Are energy drinks safe to consume prior to physical activity?
Energy drinks have become prevalent in recent years. You see them everywhere. They are in convenience stores, grocery stores, and on college campuses. The popularity of energy drinks come from the claims of enhanced performance, increased energy, and even improved concentration. The promoters of these energy drinks make claims that can be extremely enticing. But are these claims true or just marketing ploys?
Most energy drinks are comprised of caffeine, alternate stimulants like guarana and ginseng, vitamins, amino acids, and hefty portions of sugar. The quantity of caffeine included in the energy drinks is usually equivalent to that of a cup of coffee. Coffee usually contains an average of 80mg of caffeine per cup. The quantities of caffeine and sugar account for the expected energy burst.
The companies promoting the energy drinks claim that the drinks are ideal precursors to demanding athletic activities or plunges in performance capacity. However sports nutritionists warn that energy drinks are detrimental for athletes. The levels of caffeine and sugar cause the body to slow the rate of water absorption. In addition, caffeine acts as a diuretic. The combination can cause the consumer to become severely dehydrated. For persons engaging in demanding physical activity like weight lifting, aerobic exercise, or athletics the results can be dangerous and can actually impede performance and progress.
The stimulants in energy drinks can be powerful. The energy drinks can increase the heart rate and blood pressure. Blood pressure increases can be extreme enough to cause palpitations. The energy drinks by themselves are generally not considered dangerous. But the energy drinks should not be consumed immediately prior to engaging in physical activity. And keep in mind that many of the energy drinks available mix a variety of ingredients which haven’t been thoroughly studied to determine if any possible long-term side effects may occur.
