Being a college student, I feel like I'm always drinking caffeine whether its soda, coffee, tea, or energy drinks. I've especially been a big fan of almost every type of sugar free energy drink for a while now. Although I've heard they're bad for me, I keep drinking them considering they have a list of viatmins they contain (especially vitamin B which turns food into energy). So what's the truth? According the the recent research I've done, a can of soda has around 35 milligrams caffeine in it where as an energy drink has 13 times that amount per can, which as you can conclude, means energy drinks consist of excessive amounts of caffeine.
In the LA times, The Drug and Alcohol Dependence tries to warn people of the possibility of caffeine intoxification, "The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are unlabeled and few include warnings about potential health risks of caffeine intoxication," said one of the study's authors, Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions."
Caffeine intoxication is an actual medical syndrome and is marked with serious side effects such as anxiety, nervousness, rapid heart beat, etc. In extreme cases, it can cause death. To see more side effects go to: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/NU00600. Besides mood side effects, caffeine can also do some severe damage to your insides such as severe inflammation and bleeding in the intestines. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-inpractice1-2008sep01,0,2172072.story
Besides the caffeine factor, manufacturers of energy drinks are being held responsible for drug abuse among teens and young adults. Considering some of the name brands are related to drugs such as "Cocaine" or "Blow" it pursuades people to want more of that feeling and intensity and may look to those drugs for that feeling. Aside from the name, these "peformance enhancing" drinks are used to mix with alcohol to form a drink that is said to be very dangerous in many aspects including heart health.
Now what do you think of energy drinks? I know I'll definatley limit my intake of caffeine all together.
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5 comments:
Caffeine intoxication definitely caught my eye right away. I am a huge fan of coffee, and even worked at a coffee shop over the summer. On some days I would be drinking anywhere from three to five coffees per day, especially during finals last semester. I realized that this was not the healthiest thing for me, so I have cut my coffee intake down to one to two cups per day. I found that coffee in moderation can have some health benefits! For example, coffee is an antioxidant, and antioxidants are proven to help lessen the chances of heart disease and cancer. Check out this website that I found: HYPERLINK "http://www.positivelycoffee.org/" http://www.positivelycoffee.org/. As for energy drinks, they include lots and lots of simple sugars. They’ll boost you up temporarily on a sugar high, but in a short period of time will bring you right back down. A high sugar diet will also leave you feeling hungry, as opposed to a low sugar diet. My recommendation is a fruit smoothie made with real fruit, over the energy drinks that contain all empty calories. Energy drinks are not necessarily bad for you, but they shouldn't be seen as natural alternatives either; everything in moderation is fine!
I love coffee and live on energy drinks, especially when needed to stay up late for an exam. I read in the book "Skinny Bitch" I dont know if you've read it, but caffeine is basically a killer. A cup of orange juice could have the same results and is ten times more healthy. All caffeine is, is empty calories, aka a waste of calories. Good jobbb Kristen:)
I found your blog very interesting on the caffeine because I am a huge coffee fan and use to love energy drinks. I found that energy drinks make you so shakey and even make things worse for you so I did limit my coffee intake to 1-2 cups a day. http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food
on that link I found the good things that coffee can do for you. However, from looking at the links you put up and the information you found I thik there are more bads to coffee than goods. You were a great help and did a good job.
I have never really liked coffee or energy drinks and I guess it's a good thing! I feel like everyone I know is absolutely addicted to caffeine, and it has nothing good in it and does nothing good for you or your body. I also read the book Lisa was talking about, and they continuously said negative things and results that too much caffeine, and caffeine all together can have on your body and mind. Great post Kristen.
This is an interesting topic considering that caffeine is essentially a necessity in many people's lives. Many people begin their day with at least one or more cups of coffee, relying on such major business chains as Dunkin Donut's and Starbucks to jumpstart their busy days. Personally, I'm guilty of relying on caffeine in my everyday life by taking products containing caffeine on a regular basis as well. As you said, most people frown upon drinking energy drinks on a regular basis due to the excessive quantities of caffeine among other stimulants that may be taxing on the cardiovascular system and heart. Most people, however, do not see drinking coffee excessively as a potential health risk even though it also contains a large quantity of caffeine as well. The key to consuming caffeine, as is true with most foods, is to consume it in moderation. Good article though.
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