What YOU should know about Energy Drinks

 

What YOU should know about Energy Drinks

 

Forty-two percent of Americans aged 30-49 use energy drinks, including a third of teens and young adults, on a regular basis.[1] I get it. You’re tired and you want a pick me up.

Today I will explain the dangers of these drinks along with some healthier options.

Why I got interested in this topic

I have seen people drinking them at the dojo, and one of the moms told me her son wants to drink them now, because he has seen others doing it.

What are the dangers?

1.Caffeine: The amount of caffeine in an energy drink can vary from 70-500mg and there’s no requirement to declare the amount of caffeine on labels.[2] Many people drink several of these a day. A typical can of cola contains 35mg of caffeine and an 8oz cup of coffee contains 100mg.

2.Sugar: Some of these drinks contain exorbitant amounts of sugar. The Mega Monster energy drink for example contains 81mg of sugar in one 24oz can and some people drink more than one a day. The American Heart Association recommends kids and women get less than 25 grams of sugar a day (about 6 tsp or less) and men get less than 36 grams of sugar a day (about 9 tsp or less).[3] See Blog (How to Curb Your Sweet Tooth)

What’s the problem with too much caffeine?

1.Large amounts of caffeine (as found in these energy drinks) may cause serious heart and blood vessel problems including having palpitations, heart rate disturbances, and raising blood pressure. Thankfully death is rare, however there has been 34 deaths attributed to energy drinks.[4]

2.Caffeine is also associated with anxiety, sleep problems and dehydration.

3.It can also affect a child’s growth.

4.Another major concern is its effects on the brain. Too much caffeine can affect memory, motor skills, and make one feel jittery.

5.There is also worry with addiction and building tolerance. Please take this brief quiz.

Healthier options

A.Green drinks (wheat grass, spirulina). One of my favorites is the Organic Suja Uber Greens. Only $3 and you can find it at most major stores. I find it gives me more sustained energy without crashing or withdrawal.

B.EmergenC-With it’s fizz, I call it my natural soda and you get an added punch of Vitamin C.

C.Green tea has caffeine but less than what is in a cup of coffee. Because this tea contains antioxidants like EGCG and the amino acid L-theanine it helps you stay calm, while remaining focused and alert. It also boosts memory and concentration and can significantly lower blood pressure.[5]

D.Filtered water-Our bodies are mostly made of this, and in many cases, people are dehydrated.[6] Older adults are especially at risk because their thirst receptors wane as they age and their bodies tend to hold less water (yep they can dry out like a prune).[7]  You can spice up water with fruit, mint leaves, make it sparkle or turn it into real fruit popsicles i.e., emergenC. I suggest my healthy patients drink at least half their body weight in ounces or more if they’re outdoors and sweating combining this with electrolytes. For example, a person weighing 200 lbs. would drink at least 100 oz per day. It can aid in vitality and may reduce headaches and cramping.

 

Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages caffeine consumption for kids and the use of any energy drinks for children and teens.[8] For adolescents 12-17, they recommend no more than 100 grams a day of caffeine (1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of tea).[9]

Caution: Yerba mate and Guarana contain caffeine and can raise blood pressure. They may be found in energy drinks.

*The information contained above does not constitute personal medical advice. Please check with your health care provider for specific recommendations regarding your wellbeing.

**Save the Date: Fri Aug 12^th Stretch and cooking show with Dr. Gold at Krav during Leadership. Dr. Gold’s Happy Meals and Natural Energy Drinks will be given to the first 20 people.

 

Dr. Tanya Gold is a medical doctor and registered yoga teacher, who practices natural medicine and teaches yoga at the YMCA and online. She is the proud owner of Dr. Gold’s Optimal Living Institute and author of 7 Habits of Extremely Happy People. Dr. Gold has been in practice for over 20 years and is an expert in the field of natural hormones and holistic medicine. 

 

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1.       Patient focused – Dr. Gold is a compassionate listener and spends time with her patients (average appointment is 1 hour). Her goal is to treat the ROOT CAUSE of their problem(s) and get them well LONG TERM. Don’t take her word for it. Check out her testimonials on her website: DGoli.com

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3.      Environmentally conscious: Use real cups for water, plates and silverware and cloth napkins, all natural cleaning products and recycles (the office minimizes paper waste).

 

4.       Dr. Gold specializes in helping women over 40 to get stronger, healthier and happier. Often, they are busier than ever working, managing a household, being a caretaker, that their health needs get neglected. She helps them realize that to prioritize their own health, is to ensure that they can take better care of everyone else and feel so much Better!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://moderngentlemen.net/energy-drink-statistics/#:~:text=2.-,42.35%25%20of%20Americans%20aged%20between%2030%20and%2049%20consume,drinks%20on%20a%20regular%20basis.&text=Energy%20drinks%20in%20America%20are,data%20points%20to%20extensive%20consumption.

[2] Persad LA. Energy drinks and the neurophysiological impact of caffeine. Front Neurosci. 2011;5:116. Published 2011 Oct 21. doi:10.3389/fnins.2011.00116

[3] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2016/08/23/aha-added-sugar-limits-children/#:~:text=The%20American%20Heart%20Association%20recommends,of%20added%20sugar%20per%20day.

[4] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.118.011318#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Food%20and,the%20safety%20of%20these%20beverages.&text=Energy%20drink%20consumption%20has%20been,coronary%20dissection%2C%20and%20coronary%20vasospasm.

[5] Peng X, Zhou R, Wang B, et al. Effect of green tea consumption on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials. Sci Rep. 2014;4:6251. Published 2014 Sep 1. doi:10.1038/srep06251

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20lay%20press,frequent%20cause%20of%20hospital%20admission.

[7] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/drink-up-dehydration-is-an-often-overlooked-health-risk-for-seniors/

[8] https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/energy.htm#:~:text=The%20American%20Academy%20of%20Pediatrics%20recommends%20that%20adolescents%20do%20not,50%25%20reported%20consuming%20energy%20drinks.