Energy Drinks Health Effects - Essay Example

Energy Drinks Health Effects Outline I. Introduction A. Background Information B. Thesis: although present-day energy drinks candiffer in their composition and in possible effects on a human body, their adverse influences cause many concerns of health care specialists. II. Body A. Benefits of Energy Drinks 1. Conditioned by immediate positive effects on a body 2. Improves mental functions 3. Positive influence on physical ability and strengths B. Negative Effects of Energy Drinks 1. The industry is not properly regulated 2. Influences a variety of systems in a body a. Causes sleep disturbances, elevated blood pressure b. Can increase anxiety c. Withdrawal symptoms 3. Danger for adolescents and children a. List of components is discouraged b. Lack of research on effects on children and adolescents c. High risk of toxicity 4. Energy drinks and alcohol a. Decreased sleepiness b. Drinking more per a drinking session c. Propensity to risk of aggressive behavior d. Influences propensity for addiction III. Conclusion A. Summary of main findings B. Recommendation for action Introduction Energy drinks are parts of a wide and still growing industry presented by a great variety of beverages offered by a variety of companies. Currently, their popularity around the world is created by millions of people consuming them regularly for different reasons, starting from enhancing energy supply and ending with enjoyable taste. Yet, the production of energy drinks remains not properly controlled and there is no single standard that could define the permissible design of such beverages including which components and in what amount can be added. Subsequently, although present-day energy drinks can differ in their composition and in possible effects on a human body, their negative influences cause many concerns of health care specialists. Energy Drinks Benefits 1. Effects on mental functions The market of energy drinks is flourishing with great amount of people around the world continue choosing them as a preferable beverage. For instance, according to recent estimations, energy drinks occupy near 20 percent of the total range of beverages in stores. (Gunja & Brown, 2012) Such extensive and fast-gained popularity is mainly created by the immediate positive effects an energy drink can produce. The common components of energy drinks include “carbohydrate, caffeine, guarana, sodium, ginseng, taurine”, and many other nonnutritive stimulants. ("Sports drinks and," 2011) As a result, consuming energy drink a person can expect improvements in alertness, concentration, memory, and attention due to the nervous system stimulation. (Johnson, Foster & McDowell, 2014) Obviously, the fact that energy drinks can improve cognitive function and mental performance is viewed as their important advantage. 2. Enhanced physical activity Another factor that makes energy drinks attractive for a broad force of people is the ability to improve physical performance. Research proves the connection between energy drinks use and “enhanced aerobic endurance and strength, improved reaction time, and delayed fatigue”. ("Sports drinks and," 2011; Burrows, et al., 2013) Furthermore, according to Johnson, Foster & McDowell (2014), five studies that examined influence of such beverages revealed improvements of upper and lower body muscle strengths as well as cycling endurance. Thereof, energy drinks can be useful when a person trains hard or is involved in prolonged and intensive mental work and needs boost of energy, alertness, and concentration. Due to the ability to renew stores of energy and decrease the time of recovery, energy drinks would allow one to be physically and mentally active for a longer period of time and with better concentration. These positive effects make energy drink a common fuel for a sports event, a learning session, or a means to raise alertness after a few-hours-sleep night. Negative effect of energy drinks 1. Influence of various systems of the body Although energy drinks appear to be at the top of their popularity, their safety is being constantly questioned with specialists warning against the long list of negative health effects. Today, the energy drinks market contains a significant variety of beverages, each having its own distinct composition as far as the whole industry is mainly unregulated. (Arria & O’Brien, 2011) Consequently, numerous scientific sources explain that the composition of such beverages negatively influences all systems in a body. For instance, regular drinking is linked to sleep disturbances, elevated blood pressure, increased heart, speech rates and temperature, gastric secretion, obesity, diuresis and appearance of arrhythmias. (Arria & O’Brien, 2011) Furthermore, caffeine can increase anxiety in people suffering from anxiety disorder. ("Sports drinks and," 2011) In addition, Burrows, et al., (2013) cites “gastrointestinal upset, nausea, insomnia, spontaneous abortion” as possible outcomes. Furthermore, withdrawal from energy drinks can also be accompanied by such symptoms as headache, muscle pain, stiffness, and other. ("Sports drinks and," 2011; Burrows, et al., 2013) As a whole, the majority of reviewed articles name similar symptoms and it make a ground to consider them plausible. 2. Danger for adolescents and children What is more, while the habit of energy drinks consumption can, to some degree, be justified by the positive effects they are likely to produce, their use by children and adolescents should be given specific attention. To start with, the list of common components of energy drinks includes stimulants that are not advised for adolescents and children, because their use is not justified by scientific literature. What is more, the possibility of diverse negative effects is detected. ("Sports drinks and," 2011) Also, while the presence of positive immediate effects on adults is often mentioned in literature, there is a lack of research on similar effects on children and adolescents. At the same time, the amount of caffeine in energy drinks gives a ground to discuss their toxicity, which is proved by the caffeine overdose reports from hospitals and poisons centers. (Gunja & Brown, 2012; Reissig, Strain & Griffiths, 2009) Their cardiovascular and neurologic systems are also likely to be at negatively influenced. In addition, the risk of addiction and physical dependence is present. Energy drinks and alcohol Another issue that raises attention of health care specialists as being potentially dangerous is the tendency to mix energetic drinks with alcohol. It became common, especially for a youth, to consume alcohol at parties or dances mixing it with energy drinks to boost energy, prevent early fatigue and sleepiness. However, the following results in drinking more per a drinking session due to decreased sleepiness and feeling of impairment. People are not able to realize the degree of their drunkenness and continue consuming extensive amounts of alcohol, which in its turn, is linked to more serious health consequences as well as to risky and aggressive behavior, such drunk driving or assault. (Arria & O’Brien, 2011) Moreover, it is suggested that energy drinks can lead to alcohol dependence - the following association lacks research and scientific evidences as to the nature of connection between an increased alcohol use and caffeine containing drinks, but still, the connection is revealed and has to be taken into consideration. One of the possible reasons can be found in “caffeine’s neuropharmacologic effects” which influences propensity for addiction. (Arria & O’Brien, 2011) Conclusion To sum up, scientific literature agrees on the fact that, currently, there is a lack of evidences and research that could be helpful in making recommendations regarding safe limits of energy drinks consumption. Namely, there is a lack of data on the effects of single ingredients and their blends .The following means that much of the properties and long-term effects of energy drinks is still unknown, and therefore, people should show an increased carefulness and be fully aware of the potential health risks. Substances that are aimed at stimulating boost of energy are not included into a healthy diet of individuals, especially children and adolescents. Thereof, energy drinks must be labeled with a warning that it is not suitable for children and for pregnant women, not mentioning the population that has intolerance to their specific ingredients. Reference List Arria, A., & O’Brien, M. (2011). The “high” risk of energy drinks. Journal of the American Medical Association, 305(6), 600-601. Burrows, et al., (2013). What are the health implications associated with the consumption of energy drinks? a systematic review. Nutrition Reviews, 71(3), 135–148. Gunja, N., & Brown, J. (2012). Energy drinks: health risks and toxicity. Medical Journal of Australia, (196), 46-49. Johnson, L., Foster, D., & McDowell, J. (2014). Energy drinks: Review of performance benefits, health concerns, and use by military personnel. Military Medicine, 179(4), 375-380. Reissig, C., Strain, E., & Griffiths, R. (2009). Caffeinated energy drinks -- a growing problem . Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 1(9), 1-3. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? (2011). Pediatrics, 1182-1189. Read More