• Question: What effect do energy drinks have on the human body?

    Asked by Jess to Christie, Sian on 18 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by 992thaf32.
    • Photo: Christie Waddington

      Christie Waddington answered on 18 Jun 2016:

      Energy drinks typically contain lots of sugar and caffeine. Once you take a drink, caffeine enters the blood within 10mins which causes your heart rate and blood pressure to rise. Over the next 15-45mins, the caffeine level in your blood reaches its peak and you feel more alert. This is because caffeine blocks adenosine pathways (ones that make you feel tired) and activates chemicals like dopamine (makes you feel good!) to be released in the brain.
      All the caffeine is absorbed within 30-50mins, and the liver responds by absorbing more sugar into the blood.
      After 1hr your body has a “sugar crash” and the effect of the caffeine dies down; you begin to feel tired.
      After 5-6hrs, half of the caffeine in your blood has gone. After 12hrs, all the caffeine has gone.

    • Photo: Sian Thomas

      Sian Thomas answered on 21 Jun 2016:

      So there are two issues with energy drinks. Consuming too much caffeine is problematic. Particularly in young women as it can increase the likelihood of miscarriage in early pregnancy if you have specific genes. But people become dependent on caffeine if they consume it regularly.

      Then there is sugar. With raisin get levels of obesity this gives an additional cause for concern.

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