Energy drinks, The Nostalgia of crazy sleepless nights

This is an article; I've wanted to write for sometime about energy drinks, and their lasting effects for life. Growing trend amongst young people today is to consume an energy drink such as red bull or power horse... I was once into this stuff, and I had good bouts of energy coming from the dose of caffeine, and taurine inside the drink. At one stage I was addicted to energy drinks, like 2 to 3 per day. I've been an athlete for some time, and I exercise daily. So I managed to convince myself that H2O (a.k.a Water) is better than these bullshit drinks.

It "seems to be very refreshing" after you take it, like you were on some steroids... After 3 to 4 hours, 5 hours at the max... you'll get worn out, and want one more...Some background on what goes into the drink.

Caffeine:

Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug. Contrary to popular belief, caffeine is not a diuretic. Caffeine was discovered by a German chemist, Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, in 1819. He coined the term "kaffein", a chemical compound in coffee, which in English became caffeine.

In humans, caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, having the effect of temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks enjoy great popularity. Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike many other psychoactive substances it is legal and unregulated in nearly all jurisdictions.

Taurine:

Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid. It is also a major constituent of bile and can be found in the lower intestine and in small amounts in the tissues of many animals and in humans as well. Taurine is a derivative of the sulfur-containing (sulfhydryl) amino acid, cysteine. Taurine is one of the few known naturally occurring sulfonic acids.

Taurine is named after the Latin taurus, which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.

Taurine is used as a functional food in many energy drinks and energy products. Despite being present in many energy foods, it has not been proven to be energy-giving. A study of mice hereditarily unable to transport taurine suggests that it is needed for proper maintenance and functioning of skeletal muscles. Additionally, it has been proven effective in removing fatty liver deposits in humans, preventing liver disease, and reducing cirrhosis in rats.

Apart from caffeine, and taurine, you can find sugars, vitamins such as vitaminB6 in energy drinks. The sugars are quick form of energy, and so the companies who make these drinks just add a lot of sugar to make their products marketable and keep selling it.

The worst part, this has been known since caveman days that sugar can boost energy levels with water (similar to Glucose products) and medicinal value of Glucose is amazing. Consider that you bleed excessively from a road traffic accident; you can use a mix of water, and sugar to replenish yourself from going into an unconscious state. On a humorous side note, if you fall from a bike in our city, nobody will even come near you, so forget it… and learn to help yourself with first aid!

Side effects of Energy drinks:

Energy drinks side effects really vary depending on the brand and the exact combination of ingredients. Many energy drinks have a very high percentage of carbohydrates that can make it more difficult for food and nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream from the intestines. In some cases, gastrointestinal problems and distress are a possibility. This side effect is one reason why these energy drinks are not as good for athletes as they are purported to be. Slowing the rate of fluid absorption can make it more difficult to re-hydrate during exercise, which can be dangerous to your health.

Fructose and sugar content can also have certain side effects. When an energy drink has a high sugar content, it can have a laxative effect, as well as causing a sudden "crash" when the sugar leaves the bloodstream and the energy high disappears. Clearly, the energy-producing ingredients in the energy drinks result in a desired effect: a stimulation of the nervous system that can also cause changes in neurotransmitters, making people feel more energized. However, if caffeine is the ingredient primarily responsible for creating this energy high, drinkers should be aware that high levels of caffeine can have both laxative and diuretic effects.

Other ingredients can produce additional side effects. Echinacea is said to bolster the immune system, while Ginkgo biloba and ginseng are claimed to improve memory. Ephedra, Ciwujia, and hydroxycitrate all promote fat-burning, and kava-kava and St. John’s Wort can produce a calming effect. When choosing whether or not to consume energy drinks or which one is best for you, it is important to consider possible side effects to prevent potentially dangerous health problems.

To summarize the effects, dehydration, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, and in some cases, even death has been reported due to excessive dosage. This is not a scare note to keep you away from consuming this bullshit, just be warned...

And as the saying goes, anything done with adequate balance seldom kills... Moderation is the key to consuming these energy drinks... Keep that in mind and play it safe.

Cheers!