Beyond Energy Drinks

Although energy drinks may seem like a quick way to fuel up they may be harmful to your body. Although most doctors agree that they are not life threatening, there have been many reports of people having a heart attack after drinking large quantities of them repeatedly. The main reason for this is the high amount of caffeine found in energy drinks mixed with a weak heart and other health problems. Although for the normal person, energy drinks consumed in moderation are ok, health practitioners warn that you should not start to think of them as a healthy pick-me-up even though many companies brag that they contain herbs and other natural ingredients.

One downside of energy drinks is that they contain very high amounts of sugar. Sugar is not good for anyone, and the side effects of consuming lots of sugar are numerous. If you eat lots of sugar and the body does not burn it off, it is left in the bloodstream and the particles will start to stick to the cells. After a period of time with excess sugar in the body, you will experience premature aging such as wrinkles, dry brittle nails and hair and dull skin. Sugar also causes inflammation in the body which can lead to all kinds of diseases. Energy drinks also contain very high levels of caffeine. Caffeine levels in these drinks are not monitored and some can contain up to four times the amount of caffeine as coffee does! Some of the side effects of ingesting high levels of caffeine are nervousness, insomnia, heart palpitations, tremors, sweating, nausea, diarrhea and chest pain. Caffeine also makes your heart beat much faster so people that have heart problems can be highly affected by it.

The bottom line with anything is moderation. If you are a healthy person that has no heart problems then an energy drink every now and then is probably ok although its definitely not doing you any good. If you want a real pick me up, then do it naturally. Exercise as well as the right foods and certain teas can give you a healthy and truly all-natural energy boost without all of the health risks associated with energy drinks.