Skip to content

Can Coffee be a Health Drink?

10 January 2010, 1:00 pm

A few years ago, there were studies saying that coffee can be associated with cancer. This prompted people to avoid drinking the caffeinated drink. A few years after that study, researches have recounted the research quoting that the research is flawed. Current research have showed that coffee can give the body a lot of benefits.

Harvard researchers are saying that coffee, when drank regularly, can be a cure for diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer. It could even improve your mood and treat daily headache problems. It could even be drank to lower risk of cavities.

Research shows that regular coffee drinkers are 80 percent less likely to have Parkinson’s disease. While 2-cups-a-day drinkers can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25 percent and 80 percent in liver cirrhosis risk. It can even slash the risk of gallstones by half. There are even studies showing that people who smoke and drink heavily, have less heart and liver damage because of their coffee intake.

So, what causes these benefits? It is the anti-oxidants, and surprisingly from the caffeine also. Currently, drugs for curing Parkinson’s disease are being developed. These drugs have a derivative of caffeine as their component. Coffee also has chlorogenic acid and tocophenols which are antioxidants. These mineral components can improve insulin sensitivity. When we talk about insulin sensitivity, it is the body’s response to insulin.

There were studies conducted in Europe citing that the trigonelline, the compound which is why coffee smells good and has bitter taste, also has benefits. It can be both antibacterial and anti-adhesive. These prevent the formation of dental cavities.

But can everybody drink coffee?

Unfortunately, not everybody can drink coffee. People with bladder and kidney problems, existing diabetes, gallstones, heart problems, high cholesterol levels, hypoglycemia and generalized panic and /or anxiety attacks should avoid drinking coffee altogether. Avoiding drinking coffee is also advised to pregnant women and those with high risk of osteoporosis.

For pregnant women, if coffee cannot be avoided, then it is recommended just to drink one to two cups a day. Infertility, miscarriages and low birth weight among babies are the primary reason why pregnant women are recommended against drinking coffee.

Excessive caffeine intake can also lead to nervousness, anxiety and rapid heartbeat. The caffeine overstimulates the nervous system, making the adrenal glands work overboard. Osteoporosis patients are also advised against coffee. Coffee reduces the capability of bones to absorb the necessary minerals, making the bones weak and in risk of osteoporosis. But the effects can be reduced if milk is mixed with coffee.

For some people, coffee can also be addictive. People who have stopped drinking coffee experience withdrawal symptoms. They would get headaches, less energy and alertness, difficulty in being focused, get irritated easily and sometimes even get depressed.

Over caffeine consumption can also have an impact on your skin, since it increases the risk of developing stretch marks. Caffeine may also play a role in weight gain. Although, it is mentioned that coffee drinkers may lose weight in the short-term, but in a longer period of time, coffee can lead to weight gain.

Coffee both has good and bad effects. Similar to other beverages and food, once it is taken in big amounts, then it is likely that they may have undesirable effects to your body. Whether coffee can be considered as a health drink, it is up to you to make the choice.

Filed under Coffee, Health Drinks. Tagged , , , , ,
Comment

Drink Tea for Your Health

10 January 2010, 12:56 pm

Since the ancient times, Chinese have been drinking tea. They have believed and reported health benefits from tea. It has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Today, there are numerous studies showing evidences improvements in health attributed to tea drinking. More and more people drink tea for their health.

In the Journal of National Cancer Institute (published in 1994) they claimed that drinking tea has reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by a huge 60 percent. While, the University of Purdue researchers claimed that green tea can prevent the growth of some cancer cells. Tea has polyphenols that can reduce risk not only of esophageal cancer, but also gastric and skin cancers.

It can also help in the prevention or the spread of prostate cancer as discovered by the Center of Human Nutrition at UCLA. It can also protect the body against cancer brought about by smoking. Green tea and white tea are significant in fighting colon and lower stomach cancers.

Tea can also improve the ratio of good and bad cholesterol levels in your body. The same polyphenols help in preventing blood from clotting and are responsible in lowering cholesterol levels. Thus, drinking tea is a great help for heart disease patients.

These are not only the health benefits attributed to tea. According to Newcastle University’s Medicinal Plant Research Centre study, tea might also delay Alzheimer’s disease. While, University of Tokyo stated that tea may play a role against fighting AIDS.

Aside from cancer it can also be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, infections, and impaired immune function. There are also new studies claiming green tea helping those who would like to lose weight. Those who drink caffeine and green tea tend to burn more calories that those consuming caffeine only.

Because of its ability to fight and destroy bacteria, green tea can even fight against tooth decay. It can kill dental plaque just as it can help prevent food poisoning. In the market, there are also deodorants and skin creams with the component of green tea in it.

How can something be this good?

The secret is the polyphenols, especially the epigallocatechin galleate or EGCG. ECGC is an anti-oxidant. This powerful anti-oxidant can kill or prevent the growth of cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue and cells. It also has flavonoids and catechins which are also anti-oxidants. It also has fluoride which is why it can fight tooth decay and helps control bad breath.

Different kind of teas has different levels on anti-oxidants. White tea has more anti-oxidants compared to other tea. Freshly brewed teas have more polyphenols than instant or bottled teas. Thus, freshly-brewed teas have more anti-oxidants than instant teas.

Caffeine is also present in tea. Caffeine levels or amount in brewed tea depends on the type of the tea. Black tea has higher amount of caffeine than green tea. The amount of caffeine also depends of length of time of brewing, and also on the water temperature. If the leaves are exposed to higher water temperature, more caffeine are drained from the leaves.

The American Diabetic Association reported that a cup of tea has an average of 40 mg. of caffeine. A cup of freshly brewed coffee has an average of 85 mg. of caffeine. An average of 350 mg. of caffeine consumption is still good for a healthy individual.

Currently, the only negative effect reported in drinking too much tea is insomnia. This would be because of the caffeine content of tea. So start brewing your tea, drink for your health.

Filed under Health Drinks, Tea. Tagged , , , , , , ,
Comment

Is Coffee a Health Drink?

9 January 2010, 12:45 pm

Coffee lovers, the people who love coffee would be surprised to hear that their most beloved drink can also be considered as a health drink nowadays.

Before, coffee is not considered as a health drink because of its high caffeine content. But now, more and more studies show that coffee—in moderation—can be considered as a health drink because of the number of benefits one can enjoy from drinking it.

In most workplace settings, a normal person can consume at least four cups of steaming brewed coffee in a day. This is to keep him or her to stay alert and awake in the next hours. In most countries, coffee is considered as a staple drink. In fact, all over the world, people have their specialty coffee from beans that only grow and found in that part of the globe.

The coffee revolution

Nowadays, a lot of people are getting more and more apprehensive about what they are actually buying and how it is grown or made especially their coffees. One of the most noticeable trends is coffee now is organic coffee. This type of coffee very much similar to regularly grown coffee, the only difference is the method by which the farmer grew the coffee. The process does not include pesticide, chemicals, and other substances except the ones found in nature were used to grow the coffee beans. This kind of coffee is untouched by the ravaging effects of chemical used to kill pests that’s why some people believe it has therapeutic properties.

Today, coffee—whether its organic or not—is considered by many people as a health drink because it is believed to contain more antioxidants in one typical serving compared to that of other juices such as grapes, oranges, and raspberries blueberries. In fact, more and more dieticians agree that coffee can be a good alternative for commercial health drinks because it can bring benefits that can be good for a person’s overall health. Here’s a list of what coffee—as a health drink—can do for the coffee lovers out there.

1. Excellent source of anti-oxidant. A cup of coffee is believed to be loaded with tannin and antioxidants that are beneficial in keeping diseases away and can help achieve a healthier skin. Certain properties of coffee are believed to help control the cell damage which leads to the development of certain diseases.

2. Good for the cardiovascular system. Experts agree that coffee contain properties that are good for the heart and its arteries. It also helps improve the circulation of blood within the person’s heart.

3. An alternative headache and asthma reliever. People who consume enough amount of caffeine are known to reduce risks of possible asthma attacks because the caffeine is believed to be a good pain buster.

4. Promotes healthy liver. Aside from reducing the risk of several serious cardiovascular illnesses, coffee is believed to bring about healthy benefits to the liver especially those who have cirrhosis and gallstones.

5. Controls sugar levels among diabetics. Coffee is known to be a good source of “chlorogenic acid,” that are proven to reduce large amounts of glucose concentrations in the blood. People who are prone to diabetes can consume larger quantities of coffee because it greatly helps in the prevention of diabetes.

6. It can boost to athleticism. As a health drink, drinking coffee can be a good way to boost one’s athleticism because of its high caffeine content. Experts agree that caffeine can enhance the athletic endurance and performance of an athlete, what more in an ordinary person?

Filed under Coffee, Health Drinks. Tagged , , ,
Comment

Drink to Your Health!

8 January 2010, 12:40 pm

In a very fast-paced and high-pressure world we seem to forget to eat healthy. And to make things quicker, it seems to be easier to put everything, vitamins and minerals in one gulp. Health drinks are proliferating in the market. But what is more economically efficient than making your own health drink?

If you are a person who finds it difficult to insert vegetables and fruits into your diet, then think of drinking fresh juices and vegetable juices. Freshly made juices are a great source vitamins, minerals, enzymes and co-enzymes. Enzymes serve as catalyst for the processes and chemical reactions that happen throughout your body. Enzymes are much needed when you digest, convert and absorb food into body tissue.

There are fruits and vegetables whose nutrients and vitamins are trapped in the fibers. These nutrients and vitamins get released after blending them. This make blended fruit and vegetable juices more nutritious compared to eating them whole. Also, drinking fruits and vegetables make it easier for the fibers and nutrients to get quickly into the bloodstream and system.

There are studies showing that drinking fruit and vegetable juices are best done every morning and evening. The juices drank in the morning and evening will get into the bloodstream within ten minutes after drinking it.

If you are interested in creating your own vegetable and fruit juice, here are some steps that can get you started in your healthy habit:

• Purchase a juice machine.

• Remember to juice vegetables and fruits when they are raw.

• Fruits that have small seeds like watermelon and pears can be juiced with their seeds. But papaya and apple seed need to be taken out before being juiced. Orange and grapefruit seeds can leave a bitter taste to the mouth, so you can take it out also.

• Fruits and vegetables which are not organically grown should be peeled. There may be chemical residues left on the skins of the fruits. While pineapple, kiwis, oranges, grapefruit and papaya skins should be removed even if they are organically grown.

• When choosing fruits and vegetables, make sure to pick out the fresh and ripe ones. Wilted, under-ripe, bruised fruits and vegetables are not good for you and does not taste good too.

• Follow the instructions in your juice machine. Make sure to cut the fruits and vegetables in pieces suitable for the juice machine. After juicing, remove the pulp right away. If you leave it, it would have sour smell and would have fruit flies within 8 to 10 hours after juicing.

• Drink your juices immediately. It is better to drink freshly made juice.

Do not be afraid to try out combinations. You can use different fruits in season to create a great tasting health drink, you can use bananas, mangoes and pineapple. Their tart and sweet flavor can be balanced with fruits like strawberries, kiwi fruit and oranges. When using vegetables, it is best to use dark leafy vegetables like spinach or beet tops. For added flavor, you can even add yoghurt and ice cubes for the chill. You can even add ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla extract to complete your healthy concoction.

Health juices as health drinks are not new. As early as 16th century, limejuice was used to save sailors against scurvy. But it seems like for a while, health benefits of fruits and vegetables have been forgotten and currently we are on the way to rediscover it.

Filed under Fruit juices, Health Drinks, Juices, Prune juice, Vegetable juices, pomegranate juice. Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Health Drink: Alcohol?

7 January 2010, 12:35 pm

Studies have shown that those who consume alcohol in moderate amounts may have better health than does people who do not drink at all. So would you qualify alcohol as a health drink?

These researches showed that those who drink alcohol moderately have lower risks and fewer heart attacks and strokes. They are also less likely to have hypertension, peripheral artery disease, Alzheimer’s disease and even the common cold.

In the Old and New Testament, the medicinal properties of alcohol were mentioned. In the early 1900s, moderate alcohol drinking was already associated with decreasing the risk of heart attacks. Since then, there are continuous research studying on the medical attributes of alcohol.

Drinkers who drink sensibly are said to have longer lives. Harvard and Chinese research showing men who drink has lower risk of death compared to those who does not drink at all. Average difference would be from 21 to 28 percent. Longevity is associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease, cancer and respiratory disease. Moderate drinkers showed that they have less cases of hospitalization.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism discovered that in 20 countries world-wide, those who have 20- 40 percent lower chances of having coronary heard disease are those who moderately drink alcohol. Those who abstain and drink heavily has higher rate of mortality due to coronary heart disease. A Harvard study was also conducted and showed that women who drink half a glass or five grams of alcohol a date lower the risk of coronary heart disease by half.

Aside from decreasing heart disease risk factors, moderate consumption of alcohol also increases the survivability of those who fall victims of this disease. Light to moderate drinking of alcohol a year before an acute myocardial infarction or AMI can reduce the risk of death after. While those who drink two to four drinks of alcohol after a heart attack are less likely to have a second heart attack incident. Compared to those who abstain from alcohol, the risk factor is cut into half.

An American Heart Associate research states that light to moderate alcohol consumption can also lower the risk of stroke both in men and women, regardless of their age and their ethnicity. While those young adults who drink one to three drinks a day have the lowest levels of hypertension. Moderate drinkers are also less likely to have the Type 2 diabetes compared to high drinkers and abstainers.

Light to moderate drinkers are also more resistant to common colds compared to those who does not drink at all. They also have lower risk of kidney cancer. They also have lower risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma or cancer by 27 percent compared to abstainers. And it goes on. Alcohol consumption, as long as it is light and moderate have significant health benefits.

But once alcohol is consumed in large doses and amounts, then there we will encounter a problem. When we talk about drinking moderately, medical researchers and professionals would say that is about one to three drinks a day. For women, it should be 20 to 30 percent less than the average consumption of a man. It is attributed mainly on smaller size and biological differences.

There are also some studies indicating the consumption of alcohol, even if in moderation, have significant effects on having higher risk of certain disease. For women, there are studies that showed that an average one to two drinks a day can increase their risk of breast cancer. Pregnant women drinking can also fall victims to miscarriage or fetal alcohol syndrome which can have negative effects on the nervous system of the unborn child. Cirrhosis of the liver, heart muscle damage and stroke can still e attributed to alcoholic consumption.

There are always two sides of a coin. For alcohol it can be a drink beneficial to our health, but too much would lead to more sickness than cure.

Filed under Alcohol. Tagged , ,
Comment

The Healthy and Unhealthy Drinks

6 January 2010, 12:10 pm

Wondering why you don’t eat too much but still keep on gaining weight? Then maybe you drink is not healthy at all. There are hundreds of beverages out there that can boost your waistline.

You have to be cautious of what you drink. Coffee, although it has significant health effects, can be making you fat. If you drink coffee with full fat dairy and artificial flavorings, and do not forget about chocolate sprinkles, then it is highly likely that this is more detrimental than beneficial.

To maximize the health benefits of coffee, it is better to drink it plain or with soymilk. Or you can just switch to green tea which is much better for you since it is a rich source of anti-oxidants.

Sugary summer drinks like margarita or a pina colada doubles your sugar and calorie intake. A can or a glass of this can give you 800 calories. If you’re looking for cool, alcoholic beverage to share in a hot night, then switch to red wine or light beer.

Red wine can reduce coronary heart disease and can lower cholesterol count, thus, reducing risk of high blood pressure or hypertension. Red wine can also maintain the immune system. It also have polyphenols which is an excellent anti-oxidant.

Polyphenols lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, risks of cancer. It also has anti-bacterial properties. Aside form polyphenols, red wine also has flavonoids which is also an anti-oxidant. Wine can also be associated in reducing stress. It has a calming influence that helps the body to relax and unwind.

Before buying your juice drink, be careful on reading the label. There is difference between “100 % juice” and “made with real juice”. There can be a big amount of artificial sweeteners and big amount of calories included in your juice drink. Drinking real juice drink can give you the necessary nutrients and vitamins, while there re juice drink which is not different from drinking a glass of sugared water.

Whether it is diet or regular soda, soda still has no nutritional value. Unfortunately, this unhealthy drink is the leading and most favorite beverage. There are studies showing soda related to obesity. Soda is known to be high in calories and sugar. Even diet soda shows no significant difference in sugar and calories. Both regular and diet sodas are associated to weight gain.

Drinking soda has also been related to tooth decay. It is still attributed to high consumption of sugars which is present in all soda drinks. Caffeine is also present in sodas. So children who drink too much sodas can develop caffeine dependence. This may interfere with the development of the brain of children. Although, this is not yet proven, several medical researchers and health care professionals are expressing concern.

Unfortunately, there are more of unhealthy drinks than healthy drinks out there in the market. More and more people are forgetting to focus on healthy drinking. Yes, we try to be cautious with what we eat but we still neglect what we drink. Then definitely, we will be missing our healthy mark.

So if you would like to create your own drinks minus the sugar and calories, then definitely go ahead. There are health guides and magazines, even the internet, can help you concoct a savory but healthy drink without the risk factors.

Filed under Coffee, Fruit juices, Health Drinks, Water. Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Great Health Drinks You Can Consume

5 January 2010, 12:06 pm

We have to take care of our bodies. To do that, we can exercise, eat a good diet and also consume some health drinks. Just like food, such refreshments have to be prepared and here a twp that you can try out at home.

The first is green tea. Studies have shown that tea is healthier than coffee because it can help regulate your blood sugar and blood pressure, prevent certain cancers, fight plaque on your teeth, lower your cholesterol and slow down the aging process.

To make green tea, you will need one tea bag and then put this either in the kettle filled with warm water or straight to the cup. After letting it stand for about 3 minutes or so, you can already drink it. If you want to add flavor to your tea, you can try adding sugar, honey and even a lemon wedge.

The next drink is the fruit smoothie. The mixture itself is similar to making milkshake but instead of the added calories, this is replaced with vitamins and nutrients. To do that, you have to buy some fruit, low fat yogurt, some crushed ice and water. All the ingredients are then mixed in the blended and when it is ready, this is poured into a tall glass.

Aside from those you can make, there are those that can be poured straight from the container. These health drinks are your basic fruit juices and you can find these in different variations such as apple juice, grape juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and a lot more.

Although these health drinks have certain benefits, you have to remember that these products are highly processed which means these are high in sugar. These will surely cause your blood sugar to go up and drinking too much of these may cause damage to your heart and kidney over time.

There are also health drinks from vegetables which are better known as functional beverages. These are great to have since many of us don’t eat a salad daily. The only problem is that you get essential nutrients from various vegetables so you have to buy different products and take it alternately.

The newest health drink is called the cell renewal formula because it is a combination of fruit and vegetable extracts mixed with herbs and other plant compounds. There are only a few of these products so far in the market and a few of these don’t taste that good so it takes time for someone to get used to it.

Among all the different health drinks available, the one thing that is not included in this group is the energy drinks. If you read the ingredients on the label, these consists of artificial sweeteners, caffeine or ephedra and in some cases a combination of all three.

You have probably drank a few of these in the past and although they taste good, the reality is that it may replenish your electrolytes after a workout but it does not have give you any vitamins and nutrients which are good for your health. This does not mean you should give up drinking energy drinks but consume it in moderation.

There is no doubt that health drinks are good for you otherwise doctors and other health experts will not recommend them. You can make this yourself or buy these from the store but before you bringing it to the checkout counter, take time to read what is written on the product label.

Filed under Energy, Fruit juices, Health Drinks, Juices, Vegetable juices, Water. Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

You Can Make a Health Drink at Home

4 January 2010, 12:49 pm

Processed drinks are not as good as those you make yourself because when you buy them from the store, some of the vitamins and nutrients are lost in the production process. This is why you should only consume a health drink that has been freshly made.

You can make your own health drink by blending either fruits or vegetables. Once you have all the ingredients which include the fruit or the vegetable, water, salt, sugar, water and crush ice, you can already blend it using the blender.

Don’t remove the pulp because it also contains essential vitamins and minerals. Since this is best served cold, add some more crushed ice.

These essential vitamins and minerals that we stress happen to be partners with enzymes and co-enzymes. Without it, we cannot carry out our work and live because this is needed by the body to absorb, convert and digest the food and drinks we consume to give us energy.

When making a health drink with either fruits or vegetables, remember that this should be raw. While some of these can be blended with the seeds still present, you better remove the seeds from orange or grapefruit since it has a bitter after taste.

If you happen to make a health drink that is not organically grown, you better peel off the upper layers because there may still be chemical residue there even if you have washed it in water. In the case of organically grown products, you still have to remove the outer skin of some which include those found in the grapefruit, kiwis, papaya, pineapple and orange.

You should also only make a health drink with fruits that are ripe. You can distinguish a product that is ripe from those that are not by examining the leaves or the sides. If you can’t tell the difference, you will end up drinking something that is not healthful and tasty.

Naturally, you can force the fruit or the vegetable down the mouth of your blender. You have to cut this into small pieces so everything will fit inside including the other ingredients you will be using. Don’t forget to also close the blender by putting the lid on top otherwise the contents inside will come out.

Now turn on the blender and then hold it for a few seconds until everything inside is mixed together. When it is ready, get a glass and then serve.

One thing you should remember about any health drink is that once you make it, you better finish it because the taste will be different after a day. This means only finish what you can consume so you avoid wastage. If you made too much, offer this to someone else who many also want to try it.

The process of making a health drink is not that different if you want to make juice, shake or a smoothie. You just have to prepare the ingredients and if ever what you made is too thick, just add water to make it more fluid.

A lot of people will agree that a health drink is the next best thing to food that you will otherwise consume. You don’t have to cook it since the blender will do all the work without losing any vitamins and minerals which happens when you put this in the frying pan.

Filed under Fruit juices, Health Drinks, Juices, Vegetable juices, Water. Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

When Health Drinks are not Always Healthy

3 January 2010, 12:02 pm

More than ever, the trend of healthy living is so popular right now. These are advertised in the basic products that people consume such as foods, drinks, and even in toiletries. But, among these, the piece that takes the cake is the healthy drinks, which can be bought almost everywhere.

But, with all the competitions and emergence of so many companies that produce the so-called “healthy drinks,” not all drinks that are labeled as such are good for you. If you are one of those who are into healthy drinks, now is the time to be smart about these.

By now, you should know that not all that are advertised as “healthy drinks” are healthy. And by now, you should know how to determine which are the ones that can really help you achieve optimum health and the ones that don’t.

Labels to behold

The best way to ensure that you are taking in healthy stuff into your body is by taking time to choose the ones that you consume. This can be done by shopping your foods by yourself. Aside from having the time to choose what you want to eat, you can also check the labels of these foods—especially your favorite health drink—by yourself. When shopping for health drinks, make sure that you avoid those who have the following ingredients in them:

- phosphoric acid. This acid is the clear, colorless liquid that is usually used in detergents, fertilizers, food flavoring and other pharmaceuticals products. This should be avoided because it can lead to the irritation of the skin as well as the eyes once ingested.

- high fructose corn syrup. This is a concentrated sugar, which is the major cause of weight gain in many people especially to women. Aside from being among those that leads to obesity, high fructose corn syrup in some health drinks can also lead to abnormal blood sugar levels that may lead to chronic illnesses such diabetes.

- artificial flavors and sweeteners. More commonly called as “excito-toxins,” artificial flavorings are so common in most health drinks that are flavored-based. These artificial flavors are the same ones that you may find in sweet juices, colas and candy bars. Health drinks that have these in them should be avoided to avoid pH imbalances in the blood.

- processed vitamins. Many people don’t realize it but not all vitamins can be healthy especially if these are liquefied, isolated, and heated. This is because these vitamins and minerals are proven to break down before the body can benefit from them.

Other things to look for include glycerol ester of wood rosin because these are acid forming, the modified food starch, and the yellow 6, yellow 5 and red 40 because these are all artificial coloring or dyes.

Looking for the healthy health drink

Although looking for a healthy drink can take some of your precious time, this will be worth it because you can ensure that you are taking in healthy elements that your body needs.

Filed under Health Drinks. Tagged , , , , , ,
Comment

Energy Drinks May Not be Healthy at All

15 December 2009, 11:48 am

Energy drinks may not be as healthy as we think it is. Energy drinks are just everywhere. You can get some in corner stores, gas stations, and bars. Because these drinks are supposed to provide mental and physical stimulation, people are taking it. But does this drink provide what is best for our health?

There are studies showing that energy drink consumption provides relative improvement in mental and cognitive performances. These drinks also increase the alertness of the consumer. But on the down side, excessive consumption may lead to anxiety, insomnia and irritability.

What are the components of your average energy drink?

Some common ingredients would include:

• Ephedrine – a stimulant that commonly found in weight-loss products and decongestants. There are studies raising concern and issues about its effects on the heart.

• Taurine – a natural amino acid needed by the body to help regulate heart beat and muscle contractions. Currently, researchers are trying to discover its impact as a energy drink additive.

• Ginseng – a kind of root thought to have several medicinal benefits. It is said that ginseng relives stress and can increase your level of energy.

• Vitamin B – a group of vitamins that can change sugar to energy

• Carnitine – an amino acid. Its effects can be mainly on the metabolism of fatty acids in the body.

• Creatine – an organic acid which main contribution is on energizing the muscles for muscle contraction.

• Inositol – a member of the vitamin B complex that helps relay messages within cells in the body.

• Ginkgo biloba – came from the seeds of the ginkgo biloba tree. There are studies claiming its memory enhancement capabilities. ¬

Caffeine is also present in most energy drinks. So how does an energy drink work? Caffeine and other minerals blocks certain brain chemicals in sending its messages to the brain. This brain chemical is called adenosine which mainly involved in sleep. Thinking that the body is experiencing a problem, the pituitary gland releases adrenaline.

Adrenaline release makes the heart beat faster, eyes to dilate, and the liver to release extra sugar to the mainstream. This would provide the consumer an extra surge of energy needed for intense physical or mental activity.

Like any other food, drink or drugs, too much is never good for you. Consuming too much energy drinks can lead to heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and even being jittery.

It is also dangerous to drink water while doing some exercise, since its effects are more leaned into dehydrating your body. There are also some people who mix energy drinks with alcohol. Studies showed that mixing alcohol and energy drinks would make you feel alert and sober, making you unaware of how much you actually drank. This could also lead to excessive drinking and later on to dehydration.

If you drink energy drinks, then be aware of how you consume it. There are some energy drinks that have instructions, be sure to follow them. Avid drinking too much of is, make sure to limit consumption to 2 cans a day. It is for the best to avoid mixing energy drinks to alcohol. When doing intense physical activity like exercise, then it would be best to just drink water instead. For pregnant women and young children, drinking energy drinks is best to be avoided. They also pose problems for those who have high blood pressure and heart disease.

Energy drinks can provide and be a health drink, as long as it consumed moderately.

Filed under Energy, Health Drinks. Tagged , ,
Comment
« Older Entries