Energy drinks they are big business. According to a May 2022 article in Forbes, the energy drink market is projected to hit all-time highs of nearly $100 billion by 2027. The allure of energy drinks has been accelerating for a while, and it’s not going away any time soon. Innovation persists in this category through new takes on energy drinks like nitro-infused sodas, energy shots, or even adaptogenic energy drinks that continue to appear on grocery store shelves.
Major claims to fame for energy drinks include the “promise” of Energy for everything from athletic performance, to daily stimuli, increased mental focus and a boost in alertness. Energy drinks are often synonymous with high sugar content, excess caffeine (including guarana) and added B vitamins. Vitamin B-12 is often used in energy drinks because this vitamin is involved in energy metabolism in the human body, so the hope is that additional vitamin B-12 equals more energy. Unfortunately, additional vitamin B-12, either through diet or supplements, has not been shown to provide more energy unless there is a true nutritional insufficiency or deficiency.
Now may be the time to ditch the energy drinks. Read on for five surprising effects if you have them, and for more information on how to eat healthy, don’t miss out. The #1 Best Juice to Drink Every Day, Science Says.
Caffeine it’s a known stimulant, and most 16-ounce cans of energy drinks contain around 150 milligrams of caffeine. However, there are some energy drink brands with a staggering 300 milligrams per 16-ounce container! So much caffeine can really disrupt sleep. It is recommended to maintain the total intake of caffeine less than 400 milligrams per dayHowever, less than 300 milligrams is even more beneficial, and the number drops to less than 200 milligrams per day if you are pregnant. A 2013 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine concluded that having caffeine within six hours of bedtime has notable disruptive effects on sleep and that caffeine is associated with insomnia. It is reasonable to suspect that reducing caffeine intake might improve sleep duration.
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Although the headaches may be stronger the first few days due to withdrawal symptomsEliminating or reducing your caffeine intake from beverages like energy drinks will serve you well in the long run, including probably fewer headaches. the American Migraine Foundation recommends that people with episodic migraines and daily headaches limit or avoid caffeine altogether and that daily caffeine intake can lead to medication overuse (or “rebound”) headaches. A 2020 study in nutrients further explored the caffeine-headache connection, noting that higher doses of caffeine induce headaches and that higher initial caffeine intake increases the likelihood of withdrawal headaches. He should consider gradually reducing his current intake of caffeine from beverages such as energy drinks and being consistent with the amount he drinks each day to lessen the chance of these problems.
the American Psychological Association defines anxiety as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes such as increased blood pressure. About 31.1% of US adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in your life. Energy drinks, and specifically the caffeine they contain, have been associated with anxiety. A 2014 study in Depression and anxiety found a significant correlation between energy drink consumption and anxiety in young adult men.
Some evidence points towards higher abnormal heartbeats with excess caffeine consumption. Consumption of caffeinated coffee was associated with a 54% increase in premature ventricular contractions (a type of abnormal heartbeat) in an analysis of the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2021. In addition, the Journal of the American Heart Association published a 2019 study that concluded that acute consumption of a caffeinated energy drink significantly prolongs the “QTc interval” compared to a placebo. Longer QTc intervals are associated with arrhythmias and may be to blame for sudden cardiac arrest associated with energy drink consumption.
Energy drinks and the caffeine they contain can relax or weaken the lower esophageal sphincter of the digestive tract, which could then trigger acid reflux and heartburn. Controlling energy drink intake could result in better control of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as it decreases the likelihood of acid regurgitation in the throat or mouth. Some sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also benefit from eliminating energy drinks, as both the sugar (typically about 60 grams of added sugar per 16-ounce can) and the caffeine in energy drinks may alter intestinal transit time and cause cramps or diarrhea.
Molly Hembree, MS, RD, LD
Molly Hembree, MS, RD, LD, is a nationally recognized registered dietitian. read more
