A new study found that drinking only one energy drink can increase the risk of suffering a stroke and heart attack. The researchers found that energy drinks narrow the blood vessels and can cause nerve, stomach and heart problems.
The research team conducted a study on 44 students from McGovern Medical School. The students were in their early 20s, non-smokers and healthy. Each of the participants drank one energy drink and a test was done just 90 minutes later. After 90 minutes, the researchers did an ultrasound of the blood vessels and check the artery flow-mediated dilation. The ultrasound showed that just 90 minutes after drinking the energy drink, the student’s internal diameter of the blood vessels had been cut in half. The research team explained that the ingredients found in energy drinks such as taurine, caffeine and sugar has an extremely negative effect on the blood vessels, and this happened only after drinking one drink.
Most energy drinks are packed with sugar. For instance, one can of Red Bull contains 37 grams of sugar which is the same as eating 10 teaspoons of sugar. So much sugar increases the blood sugar levels, which then makes the blood vessels contract and reduce the blood flow.
These drinks also contain a lot of caffeine. One can of energy drink contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. That amount of caffeine causes the blood vessels to contract and release adrenaline and adrenaline is the one that increases the blood pressure.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health explains that 1/3 of American teens aged 12-17, consume energy drinks on a daily basis, a founding that is very concerning.
‘As energy drinks are becoming more and more popular, it is important to study the effects of these drinks on those who frequently drink them and better determine what, if any, is a safe consumption pattern,’ said Dr John Higgins, a professor of medicine.
In the last couple of years, researchers and scientists have been shedding light on the damaging effects of drinking energy drinks. They want to raise awareness that drinking energy drinks extremely bad for your health and can cause serious health problems, such as a heart attack and a stroke.