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| Health Risk from Energy Drinks |
An energy drink is a type of beverage marketed in a way that suggests it will provide consumers with enhanced levels of mental alertness and physical stimulation.
The amount is usually more than double the amount found in other soft drinks while the average cup of coffee contains 40mg. Theresa May has enlisted the ban in a bid to combat the rising levels of childhood obesity in the UK, which she describes as “one of the greatest health challenges this country faces". The ban would apply to drinks which contain 150mg of caffeine or more per litre.
Energy drinks also typically contain high levels of sugar - one of the main motivations for imposing a ban - and may contain other ingredients linked to boosting energy such as ginseng, guarana, carnitine and taurine.
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| Health Risk from Energy Drinks |
According to nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, energy drinks offer "zero nutritional value" and there is no reason why children would need to consume them to get through the day. Excess amounts of caffeine can lead to high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting and convulsions, she tells. Other adverse health effects linked to excessive energy drink consumption, as illustrated in a study published in the International Journal of Health Sciences in 2015, include: anxiety, insomnia, gastronomical upset, headaches, hyperactivity and diuresis.
A study in Sweden also found links between energy drinks and dental erosion."High levels of sugar impact directly on obesity and tooth decay, both of which are known issues in children and adolescents," explains paediatric dietitian and British Dietetic Association spokes. person Clare Thornton-Wood. "Meanwhile, high caffeine intakes in children and adolescents can also raise blood pressure and interfere with concentration at school," she tells." Young people suffering with eating disorders often use low calorie energy drinks to boost energy levels with the caffeine they contain whilst limiting calories," Thornton-Wood adds.
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| Health Risk from Energy Drinks |
