Neuropsychiatric Operating Influence of Vitality Caffeine Drinks - Essay Example

RUNNING HEAD-: ENERGY DRINKS CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF CAFFEINE Energy Drinks Contains High Levels of Caffeine. Name Institution Date Abstract The current food and beverage industry is jammed with products which are critically harmful to consumers. One of the major products of concern especially in the Australian context is caffeine. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the levels of caffeine which is a major ingredient in our energy drink products is too high. The report has been able to establish that there is indeed need for the consumers of this product to be worried since there are indeed high levels of caffeine in the energy drinks in the Australian market. The research materials that have been used to come up with this report are from well researched and established sources. Introduction An energy drink can be described as a beverage that contains mainly caffeine and several other ingredients that are meant to provide mental and physical stimulation to the body. The notion that energy drinks offer physical and mental stimulation; has been a subject of heated debate with several arguments for and against this definition. The bone of contention for this two groups is the issue of caffeine; one group asserts that it would be dishonest to claim that a stimulant which is a drug would enhance physical and mental strength while the other group, although admitting that caffeine is a drug, argue that there are no known side effects to man especially when taken in limited portions. Despite the legal restrictions limiting the amount of caffeine in formulated caffeinated beverages, there are still some concerns that the levels of caffeine in energy drinks are still too high. A 250ml can of red bull energy drink for example contains three times the same amount in a can of Coca Cola International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC)(1998). Effects of Caffeine as a stimulant The World Health Organization defines a stimulant as any substance that produces or increases activity in the body or some part thereof. The substance can be a quickening drug or an article of food. From this definition it can be argued that caffeine falls under the category of stimulants. The first effect of caffeine and many other stimulants is that it excites the nerves of the stomach. The nerves thereafter convey irritation to the brain which becomes aroused to impart increased heart beat and energy that does not last for long to the entire body. The cognitive senses are aroused and the imagination becomes more pronounced. Due to these results many suppose that the energy drinks are doing them some favor. However, research has shown that this perceived strength is only nervous stimulation, because when the stimuli are gone the results show a corresponding degree of debility (White, 1910). The International Journal of General Medicine however does not agree with White’s argument. Using the most popular brands of energy drinks such as Red Bull and, Monster, and Rock star, they concluded that caffeine does not pose any danger to the general population of adults whom they tested especially when they limited their caffeine intake to 400 mg per day. Even though the heart rate and blood pressure of some patients become elevated for a while during their studies, they argue that no adverse cardiovascular effects have been reported after normal use of these energy drinks ( IJGM, 2008). The International Journal of General Medicine did another research, to check if the amounts of caffeine in popular energy drink such as Rock star and Monster were sufficiently high to warrant any worry from the general public. In their findings they realized that popular brands of energy drinks such as Monster had similar amounts of caffeine (80mg) as that of a regular cup of coffee (250ml, 80z). However less popular brands had higher caffeine content (IJGM, 2009). The major scholarly question that has been in the minds of the health experts now is: How much caffeine is too much for one’s body? In a book written by Winston (2005), he argues that caffeine should be avoided at all costs. He notes that the continued use of caffeine results in constant headaches, palpitations of the heart, insomnia, indigestion, and even trembling. In a quick rejoinder, he continues to say that when the body of a human being is pushed on by the use of stimulants, more can be accomplished for a time, but the body will sooner or later become atrophied as many people in his study he was able to show became dependent on caffeine and their derivatives such as energy drinks to do simple tasks (Winston, 2005). Chang (2007) also supports Winston’s claims. He carried out a research where he was investigating the new onset of seizures in adults and their possible link with the consumption of popular energy drinks. In his study he noted that epileptic people who frequently consumed energy drinks had more incidences of seizures as compared to epileptics who did nit consume the energy drinks frequently. He argues that the caffeine has the ability of stimulating the epileptic patients’ nerves especially when consumed in large quantities. As a result most of the epileptic patients he argues suffer in silence without knowing. Some Health regulatory Authorities, such as the Australian Medical Society (2009) have in the meantime defended the use of energy drinks even though the caffeine content they say has got to be regulated. To back up their argument, they say that most studies have shown that energy drinks consumption to a great extent leads to the improvement of one’s cognitive and psychomotor functions especially. This they have been able to prove using the evidence from cyclists, long distant marathoners and even from most drivers. They however blame the users of these energy drinks who mix them with alcohol (drink mixers) as the ones to blame for the negative reporting on the use of energy drinks. In a quick rejoinder Reiner (2002), backs up the findings of the health authorities. Using the evidence from a study he conducted to show why long distant drivers should take energy drinks, he says that this approach would help in reducing road carnage in the Australian roads. His studies were able to show that track drivers had a long period of concentration when they consumed these caffeinated drinks in their entire journey, few accidents were also reported by the same category of people. On the contrary, he notes that those drivers who did not take the caffeinated drinks got tired early and at the same time few accidents were reported by them In another journal written by Loeb (2009) he totally disagrees with the health authorities and other independent studies that support the use of caffeinated energy drinks first, he notes that the fact that one has to take these drinks in order to be cognitively alert presupposes that that person will always remain so. His research has proven that most people who depend on caffeinated drinks to remain active are most of the time very inactive as compare to the perennial non consumers of caffeinated drinks (especially when they are not under the influence of caffeine in their system. Allowing the manufacturers to continue to use these substances for a long time he argues will be tantamount to jeopardizing their health even as most regular consumers become addicted. Another study conducted in America by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (2008) on the effects and reasons why most teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13-35 years use drinks with caffeine gave stunning revelations. Some of the reasons for consumption include the fact that the drinks have widely been approved as good. In addition, the respondents believed that the drinks are meant to increase ones energy. Also, many felt ‘cool’ to take the drink while another group drank it because their friends did drink them. A large percentage of college students said they drink these caffeinated drinks so as to stay awake for long and finish their assignment and term papers. On the effects, most students lamented that they had a dizzy feeling with the accompaniment of a headache whenever they stayed without taking these energy drinks for a period of two days. Conclusion Many of the stimulants that are found in some of our food items and beverages have in the recent past been shown to have adverse effects to the health its consumers. Even though there are counter arguments to this fact, it is important to note here that the government has got a responsibility in ensuring that its citizens are well protected from the adverse effects of any drugs including stimulants. The laws that the Australian government have enacted through acts of parliament in ensuring that its citizens are protected is commendable. However it is good to point out base on the research studies that caffeine even in the slightest amount taken by consumers is bound to at one time or another become harmful to their bodies even as one tends to become dependent on it to become more active. The levels of caffeine in the energy drinks are therefore too high and should therefore be regulated further or banned. References Australian Act of parliament number 9(3).( 2000). Act for the Regulation of Caffeine in manufactured Energy Drinks. Chang, I.(2007). New Onset Seizure in Adults: ‘Possible Association with popular energy drinks Consumption’. Epilepsy and Behavior. 10(3), p50-48. Ellen, G.W.(1910). General effects of Caffeine to The Human Body. Ministry of Healing. p123-126. International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC) review.(1998). Caffeine and Health. Clarifying the Controversies. International Journal of General Medicine.(IJGM) (2008). A Study on the Causes and Effects of Energy Drinks on Young People. Loeb, H.(2009). Do the ingredients in Energy Drinks work. Men’s Health.com. Pennsylvania Medical Society. (2008). Caffeinated drinks. PMS. Reyner, L and Horn J. (2002) . Functional Energy Drink in Counteracting driver sleepiness: Physiol. Beh, 75:331-335. World Health Organization(W.H.O). The meaning of Stimulant. www. Who.org Winston, A.P.(2005). Neuropsychiatric Effects of Caffeine: Adams in Psychiatric Treatment, 11(6) 432. Read More