Outlaw Energy drinks

Dear Editor,
Energy drink consumption has increased dramatically over the past two decades, especially among adolescents and young adults in the country. Energy drinks are aggressively marketed with claims that these products boost energy and improve physical and cognitive performance. However, studies supporting these claims are limited. In fact, energy drinks have been associated with several adverse health effects. This raises the question of whether these drinks are safe. Most brands on the market contain high amounts of glucose, but some offer versions with added artificial sweeteners. Other commonly used ingredients include taurine, methylxanthine, guarana, yerba mate, acai, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone. Serious concerns have now been raised about the safety of these products. There are several reports showing adverse health effects from energy drinks. Beverages that typically contain large amounts of caffeine, sugar, other additives, and legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and carnitine. These legal stimulants not only increase blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate, they may increase chances of cardiac arrest as per experts. The stimulants in these drinks can have harmful effects on the nervous systems too.Until independent research confirms safety, especially in adolescents, the sales of energy drinks should be restricted or banned in the country.
VijayKumar H K
[email protected]
Raichur, Karnataka
Environmentalist