffeine analogue extracted from the seeds of the Amazonian vine. The properties of this substance are similar to those of caffeine, only the effectiveness is several times higher. For rough calculation, 40 mg of caffeine is equivalent to 1 g of guarana.

Energy drink manufacturers combine both components to prolong the effect and make it as strong as possible. Thanks to this symbiosis, the body can stay awake for up to 5 hours without feeling tired. But then she will appear in full regalia, forcing you to fall asleep on the go.

Benefit

It cannot be said that energy drinks have no benefits at all, otherwise they would not be so in demand. The main argument in favor is the opportunity to cheer up and “find access” to the active functioning of the brain and sources of inspiration.

I am pleased with the time it takes to achieve such an effect. It comes on almost instantly and lasts for at least three hours. For example, coffee or tea are not so effective, because they begin to act after 15 minutes, adding vigor for no more than an hour.

Another plus is ease of use. You just open the can and drink it, even while driving. Coffee is usually consumed hot, so such tricks will not work with it - unless a thermos helps. In any case, energy drinks invigorate you much better than coffee, tea or special medications.

Harm and contraindications

The harm of energy drinks outweighs the benefits. They resemble a small bomb, which, when exploding, causes damage to all systems of the body. This is a carbonated sweet that contains a lot of harmful or pointless ingredients.

At a minimum, such a cocktail leads to the formation of caries, increased blood sugar, and decreased immunity. It depletes the nervous system, the consequences of which are poor health, decreased performance, loss of strength, irritability, and depression.

• for gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers;
• To old people;
• pregnant women;
• with increased excitability and sleep disturbances;
• children and teenagers;
• those suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, glaucoma, blood pressure problems;
• with sensitivity to caffeine.

Side effects from excessive intake of energy drinks include rapid heartbeat, trembling limbs, fatigue, and drowsiness. And an overdose leads to cardiac arrest and death or coma.

Scientists have found that the “killer” dose is 15-25 cans of liquid. The difference depends on the body’s endurance, the frequency of taking invigorating cocktails, and even the person’s weight. Therefore, you should not rely on energy drinks, even if you urgently need to cheer up.

How to use without harm to health

Despite all the warnings, you can drink energy drinks without harm to your health. To do this, it is enough to adhere to the daily dose of the substance - 2-3 cans. If you do not exceed it and allow the body to recover after taking the “potion,” its effect will be neutralized.

You should not use it after playing sports, because your blood pressure will rise to dangerous levels. It is also undesirable to drink other caffeine-containing drinks within 3-5 hours after taking an energy drink.

Energy drinks and alcohol should not be mixed. Although the effect of the cocktail removes any inhibitions, relaxes the mind, tones the body - this all happens only in the first few hours. Next, a malfunction in the brain occurs, blood pressure rises, and even a hypertensive crisis is possible.

conclusions

Energy drinks still do more harm than good. The essence lies in their operating principle, because they do not bring energy, but take them out of the body’s resources, taking them as if in advance. Therefore, in the future, when the miracle effect wears off, the mind begins to slow down, and the body feels desperate fatigue, apathy, and drowsiness.

Frequent consumption of invigorating drinks leads to various diseases, and an overdose leads to death or coma. To reduce the harm from energy drinks, you should drink no more than two or three cans a day. It is not advisable to drink coffee, tea or other caffeine-containing liquids.

The answer to the main question “Can I drink energy drinks?” - yes, when you urgently need to recharge your batteries. But it is advisable to do this at least once a week so that the body has time to “cleanse itself.” You cannot drink energy cocktails every day. And it is important to monitor your own well-being so that you can stop at the right moment.