Norway, Uruguay, and Denmark have already banned this energy drink, and it was also banned in France from 1996 to 2008. The Ministry of Commerce in Kuwait banned the consumption of Red Bull for children under 16 years of age after it caused a heart attack in a 16-year old and a 21-year old.
Summary of Dr. Mercola’s Comments:
In the last few years, energy drinks have become more popular than ever, and this product has been popping up in every supermarket and store. Energy drinks have overtaken bottled water brands, and they are the fastest-growing category of products in the beverage business.
Last year, about 3.5 billion cans of Red Bull were sold in 143 countries. People keep asking questions on the safety of Red Bull and other energy drinks.
The primary ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine and sugar, found as glucuronolactone, sucrose, and glucose. Energy drinks do provide a quick burst of energy. But this effect does not last for long, so drinking several cans in a row will certainly not turn you into a superhero, regardless of the marketing geniuses who try to convince you otherwise.
The primary ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine and sugar, found as glucuronolactone, sucrose, and glucose. Energy drinks do provide a quick burst of energy.
But this effect does not last for long, so drinking several cans in a row will certainly not turn you into a superhero, regardless of the marketing geniuses who try to convince you otherwise.
According to their official website, Red Bull provides the following benefits:
- Improved performance
- Increased concentration and reaction speed
- Increased endurance
- Increased metabolism
Energy drinks have the same effect as a cup of coffee or soda. But when the effect disappears, you will feel lethargic and soon crave another cup or can, in order to boost your energy again. As you can see, this can easily turn into a vicious cycle.
The company that has created Red Bull warns its consumers that they should not drink more than two cans of their product, but on Red Bull’s website there are no references to this fact.
There is just a statement saying that you should compare your consumption to the consumption of coffee, taking into consideration that a can of Red Bull equals a cup of brewed java.
But the problem with this recommendation is that no one actually knows the net effects of Red Bull. It’s true that coffee contains caffeine, but it does not contain artificial energy-boosting ingredients, including the two artificial sweeteners and other sugars that are in Red Bull.
Aspartame has multiple neurotoxic, metabolic, allergenic, fetal, and carcinogenic effects. It is most certainly not safe and in the book Sweet Deception you can read more about it.
Do energy drinks have health benefits?
With regards to nutrition, if you compare energy drinks to carbonated drinks like soda, soda most certainly doesn’t have any nutrients. Red Bull contains traces of B vitamins and taurine, an amino acid, but this doesn’t make up for the caffeine and sugar contained in Red Bull.
Caffeine can increase short term reaction speed, but no one can actually say how the combination of ingredients in Red Bull will affect the body.
People should be especially concerned about this, as these companies market their drinks toward young people under the age of 30. In addition to this, energy drinks are largely consumed by students who often drink a few cans at a time.
Who should avoid energy drinks?
As mentioned, children should not consume energy drinks. If you take into consideration their content, it would be wise to avoid these drinks if you are:
- Pregnant or lactating
- Sensitive to caffeine
- Have prolonged periods of anxiety or stress
- Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Have high blood pressure
- Have a predisposition to cardiovascular disease
- Have any blood clotting disorder
Researcher Scott Willoughby explained that Red Bull can be deadly when consumed by people who have high blood pressure or suffer from stress, because it can affect proper blood vessel functioning and increase the risk of blood clots.
Deadly when combined with alcohol
By mixing energy drinks and alcohol you are actually mixing a stimulant and a depressant. This is mostly popular at bars and night clubs. When combined with alcohol, Red Bull and other energy drinks are often referred to as “Vodka Bulls”or “Yager Bombs.”
The effect of this combination is still unknown, but experts claim that overloading the body with heavy stimulants and heavy depressants can possibly result in heart failure, and if you take into consideration the previous stories based on fatal outcomes of this deadly mixture, you can see that this is not just a theory.
After several deaths of some people who consumed Red Bull and alcohol together, France and Denmark banned the sale of this energy drink. In 2001, the journal medicine,science and law published an article published an article that explained the effect of Red Bull and alcohol combined with another stimulant: ephedra.
What is the result? Acute psychosis.
The journal of the clinical autonomic research society published an Italian study which reviewed a case of “postural tachycardia syndrome (pots) associated with a vasovagal reaction,” noticed in a young volleyball player after a high intake of Red Bull.
They concluded:
“Considering the widespread use of Red Bull among young people who are often unaware of the drink’s drug content, this case report suggests Red Bull be considered a possible cause of orthostatic intolerance.”
Orthostatic intolerance is actually a condition in which the change from a supine position (when a person lies down) to an upright position results in an abnormally high increase in the heart rate (more than 30 beats per minute, or, a heart rate that is great than 120 beats per minute in 10 minutes after sitting or standing).
POTS is also thought of as a mechanism for chronic fatigue syndrome, and if you struggle with chronic fatigue, energy drinks are not something you should drink, and that is why it is included in the list above.
When it comes to alcohol, you shouldn’t consume it. It is a neurotoxin, meaning that it poisons the brain. Also take into consideration the fact that large amounts of alcohol, even wine, increase insulin levels, which increases the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
How to boost your energy without energy drinks?
If you drink energy drinks to boost your energy, as most people do, you should know that there are far better options than artificial energy beverages. People are not naturally tired. A lethargic state is something we bring on by some of our lifestyle habits.
Lack of energy is a result of different factors, including:
- Poor dietary habits
- Consumption of low-quality foods
- Stressful life
- Negative emotions
- Insufficient sleep
- Insufficient exercise
You can easily boost your energy by following these tips:
- Eat according to your nutritional type
- Increase the intake of omega-3 fatty acids
- Eliminate grains and sugar from your diet
- Release the emotional stress and negativity with the help of emotional freedom technique (EFT)
- Sleep when you are tired
- Exercise regularly