I think that everything you put in your body should be considered for its nutritional value. Empty calories are definitely one of the reasons that America is the most overweight society in the world. What I mean by empty calories is, food or drinks that we consume which have very little nutritional benefit per calorie.
Energy drinks, though they do give you a burst of energy, are full of caffeine and sugar. One energy drink may have as much as 6 times the caffeine as a similar sized soda. Caffeine raises heart rate, and if consumed in high quantities, a person with heart problems could die from altered heart rhythm.
Some of the symptoms caused by energy drinks are:
- Heart Rate Acceleration or Irregular Beat
- Dehydration (caused by the diuretic effects of caffeine and excessive sweating)
- Stomach Problems
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- High Blood Pressure
- Weight Gain
- Irritability
Energy drinks were not designed to quench your thirst. They do not hydrate the body, in fact, they cause dehydration through excess sweat production and frequent urination. This can cause an imbalance in electrolytes, which are what help your heart function properly. Caffeine can also cause heart burn.
Many people find that when they use energy drinks they have a boost of energy, but then they feel tired later, which causes them to drink more energy drinks. If you consume high doses of caffeine in the afternoon, it can disrupt normal sleep patterns and cause you to feel less rested in the morning. Which leads to weight gain, and irritability. Some things never change. Remember the Dr. Pepper sign is 10, 2 & 4, denoting the time of day you should consume it to cure the craving.
Consumption of sugar is linked to a low functioning immune system, ADD, ADHD, Fibromyalgia and many other physical ailments including Candida overgrowth. Reducing daily intake of sugar is recommended for all ages.
The natural approach to eliminating these drinks from your diet would be:
- Get enough sleep ( most people need 7-8 hours a night to feel rested)
- Get daily exercise - 20 minutes of walking at a fast pace
- Eat more nutritious foods - get the best out of the calories you consume
- Take a multi vitamin with B-Complex ( B vitamins help the body process glucose and turn it into energy)
Using chemicals to alter your body function is never recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Doctors are still learning what high amounts of caffeine can do to a growing child. Parents should definitely limit intake of caffeine in children.
For a list of foods and their nutrients go to http://www.drkessinger.com/images/foods_nutrients.pdf.
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