The energy drinks Or 'energy drinks' are liquids composed of taurine , Vitamins and caffeine, its main ingredient. It came on the market as a stimulant that improves performance and increases energy thanks to the benefits you provide your nutrients.
They have had relatively little time in the market, but have already passed the isotonic drinks and are going to leave behind the cola and coffee. It is expected that by 2016 bill more than 15 billion dollars in the United States alone. At present, it has expanded its use, especially for night time entertainment, being commonly mixed with alcohol or Drugs .
In Europe, the energy brand Red Bull was the first to be present in the market in 1987, while in the United States it did not arrive until 1997. Despite being a product that has been commercialized for a relatively short time, energy drinks Invoiced in 2012 approximately 12, 5 billion dollars, an increase of 60% compared to 2008.
In the United States, up to five beverage brands make more than $ 500 million a year. He leads the Red Bull classification with 12,463 million dollars and is followed by Monster (4,773), Rockstar (1,085), Lucozade (709) and NOS (542).
origins
Its history goes back a little more than two decades, when it began its massive commercialization thanks to the impulse of the most famous of all: Red Bull.
Its creation in the 1990s is now more than 25 years. His appearance came out of the need to want to bring together in a single boat all the needs that the body required to continue"carburizing"in the most appropriate way possible.
Advertising and elite athletes managed to launch it over the years, which would later extend beyond sports to other types of practices such as study, concentration and night-out.
Composition
Taking into account the composition of the main energy drinks market, we extract that the main components of the same are caffeine, vitamins, taurine, Guarana And ginseng.
Caffeine
Stimulating substance for the brain and circulatory system. Of bitter taste, we find it in coffee, tea, mate, guarana, etc. It has mild and transitory but frequent adverse effects, such as insomnia or nervousness. Prolonged use of caffeine can lead to addiction.
Taurine
Called scientifically as aminosulphonic acid, it is a crystallizable amino acid found in bile and certain tissues. The purpose of including it in the energy drinks is that, in moments of extreme physical activity, the body stops producing this substance, which diminishes the performance of the individual. Taurine functions as a metabolic and detoxifying transmitter. Studies reveal that breast milk meets high concentrations of taurine.
Glucuronolactone
The Glucoronolactone Is a chemical that acts as a detoxifier. In addition to their use in energy drinks, they serve as a dietary supplement. It is a reason for discrepancies between Food institutions because of whether or not the levels found in the containers are suitable for health.
Guarana
Its scientific name is Paullinia cupana And is native to the Brazilian Amazon. It is a refreshing nutrient, but also stimulating to contain caffeine. This stimulation increases wakefulness and has an ergogenic effect. In addition it has many pharmacological properties: it improves the physical state and the memory, it increases the hypoglycemia or it works like antioxidant.
Vitamins
Energy drinks contain a lot of essential vitamins. The most common are riboflavin, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B-2, niacin, vitamin B-3, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin C, pyridoxine and cyanocobalmine.
Ginseng
He ginseng Is a herbaceous plant with many properties, including sports performance. In Asian countries like China or Korea, it forms an important part of the diet and traditional medicine, as it is considered an energy restorer.
Hazards arising from energy drinks
The studies on energy drinks came after the boom of the beginning of the century, so the reports are few and in some cases contradicted.
Possibly the most controversial is an investigation carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2013, giving some interesting facts as:
- 12% of adults (18-65 years) consume 4.5 liters per month of energy drinks.
- 68% of adolescents (10-18 years old) had ever consumed energy drinks and 12% drank 7 or more liters per month.
- 16% of children (3-10 years) consumed an average of 4 liters per month.
- Between 41% and 50% of athletes consume energy drinks before or during a sports competition.
However, despite high amounts of intake, it is concluded that energy drinks are not dangerous as long as their consumption is moderate.
In countercurrent, we find studies developed in the United States that indicate that energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are poorly studied and unregulated. Some of the reasons are:
- Hazardous substances. Most studies agree that taurine and glucuronolactone are the main risk for those who drink energy drinks. The central nervous system and the kidneys would be most affected.
- Caffeine in excess. Energy drinks contain more than other liquids such as soft drinks. These contain a lot of caloric intake and a regular intake can over stimulate the nervous system causing headaches.
- Cardiovascular diseases. They have short-term impact on heart rate if many energy drinks are consumed. Rapid heart rate, palpitations, increased blood pressure and, in more severe cases, seizures or sudden death, are some complications that could be suffered.
- Diuretic products. The energy drinks industry states that the composition of their cans are composed of natural elements. However, experts say that they are actually potent diuretics, which can lead to intestinal problems.
Countries where energy drinks have limitations
Some countries have echoed the potential adverse effects of these stimulants and have placed limitations on marketing within their borders. The most severe case is that of Saudi Arabia, which has banned any type of advertising, the sale and distribution is very restrictive and it is mandatory to include health warnings in the packaging.
In Canada, Argentina or Paraguay there is a cap of caffeine within the content of energy drinks while in Mexico its sale is prohibited for minors.
In Europe the most significant case is that of Lithuania. Alerted as the country where most children and teenagers consume these products, they have definitively banned the sale to minors under 18 years, as well as advertising in all media to which they have access and the restriction of selling products in environments aimed at minors, Sporting events, cinemas or theaters. Countries such as Latvia and Belarus are also taking similar measures.
In the case of France, drinks like Red Bull were totally banned until 2008, but the French government was forced to legalize the drink. This was because European Union (EU) regulations state that a product manufactured or sold in other EU countries can not be banned unless a health risk is tested.
Despite this EU legislation, Hungary introduced a public health tax in 2012 that had a specific section on energy drinks.
Finally, in some Nordic countries such as Sweden, only certain energy drinks can be purchased in pharmacies and are totally banned for children.
Are they suitable for playing sports?
It is estimated that at least 50% of athletes use energy drinks before or during competition. This habit has increased enormously, possibly motivated by the advertising campaigns of energy drinks at sporting events.
Recall that companies like Red Bull own 5 soccer teams, including the FC Red Bull Salzburg or the New York Red Bull. It is also usual to see the logo of this brand and other energy drinks in sports such as motorcycling, Formula 1, hockey, surfing or acrobatic sports.
In the year 2014, the Professional working proficiency (UCJC) in Madrid published a study in which evaluated for 4 years the positive and negative effects of consuming energy drinks for sports.
To this end, elite athletes from different sports such as football, basketball, swimming or rugby collaborated, who were given the equivalent of three energy drinks or a placebo before a competition.
They measured their sports performance through a GSP device, dynamometers and potentiometers. The result? Athletes who made use of energy drinks increased their performance by 3% to 7% over those who took the placebo liquid. More distance traveled, more muscle power, more speed or more accuracy of beating were some of the characteristics that the athletes felt.
As a disadvantage, the consumption of energy drinks also increased the side effects. Insomnia or nervousness , Effects linked to caffeine, its main ingredient.
Natural Energizers
Energy drinks are not only available by going to the supermarket or grocery store in the neighborhood. It is possible to make your own recipes with certain natural foods and thus avoid suffering any of the side effects of the containers and save you good money.
We have compiled some interesting recipes that offers the portal bestconsalud.com so you can take ideas:
Cocolina
Ingredients
- 500 ml of coconut water
- ½ teaspoon spirulina powder
Preparation
Pour the coconut water into the bottle that will lead to the gym. Add half a teaspoon of Spirulina , Cover the bottle and shake. This energy drink is adequate both before and during workouts. If you do not like the taste of spirulina powder, you can take it in capsule form, accompanying with coconut water. Coconut water is rich in potassium and is an isotonic drink. Spirulina also contains potassium, as well as magnesium, essential amino acids and B vitamins (B1, B2 and B6).
Banana and spinach
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 3 spinach leaves
- 1 glass of cold water
Preparation
We begin by washing the spinach well, then peel the banana and take it to the mixer next to the spinach and a glass of fresh water. Try to get a very homogenous juice. You can add ice cubes if you want, and even a teaspoon of honey. Thanks to this drink you will get an excellent composition based on potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.
Ginger and turmeric
Ingredients
- 1 slice of fresh and chopped ginger
- 1 pinch of turmeric powder
- 1 small spoonful of honey
- 1 glass of fresh water
Preparation
The first thing is to wash and chop the ginger. Then, bring a cup of boiling water to the ginger and the turmeric To obtain the infusion thereof. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes and then filter the contents.
Now add the tablespoon of honey and stir well. To get a cooler drink, add if you want a glass of fresh water and ice cubes. These spices are energetic and very healthy, a peculiar flavor that will improve your circulation and give you energy in a natural way.
What does the World Health Organization recommend?
- Establishing an upper limit for the amount of caffeine allowed in a single serving of this type of beverage in line with available scientific evidence;
- Regulations to enforce the restriction on the labeling and sale of energy drinks to children and adolescents;
- Enforcing standards for the responsible marketing of youth by the energy drink industry;
- The training of health professionals to be aware of the risks and symptoms of consumption of energy drinks;
- Patients with a history of dietary and substance abuse problems, both alone and in combination with alcohol, should be screened for heavy consumption of energy drinks;
- Educate the public about the risks of mixing alcohol with the consumption of energy drinks;
- New research on the possible adverse effects of energy drinks, especially on young people.
Taurine, a separate item
Technically and scientifically it is called as the"organic acid that intervenes in the formation of bile and in many other functions, is found naturally in the tissues of many living beings."
In addition, when we talk about taurine we refer to one of the compounds with the highest amounts present inside these drinks being also one of The best known.
What mainly produces is an increase of the contractility of our muscles, improving our capacity of reaction, concentration and therefore of memory, and its effects are settled successfully when combined with the rest of chemical compositions that are within the drink.
Some data
According to a 2008 study, the Journal of Adolescent Health magazine concluded after testing with a total of 795 students that those who drank energy drinks about six times a month were more likely to become or abuse tobacco , In addition to having carried out sporadic drug use, as was the case when fighting violently during the year after the study.
Another curious fact of this research was that habitual drinkers of energy drinks were twice as likely to smoking marijuana to the Just like alcohol.
In turn, it has been concluded that drinks of this nature in young children are consumed by two in ten, framed in the age of 2 to 10 years. Of these, 16% claim to do so in considerable quantities.
A study in Preventive Medicine by different scientists from the Universities of Waterloo and Dalhausie revealed after analyzing a total of 8,210 young people that students who tended to get effects related to depression or periods of sadness were more likely to consume energy drinks In a more assiduous way than normal.
Article prepared jointly by Mario Quijano Sánchez Y Manuel Toro Galea .
Bibliography
- Sara M. Seifert, BS, Judith L. Schaechter, MD, Eugene R. Hershorin, MD, and Steven E. Lipshultz, MD (2010). Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
- O'Brien MC, McCoy TP, Rhodes SD, Wagoner A, Wolfson M. Caffeinated Cocktails: Energy Drink Consumption, High-risk Drinking, and Alcohol-related Consequences among College Students. Article first published online 2008.
- Breda J; Whiting S; Embodiment R; Norberg S; Jones, R; Reinap M; Jewell J. (2014). Energy drink consumption in Europe: a review of the risks, adverse Health effects, and policy options to respond.
- Alford C. et al. The Effects of Red Bull Energy Drink on Human Performance and Mood. Psychology Departament, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. Published in Amino Acids 21, 2, 139-150 (2001).
- Salinero JJ, Lara B, Abian-Vicen J, et al. The use of energy drinks in sport: perceived ergogenicity and side effects in male and female athletes. 2014: 1-9.