In the market we currently find a great variety of soft drinks that may seem more attractive than any other beverage because of their taste, presentation or the effect they can produce in the consumer. In addition, the television advertising campaigns make them really appetizing.
However, the ads do not warn of the effects they can have on the metabolism of both adults and children. The experts at Psikids talk about this in this article.
Increased consumption of energy drinks among adolescents
These soft drinks include energy drinks or “Energydrinks” (ED), the sale of which is prohibited in some countries to minors under 16-18 years of age. Even so, there has been an increase in their consumption among these groups (mixed with alcohol or not) and their possible harmful effects are not being taken into account.
In this regard, almost 70% of adolescents and nearly 20% of children between 3 and 10 years of age are consumers of “energydrinks”. This can lead to caffeine intoxication, since children and adolescents are not regular consumers of this substance.
Moreover, mixing with alcohol is particularly dangerous, as it reduces the effects of alcohol intoxication and, as a result, can lead to even higher alcohol consumption among adolescents.
Why young people consume energy drinks: alleged positive effects
Energy drinks are associated with a harmless stimulating effect and a performance enhancer, qualities that have attracted adolescents, especially those involved in sports and training. However, these are not the only reasons that have led to an increase in their consumption; there are also the supposed positive effects they have in terms of psychostimulant effect, weight loss, improved attention and concentration or increased reaction speed, among others. The consequences of the consumption of these drinks are already becoming evident.
Components of energy drinks
It should be noted that “energydrinks” have a high caffeine content as their main component (ranging from 50mg to 505mg per container). This means the consumption of several coffees for each energy drink consumed. In addition, they may contain taurine, riboflavin, pyridoxine or other B vitamins, nicotinamide, guarana, carnitine, ginseng and other herbal derivatives. The effects of the consumption of such additives are not yet well known.
Harmful effects of energy drinks on metabolism
The harmful effects of energy drinks on metabolism are still under investigation, but the following are related, in addition to other derivatives:
- Increased heart rate
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Dependence syndrome
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Psychiatric syndromes
On the other hand, the labeling of this kind of beverages obviates the exact content of the ingredients, so consumers may not be fully aware of what they are ingesting. This is compounded by a lack of warnings regarding negative effects and attractive television commercials that disguise the supposed “benefits.”