Energy drinks have emerged as a contender for the top selling beverage of the last couple years. Everyone is drinking them. In today’s fast paced society who couldn’t use a boost of energy? The problem with energy drinks is that people are consuming them in large numbers, at the wrong times, and in the wrong combinations. And unfortunately consumers of energy drinks seem unaware, or perhaps just indifferent, to the health hazards posed by reckless or negligent consumption of the drinks.
Energy drinks are not dangerous products. It is up to the consumers to educate themselves on the potential risks of any ingestible product before consumption. One of the main concerns of health experts regarding the energy drinks is when the purchasers are drinking them. Many people are drinking them immediately before or during exercise. Some people are drinking multiple energy drinks throughout their workouts. Energy drinks can be dangerous if consumed directly before or during a workout.
The principal ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine or a caffeine-like herb. In addition to having a dehydrating effect on the body, caffeine is a diuretic. Diuretics will further dehydrate the body. One energy drink has a large amount of caffeine, 80 to 250mg each. If several energy drinks are consumed consecutively, serious health problems can arise. Possible effects of too much caffeine include cramps, seizures, abnormal heart rates, and an elevated body temperature.
This is not to say that energy drinks should be avoided. Energy drinks are perfectly safe if the consumer is responsible. Caffeine in moderation has been said to help fuel a work out. But the amount of caffeine in some energy drinks can cause some of the complications noted above. Try to avoid drinking energy drinks in conjunction with exercise or strenuous physical activity. If you are unwilling to give up the energy boost, make sure you are drinking extra water to make up for the dehydrating effect. Drinking additional quantities of water can offset any potential health concerns.