Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body - Essay Example

Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body Introduction Energy drinks are basically beverages consisting of mixture of stimulants in various proportions and combinations collared to meet specific needs and demands with the ultimate aim to boost the body energy. Energy drinks are more preferred in sports industry, where it is required to boost that essential extra energy and stamina and also in health industry to speedup the process of recovery. Types Classification of energy drinks are based on their composition as their specificity is earmarked by their constituents and their composition. The main types of energy drinks are: Caffeine Based: Caffeine is usually the main ingredient found in almost all energy drinks due to its ubiquitous nature and great stimulant properties. Taurine based: Taurine based energy drinks consists of active ingredient in form of OHM. These drinks are efficient stress suppressors and simultaneously boosters of body energy level. Guarana based: Guarana is a plant ingredient of South American origin. Sugar based: Sugar based drinks contain exceptionally high concentrations of carbohydrates necessary for providing lots of instant energy. Antioxidant based: These drinks consists of antioxidants helpful in eliminating free radicals, reducing cellular damage and also accelerate metabolic process especially required in healing stages. Vitamin-B based: These drinks are considered to best amongst all the energy drinks being action oriented in nature. L-carnitine based: These drinks gears the metabolism, improves energy levels and stamina of the body. Ginkgo Biloba based: These drinks consists active herbal ingredients concerned with memory power, concentration levels, regulation of stress and blood circulation. Ginseng based: These drinks also consists of herbal ingredients concerned with increased energy levels and reduction of stress. Effects of energy drinks Energy drinks redefined as "synthetic energy in cans" being primarily synthesized for the betterment of human health are associated with both beneficial as well as hazardous effects which can be summarized under: I. Positive effects The energy drinks are basically designed to to extract all possible beneficial effects like: Boost energy levels, Increase metabolism, Stress reduction, Improve blood circulation, Increase stamina, Mood modifiers building up enthusiasm and confidence levels, Increase weight and fat loss, Increase hormonal responses (especially growth hormone). II. Negative effects As already mentioned the effects of the energy drinks depend on their ingredients and their composition. The energy drinks are beneficial and effective when consumed in right quantity and in right combination where the individual responses vary from person to person. All possible negative effects known to date are only because of their inappropriate usage and all the effects are reversed once refrained from these drinks. The negative effects of energy drinks are; Blood pressure and heart related problems: Caffeine and taurine in the energy drinks effects the functioning of heart and affect blood pressure and also alter the effectiveness of their medications. The increased body metabolism by the energy drinks causes impairment in blood pressure which could adversely affect cardiac functioning. Hence people with Hypertension and heart problems are advised to refrain from energy drinks. Tooth decay: The buffering capacity of energy drinks erode the tooth enamel of adults ultimately leading to tooth decay. Diuretic effect: The caffeine content in energy drinks are known to act as mild diuretics. Combination effects: Generally all energy drinks contain caffeine. Caffeine in combination with other drinks exerts different effects. However when combined with alcohol like vodka it is proved to be lethal due to the combination of two opposite qualities where alcohol is a depressant and energy drink is a stimulant (Istvan and Matarazzo, 1984) where as caffeine in combination with glucose with herbal flavoring fractions improve aspects of cognitive performance and mood (Scholey and Kennedy, 2004). Seizures: Consumed in relatively large quantity energy drinks causes seizures in few individuals. High levels of consumptions in children could result in certain behavioral changes such as irritability, increased arousal, nervousness or anxiety (http://ec.europa.edu/food/fs/sc/scf/out22_en.html). Jolt and crash is also observed in few individuals. High consumption of energy drinks by pregnant women is not advisable however much research into all possible effects is still under controversy. The net effects of energy drinks basically containing caffeine are depicted in table 1. Thesis for effective use of energy drinks Consumption in adequate quantity and proportion is the only solution to pamper all possible negative effects of energy drinks. When using as a mixture with other drinks right combination should be selected to avoid adverse effects. Table 4.Effect of Caffeine on Physiological and Psychological Functioning of human beings (Lawrence et al 2007). Physiological and psychological functions Effects Central nervous system Alertness Mood Pain Fatigue Metabolism Oxygen consumption or NC Lipolysis Glycogen sparing Endocrine system Catecholamines or NC B-endorphin Cortisol Sketal muscle Endurance Power or NC Speed or Nc Cardio vascular system Heart rate Stroke Volume Blood pressure or NC Respiratory system Ventilatory rate Kidneys Acute rate of urine production Acute loss of urinary electrolytes NC or 24-h water balance NC 24-h electrolyte balance NC Temperature regulation Sweat rate NC Skin blood flow NC Rectal temperature NC NC indicates no change after caffeine consumption Source: Excerc Sport Sci Rev2007 American College of Sports Medicine Usage of specific drinks specified to meet particular demand serves all the positive strengths it posses. Use of straw avoiding dental contact and flossing of mouth immediately after consumption avoids oral problems. Energy drinks should never be supplemented with drinking water so that diuretic effects and possible fluid-electrolyte balance in the human body is not affected. Patients with Heart problems and high blood pressure, pregnant women should avoid caffeine based energy drinks, Consumption of energy drinks before exercises should be based on thorough knowledge about all possible effects they exert. Conclusion It only the restrained use of any energy drinks that can overcome all the negative impacts it could possibly shed. However much investigation to study the upper safe levels for consumptions of all energy drinks is very crucial in determining the adequate safe quantity of consumption. All the controversies about diuretic nature, hypothermia, excess sweating, carcinogenesis, and toxiogenesis needs elaborate and thorough investigations to arrive at exact concluding inferences. References Lawrence E. Armstrong, Douglas J Casa, Carl M Maresh and Matthew S.Ganio. "Caffeine, fluid-electrolyte balance, temperature regulation and exercise tolerance." Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews 35(3) (2007): 135-140. Istvan J, and Matarazzo JD. "Tobacco, alcohol and Caffeine use: a review of their inter-relationships". Psychological Bulletin 95 (1984): 301-326. Scholey AB and Kennedy Do. "Cognitive and physiological effects of an "energy drinks": an evaluation of the whole drink and of glucose, caffeine and herbal flavouring fractions". Psychopharmacology (Berl). 176(3-4);2004:320-30(ISSN: 0033-3158) Health and consumer protection-"Opinion on caffeine, taurine and D-glucurono--lactone as constituents of so-called "energy"drinks". (expressed on 21 January 1999). (http://ec.europa.edu/food/fs/sc/scf/out22_en.html) Read More