Energy Drinks Pose Health Risks

Energy Drinks are
New Health Risk
to Children

By Vinod Varshney

Energy drinks are a new threat to the health of Indian children, pregnant and lactating mothers. India has in recent years has seen plethora of energy drinks—Red Bull, Cloud-9, Burn, SoBe and Gatorade. They are being heavily marketed to young adults. According to industry data the market of energy drink is increasing by 60 percent per year.

The name ‘energy drinks’ is a misnomer as it gives the impression that this should be taken to get energy. In the name of energy they have just sugar, which may lead to obesity. These drinks are of course fortified with vitamins such as, niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and other substances. But they are caffeinated also for mental alertness.

The way energy drinks are being heavily promoted in bars or for use in combination with alcohol, this has become a potential health risk to Indians. Caffeine used in conjunction with alcoholic can have additional adverse impact on health.

Mental Alertness Through Caffeine is Harmful

Caffeine is a stimulant to nerves which gives a feeling of alertness. But there are detrimental effects which have been identified by several studies. The scientific community has been rightly concerned at the potential access to caffeinated beverages by children.

In August 2008, a study conducted by the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia found that energy drinks could increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

If you take caffeine more than 200 mg a day for a long period, intoxication can result with symptoms like rapid heart rate, anxiety, insomnia, nausea and restlessness. When you do not get the energy drink, there are withdrawal symptoms like irritability and lack of alertness.

Pregnant Women Should Avoid

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is proposing that pregnant women and lactating mothers be discouraged from consuming these drinks. There are studies which say that more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day have about twice the risk of miscarriage.

The manufacturers claim that these drinks have less caffeine than coffee. A 250 ml energy drink has only 75 mg caffeine which is same as is found in tea. The same quantity of coffee will have 100 mg and filtered coffee may have even up to 140 mg.

These energy drinks can also be vegetarian or non-vegetarian depending upon the source of its ingredients. Therefore there is a demand for labeling them.