Ever wondered what could possibly be the worst thing about energy drinks? Usually, energy drinks are a kind of junk we often tend to have minus any kind of prescription. It’s like no one really prescribes us to have an energy drink. Well, the only exception can be unless someone’s feeling really dehydrated and low on sugar, right? Other than that, there’s no definite known health benefit of having an energy drink.
Well, if you are bitten by the curiosity bug, then here’s what you ought to know:
The topmost reason to avoid or simply, not have an energy drink is that it has been recently determined that most energy drinks have around 17 spoons of sugar in them.
So if you were ever wondering about experiencing a sudden up-shot in the energy level in the body, you now know where it’s all coming from. But then, shocking as this may sound- who would’ve imagined- that energy drinks would contain 17 spoons of sugar in them?
Another worst thing about energy drinks is that they are also said to contain around the same amount of caffeine as two espressos. Not really a potion of endlessly good health then, eh?
But that told, hold your breath! The story surrounding energy drinks is going to only sound dramatic from here on. Recently, new researches have been done to estimate the overall benefit of having energy drinks and the findings are rather telling, albeit fetching a sigh of relief to those who were stunned by the sheer load of negatives stuffed in them.
New research by Safefood has found there has been an overall reduction in sugar content in energy drinks since the introduction of the sugar tax but that there has been a significant increase in the proportion of energy drinks sold in larger cans.
The survey found the average sugar content per serving of energy drinks has fallen by approximately two teaspoons of sugar from 31g in 2015 to 23g in 2019.
Where it comes to the overall sugar content, then different energy drink brands are believed to have different sums of sugar.
But delving into the bottom of this, the Irish Examiner shared some key insights:
Some energy drinks contain as much as 17 teaspoons of sugar and the same amount of caffeine as two espressos.
New research by Safefood has found there has been an overall reduction in sugar content in energy drinks since the introduction of the sugar tax but that there has been a significant increase in the proportion of energy drinks sold in larger cans.
The survey found the average sugar content per serving of energy drinks has fallen by approximately two teaspoons of sugar from 31g in 2015 to 23g in 2019.
Of the products surveyed, Rockstar Xdurance has the highest sugar content, with 17 teaspoons (69g) in a 500ml can. It also has the same amount of caffeine as two espresso coffees; 160mg.
Monster Energy has 14 teaspoons (55g) of sugar and 160mg of caffeine in a 500ml can, and Tiger and Red Bull both have seven teaspoons (28g) of sugar and 80mg caffeine in a 250ml can.
Based on the above data, a key nutritionist based in Europe had the following observations to make:
“Regular energy drinks are basically sugary drinks with added caffeine and we know that sugary drinks are linked with poor dental health and excess weight,” she said.
But all of that told, another worst thing about having energy drinks, it could be said, is that in a certain way, they are all addictive.
Suggested Read: Why Too Much Coffee Isn’t A Cool Idea After All For Your Health?
For instance, if you are really used to having a can of Red Bull on one too many an occasion, then you’d need a sudden or drastic change of habit in order to leave it altogether. In fact, one wonders and could argue would anyone wish to chuck an energy drink habit unless one was aware of the ills has pointed above?