Energy drinks increase your heart attack risk within 90 minutes of consumption

(NaturalHealth365) Most people reach for a cup of coffee to increase their energy levels.  However, in recent years, energy drinks have become the pick-me-up of choice, especially among younger people.

But here’s the warning:  Researchers have found that these high-caffeine, high-sugar beverages negatively impact heart health.

In fact, within just 90 minutes of having one of these drinks, blood vessels can constrict dramatically – by as much as half in some cases.  This reduces the blood supply and nutrients to the body’s organs and inhibits their function.

How energy drinks put a squeeze on our blood circulation

Keep in mind: blood flow constriction to the heart increases the risk of both heart attacks and stroke.  And that’s exactly what happens when you drink these beverages.  In addition, their high sugar content raises blood glucose levels – which can cause (or make worse) metabolic disorders like diabetes and prediabetes.

In one study, the researchers examined 44 college students from the McGovern Medical School at UT Health.  All participants were non-smokers, in their 20s, and generally ‘healthy.’  Since the subjects were young, they all had strong endothelium, the layer lining the inner walls of blood vessels.  Endothelium integrity is crucial to heart health.

Now, for the shocking results: the effect of energy drinks on otherwise normal endothelium was measured using ultrasound before and after consuming a 24-oz. energy drink.  Ninety minutes after consuming the drink, endothelial function was tested for vessel diameter and arterial blood flow.

How perfectly good blood vessels get damaged by just ONE drink

After just 90 minutes, the artery’s inner diameter was reduced by half – from 5.1 percent to around 2.8 percent on average.  The researchers believe this effect is due to the high levels of caffeine, sugar, taurine, and many other stimulating ingredients.

As agitating as too much caffeine can be, the researchers believe it’s the high sugar content of these drinks that is the biggest culprit of severe blood vessel constriction.  A drink like Red Bull contains 37 grams of sugar – equivalent to over NINE TEASPOONS.

However, caffeine is also a factor, causing the body to release adrenaline rapidly.  Each 250-ml drink contains around 80 mg of caffeine, which is 2.5 times the amount in a can of soda.

Editor’s note:  This article should be considered a ‘red alert’ for young athletes.  Don’t combine your high-intensity training with these drinks.  The result could be a deadly heart attack.  The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that around one-third of teenagers aged 12 to 17 consume these high-caffeine sugary drinks regularly.

Find natural alternatives to energy drinks

Finding natural, low-sugar ways to boost energy is always better for long-term health.  If you’re a parent of a teenager reaching for one of these beverages, warn them about the risk of heart attack, restrict their consumption, and encourage healthier options.

For example, green tea, coconut water, and fresh vegetable-fruit juices have (natural) energizing properties, and they are much healthier than high-sugar, caffeine-infused options.  Once you get started, you’ll never look back.

Remember: good health is our greatest asset.  We should do everything possible to protect it.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov 
News-Medical.net

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