Energy Drinks

Mohit Jagati takes a swig of an energy drink when he has to sail through important meetings at unearthly hours set as per the schedule of overseas clients.

Rishabh has been going to gym. One day his trainer asked him to have half a can of energy drink before a session of intense workout. He did and found that he could workout for longer period.

Energy drinks have added caffeine and other ingredients that their manufacturers claim increase stamina and “boost” performance. They’re designed for students, athletes and anyone else who wants an extra energy kick.
Yet, the question remains. Are energy drinks as innocuous as they are touted to be? Or, is there more to eyes? Let’s find out—-

“Although the manufacturers claim that energy drinks can improve your endurance and performance, but it is not true. Any boost you get from drinking them, they say, is solely from the sugar and caffeine, says Geetu Amarnani,” chief dietician at BLK Hospital.
Decode your energy drink

Sugar

It’s present as the source of energy that gets rapidly digested. But, you can get same energy with a glass of water and a spoonful of sugar mixed to it.

Caffeine

Most 500 ml cans of energy drink contain about 170 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to two 100 ml cups of coffee. Caffeine works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a brain chemical involved in sleep. When caffeine blocks adenosine, it causes neurons in the brain to fire. Thinking the body is in an emergency, the pituitary gland initiates the body’s “fight or flight” response by releasing adrenaline. This hormone makes the heart beat faster and the eyes dilate. It also causes the liver to release extra sugar into the bloodstream for energy. Caffeine affects the levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain’s pleasure center. All of these physical responses make you feel as though you have more energy.

Taurine

It’s one of the most abundant amino acids in the brain, where it can act as a neurotransmitter that allows your cells to communicate with one another. You can find almost 20 mg to 2000 mg of taurine in 500 ml can of energy drink.
Taurine helps in bile formation which can help in the digestion of fats. Hence, taurine in energy drinks may help you burn some fat.
There are other ingredients which we hear like ginseng, guarana and St. John’s wort. But it’s added in miniscule amounts and how they will benefit stays unclear.

Overdose

Numerous studies have revealed that strong doses of caffeine can increase hypertension, cause heart palpitations, irritability and nervousness as well as cause headaches and sleeplessness. In high quantities it can increase the risks of fatigue and dehydration. Like most things in life energy drinks are good only when had in moderation, concludes Amarnani.

Never combine energy drinks with alcohol because energy drink is a stimulant while alcohol is a depressant. You can imagine yourself the contrasting effect that this combination can bring in your system.

Archana Darshan

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