Energy drinks risky to health in many ways
Research by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that consuming energy drinks endanger health: it can cause poor mental health, substance abuse, tooth decay, high blood pressure, kidney damage and diabetes.
They say that the risks are especially concerning because these drinks are aggressively marketed to young people, are often mixed with alcoholic drinks, and face little regulatory oversight.
Josiemer Mattei, assistant professor of nutrition and lead author of a review article in Frontiers in Public Health that explored the science on energy drinks, told Men’s Health that “The wide range of conditions that energy drinks can negatively impact was quite astounding.”
In an interview published November 16, 2017, Mattei said that the high amounts of sugar and caffeine in these drinks likely play a role in their negative health effects. Other stimulants on the ingredient list, such as guarana, taurine, and ginseng, may also be contributing factors, but more research is needed.
Mattei said that the evidence is clear that the health risks associated with energy drinks outweigh any short-term pep they may provide. A better energy boosting choice, she said, is staying hydrated.
(HCA)
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