Another carbohydrate (energy drinks), use it with caution

by sydshahid

Dr Shahid has summarized his six principles of health in a very simple form. Simplicity sometimes is not politically correct. Well... what is wrong if people get the message and decide to live until 100 - 125 years and longer, without ever having to see any health care provider of any kind?

Dr Shahid's First Principle of Preventive Holistic Lifestyle (PHL) is your diet. Your diet is your LIFE. What you eat as nutrition (balanced diet) becomes life. That is why it is so important to eat a balanced diet.

Carbohydrates are the most important part of the balanced diet after proteins and fats. (Proteins and fats have been discussed in detail already).

We have discussed carbohydrates as well as its role in a balanced diet.

Most frequently asked question about carbohydrates is:

What are the foods that contain carbohydrates?

We have discussed already cereals (wheat, maize and rice) and a little history of cereals.
We have also discussed in details the other four important carbohydrates (lentils, root crops, vegetables and fruits). Then we discussed the carbohydrates that are to be avoided i.e. soft drinks and snacks. Then we outlined the carbohydrates that are to be avoided i.e. soft drinks and snacks. We also detailed another carbohydrate that should be avoided or used occasionally, sparingly and cautiously. It is called dessert and chocolate. we also discussed carbohydrate (alcohol) that should be used moderately or socially.



Now we continue with the last of the carbohydrate, energy drinks, its benefits and side effects.


9. Energy drinks



Energy drinks are soft drinks advertised as providing more energy than a typical drink , also contain carbohydrate. Although the amount of quantitative 'energy' , provided by cabohydrate (as measured in calories) in these drinks is often lower than that in regular soft drinks.

There is scientific basis for concluding that the caffeine elements in these drinks contribute more to mental alertness and physical performance, than the energy derived from carbohydrate.

Ingredients

Other than carbohydrate (simple sugar), energy drinks include methylxanthines(caffeine, B vitamin, and herbs. Other common ingredients are guarana, which has a high caffeine content, taurine, plus various forms of ginseng, maltodextrin, carbonated water, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone and ginkgo biloba.

Some contain very high levels of sugar, and many brands also offer artificially-sweetened 'diet' versions. The central ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine, the same stimulant found in coffee or tea, often in the form of guarana or yerba mate.

The average 237 milliliter (8 fluid ounce) energy drink has about 80 mg of caffeine, with 480 mL (16 fl. oz.) drinks containing around 150 mg.

Desirable effects

A variety of physiological and psychological effects attributed to energy drinks and/or their ingredients have been investigated.

Two studies reported significant improvements in mental and cognitive performances as well as increased subjective alertness. Excess consumption of energy drinks may induce mild to moderate euphoria primarily caused by stimulant properties of caffeine and may also induce agitation, anxiety, irritability and insomnia. During repeated cycling tests in young healthy adults an energy drink significantly increased upper body muscle endurance. It was also suggested that reversal of caffeine withdrawal is a major component of the effects of caffeine on mood and performance.

Restorative properties were shown by a combination of caffeine and CHO in an energy drink, and some degree of synergy between the cognition-modulating effects of glucose and caffeine was also suggested. In one experiment, a glucose-based energy drink (containing caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone) was given to eleven tired participants being tested in a driving simulator. Lane drifting and reaction times were measured for two hours post-treatment and showed significant improvement.

Two articles concluded that the improved information processing and other effects could not be explained in terms of the restoration of plasma caffeine levels to normal following caffeine withdrawal.

Adverse effects

Caution is warranted even for healthy adults who choose to consume energy beverages. Consumption of a single energy beverage will not lead to excessive caffeine intake; however, consumption of two or more beverages in a single day can. Other stimulants such as ginseng are often added to energy beverages and may enhance the effects of caffeine, and ingredients such as guarana themselves contain caffeine.

Adverse effects associated with caffeine consumption in amounts greater than 400 mg include nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, increased urination, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), decreased bone levels, and stomach upset. The concentration of sugar in a sports drink is recommended to be 6-7% carbohydrate to allow maximum absorption and minimize spikes and crashes in blood sugar. Higher concentrations such as those seen in energy drinks will slow fluid absorption into the blood and energy system, increasing the possibility of dehydration. When a high level of sugar is in the blood stream the body cannot get the water into the cells that it needs because the water is busy trying to dilute concentration of sugar in the blood stream.


In the United States, energy drinks have been linked with reports of nausea, abnormal heart rhythms and emergency room visits. The drinks may cause seizures due to the "crash" following the energy high that occurs after consumption. Caffeine dosage is not required to be on the product label for food in the United States, unlike drugs, but some advocates are urging the FDA to change this practice.

Until 2008, France banned the popular energy drink Red Bull after the death of eighteen-year-old Irish athlete Ross Cooney, who died as a result of playing a basketball game after consuming four cans of the drink. The French Scientific Committee (J.D. Birkel) concluded that Red Bull has excessive amounts of caffeine. Denmark also banned Red Bull. Britain investigated the drink, but only issued a warning against its use by pregnant women.

History

Although not marketed as such, the Scottish drink Irn-Bru may be considered the first energy drink, produced as "Iron Brew" in 1901. In Japan, the energy drink dates at least as far back as the early 1960s, with the release of the Lipovitan. Most such products in Japan bear little resemblance to soft drinks, and are sold instead in small brown glass medicine bottles or cans styled to resemble such containers. These "genki drinks", which are also produced in South Korea, marketed primarily to the salaryman set.

In UK, Lucozade Energy was originally introduced in 1929 as a hospital drink for "aiding the recovery;" in the early 1980s, it was promoted as an energy drink for "replenishing lost energy."

In 1985, Jolt was introduced in the United States. Its marketing strategy centered on the drink's caffeine content, billing it as a means to promote wakefulness. The initial slogan was, "All the sugar and twice the caffeine."

In 1995, PepsiCo launched Josta, the first energy drink introduced by a major US beverage company.

In Europe, energy drinks were pioneered by the S. Spitz Company and a product named Power Horse, before the business savvy of Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian entrepreneur, ensured his Red Bull product became far better known, and a worldwide best seller. Mateschitz developed Red Bull based on the Thai drink Krating Daeng, itself based on Lipovitan. Red Bull was introduced to the US in 1997 and is the dominant brand there, with a market share of approximately 47%.
By the year 2001, the US energy drink market had grown to nearly 8 million per year in retail sales. Over the next 5 years, it grew an average of over 50% per year, totaling over $3 billion in 2005.[ Diet energy drinks are growing at nearly twice that rate within the category, as are 16-ounce sized energy drinks. The energy drink market became a $5.4 billion dollar market in 2007, and both Goldman Sachs and Mintel predict that it will hit $10 billion by 2010. Major companies' such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Molson, and Labatt have tried to match smaller companies' innovative and different approach, with marginal success.

Energy drinks are typically attractive to young people. Approximately 65% percent of its drinkers are between the ages of 13 and 35 years old, with males being approximately 65% of the market. A 2008 statewide Patient Poll conducted by the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Institute for Good Medicine found that: 20 percent of respondents ages 21–30 had used energy drinks in high school or college to stay awake longer to study or write a paper; 70 percent of respondents knew someone who had used an energy drink to stay awake longer to study or work.Energy drinks are also popular as drink mixers.

Combination with alcohol

Energy drinks are often mixed with alcohol. Where energy drinks are stimulants, alcohol is a depressant. The mix can be particularly hazardous as energy drinks can "mask" the influence of alcohol and a person can fail to take its effects into consideration. Normally fatigue would set-in as large amounts of alcohol are being taken in, but the stimulating effect of energy drinks can override this.[\

summary

Energy drinks should be used with caution. Their side effects outweigh the benefits.


For comments and questions please write to:

syedshahidmd@yahoo.com.au

P.S. I must thank all of those readers who send me comments and questions. I must tell them that their inspiring comments and questions are highly appreciated. Please continue to write, preferably via email.

Posted 1/12/2009 11:04:59 AM
About the Author



Syed Shahid MD
View profile

Perth,  WA

Interests: Dr Sydney Shahid has many interests. He ejoys reading scietific magazines. He likes to keep himself busy with latest medical researches. He has special interest in Alzheimer’s illness. he has strong evidence that this tragedy can be delayed (if not prevented) for as long as 25 - 30 years and even longer, if one follows Dr Shahid’d six principles of health faithfully. He likes to make friends with those who have similar interests as his. He has few friends and they all appreciate what he is doing for humanity. He believes in positive thinking. In his opinion one must pursue those interests which make one believe in oneself. He loves to play tennis, table tennis and cricket if he can find time. Travelling is his other interest. He has travelled all over the world. He enjoys different cultures and their varied way of life. Lately world politics has become his passion. He wishes to see peace in the world but he doesn’t think it is possible because of the greed in the mind of most of the industrialised nations who are exploiting third world countries. He is also interested in writing a book about his Six Principle of Health (EUREKA). He is already in the process of making it happen. He wants the whole world to know his secret of healthy long life.

Post a Comment:

Please sign in or join now to post a comment.