Everyone has seen them on the isles of most grocery stores and at the checkout stands of 7-11, but what are some of the real risks associated with those "monster" sized energy drinks? Professional athletes have been seen endorsing 5 hour energy & Rockstar, and some claim that it helps with physical & mental preparation. However, these are loaded with caffeine, which can cause blood to become sticky and up the risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Mix these energy drinks with alcohol and the risk is exponentially greater, notes Jennie McCary, MS, RD, LD, the wellness coordinator of the Albuquerque Public School District and professor of nutrition at University of New Mexico.
A team of Australian medical researchers tested the cardiovascular response of 30 teenagers, 1 hour before and 1 hour ingesting a 250mg can of Red Bull. The result: The teens had abnormal bloodstream function, similar the blood stream in patients with CVD, according to Scott Willoughby, lead researcher at Royal Adelaide Hospital. He also warned the Red Bull can be "deadly"when combined with stress or high blood pressure, impairing blood vessel functioning and upping the risk of blood clotting.
As a result, John Hopkins University issued a call stressing the importance to manufactures of proper warning labels on their beverages.
While Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uraguay and Denmark, the U.S. has some of the most lax regulatory requirements among industrialized nations. Additionally, taurine comes from the bile of a bull or ox, and that's just gross.
No comments:
Post a Comment