Many people would like to have more energy on a daily basis.
Time demands, family commitments, work pressures and inadequate amounts of
sleep all contribute to those feelings of sluggishness or fatigue.
Unfortunately, one of the “solutions” is the “quick fix” of consuming an energy
drink or energy booster that are commonplace in stores today. Many people are
using these as their go-to way to get through a day, but unfortunately there
are costs associated with this band-aid approach to low energy. As the popularity
of non- alcoholic "energy" drinks continues to rise, so do
related health problems.
In 2009, U.S. emergency rooms treated almost 10 times more
cases of reactions to beverages such as Monster and Rock Star than they did in
2005, according to a U.S. government report. More than 13,000 ER visits related
to the highly caffeinated drinks were reported in 2009, said researchers from
the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Nearly half the emergencies occurred after the beverages were mixed with
alcohol or other drugs, and young adults aged 18 to 25 accounted for more than
half of those cases, the researchers found. Men were twice as likely as women
to use alcohol and drugs along with an energy drink. But, more women than men
combined energy drinks with pharmaceuticals, the researchers reported.
The drinks contain stimulants such as caffeine, and the
amount of caffeine in a can or bottle varies by brand. Whereas a five-ounce cup
of coffee contains about 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine and a 12-ounce cola
about 50 mg, some energy drinks contain about 80 mg, others as much as 500 mg,
according to the report. High doses of caffeine can cause abnormal heart
rhythms, high blood pressure, dehydration and other serious conditions. This is
due to the effect that it has on the adrenal system.
Our adrenals help us manage stress, whether it be from a
physical, emotional or chemical source. They kick in our “fight or flight”
mechanisms, which is why we see the reactions as noted above. For the short
term, this is not a bad thing as it is one of the body’s natural survival tools
that helps us adapt to and deal with stresses as they are presented. What we don’t
want is this system firing off more than it has to, either with large caffeine surges
at one time or from continual bombardment day after day (the people who drink
multiple energy drinks to “get by” every day). Over time, this can contribute
to taxing the body’s own coping mechanisms and can actually lead to more
fatigue as well as sleep disturbances and blood sugar imbalances.
In order to maintain proper energy levels, we have to pay
attention to our daily activities that support normal function. We need to get
adequate sleep each night so that our bodies can heal, repair and recover. A
healthy diet will keep blood sugars balanced and even throughout the day so
that we don’t experience highs and crashes in energy. We also need to make sure
we are keeping emotional stresses in check so that the adrenal system is not in
high alert mode more than it should be. If these basic strategies don’t help to
correct a lack of energy, an assessment of hormone levels such as hemoglobin
A1c, cortisol and thyroid levels may be necessary.
In Health,
Dr. Brad Niewierowski
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