A can of red bull may claim to give you wings but it comes along with a great deal of heart related health hazards. According to a study published on Nov.8 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, consuming even only one energy drink leads to a sufficiently great rise of blood pressure.
The participants — all healthy, nonsmoking, medication-free adults — were asked to drink one can of Rockstar Energy Drink and one similar-tasting, caffeine-free placebo drink within five minutes, in random order, on two different days over a span of two weeks. The researchers recorded various cardiovascular data, including heart rate and blood pressure, before and after the participants consumed the drinks.
The findings suggested that a single can of Rockstar energy drink , produced an average blood pressure increase of 6.4% — more specifically, a 6.2% spike in systolic blood pressure and a 6.8% spike in diastolic blood pressure. Meanwhile the placebo drink, only raised participant’s blood pressure by an average of 1%. The Rockstar also led to a 74% jump in levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that increases blood pressure — significantly higher than the 31% spike caused by the placebo drink. Heart-rate increases were fairly even between the Rockstar and the placebo drink.
“These acute hemodynamic and adrenergic changes may predispose to increased cardiovascular risk,” the authors wrote. “Further research in larger studies is needed to assess whether the observed acute changes are likely to increase cardiovascular risk.”
Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist and director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center, motivates and encourages her patients to completely cut the beverages out of their diets. “I bet a lot of people don’t realize how much caffeine they’re getting,” Goldberg said, noting that a typical energy-boosting beverage can contain three to five times the amount of caffeine found in a standard cup of coffee. “It’s a little hard to say if people can do that in moderation. I, of course, advise against it.” According to Goldberg; Caffeine increases blood pressure to a great extent making it a risk element for stroke and heart attacks. Goldberg has also treated patients with racing heart rates caused by energy drink-induced caffeine boosts. But caffeine isn’t the only harmful ingredient. Loaded with sugar, energy drinks can contribute to weight gain.
It is however, important to note that not all health enthusiasts are apprehensive towards consuming these energy drinks. Wellness expert John Rowley, certified personal trainer and author of The Power of Positive Fitness and Climb Your Ladder of Success Without Running Out of Gas, claims he drinks a Monster one or two times a week. He pointed out some of the benefits of caffeine, such as increased metabolism and body temperature, the latter of which might help burn calories.
A regular gym-goer, Rowley typically uses a blender to mix together Monster, protein powder, the essential fatty acid MCT oil, fiber, ice and blueberries. “I make it into a protein smoothie,” he said. “Having all that stuff combined lessens the effect of the caffeine. The fats and protein slow down digestion.” According to Rowley as long as one understands their own body dynamics and the way it reacts to caffeine, it’s fine to have an energy drink occasionally Rowley advised. Just don’t go crazy. “It’s like when doctors say red wine is good for you,” he said. “They don’t mean a bottle, they mean a glass.”
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