With all the hype surrounding the popular drink Prime, it is best to know the pros and cons when consuming any type of energy drink.
Many parents rushed to Checkers on Workers’ Day to get their kids the much-anticipated drink, which has received mixed reviews. However, just like most energy drinks, people’s choice to consume the beverage remains questionable to some.
According to Healthline, energy drinks contain caffeine that stimulates brain function and increases alertness and concentration. However, the amount of caffeine differs in each product. For example, you will not find the same caffeine amount in Redbull compared to Monster.
The publication also notes that energy drinks typically contain these ingredients:
- Sugar: Usually the main source of calories but not present in all energy drinks.
- Herbal extracts: These include ginseng or guarana.
- B vitamins: These vitamins play a significant role in converting the food you consume into the energy your body can use.
- Amino acid derivatives: Examples include taurine and L-carnitine, which our bodies naturally produce.
Here are the pros and cons of consuming an energy drink, as mentioned by Healthline.
Pros
Improves brain function: Studies have confirmed that energy drinks indeed improve concentration, memory and reaction time while also reducing mental fatigue.
Helps the tired function: Many driving simulation studies have shown that the consumption of energy drinks increase driving quality and reduces sleepiness. However, some may see a decrease in their sleep quality.
Cons
Some may experience heart problems: A study showed that energy drink use was linked to cases of heart problems. Other studies concluded that energy drinks can potentially increase a person’s blood pressure and heart rate, while also decreasing significant markers of blood vessel function. These heart problems are often caused due to an excessive intake of caffeine or mixing the energy drink with alcohol.
Sugar overload: Cans of energy drinks contain many teaspoons of sugar. Consuming that much sugar causes one’s blood sugar levels to spike. Therefore, those with diabetes should choose a drink with low or no sugar.
