Conservation Law: why you can't drink a lot of energy drinks
Scientific studies confirm the negative impact of energy drinks on health. These products contain a lot of caffeine, sugar and stimulants that contribute to a short-term increase in body activity. At the same time, abuse causes disorders of the cardiovascular system, digestive problems, insomnia and increased anxiety. Despite the evidence of harm, energy drinks are still popular. Izvestia investigated whether their stimulating effect is simply due to artificial stimulation of the nervous system, which quickly gives way to fatigue and irritability.
Who can have energy drinks?
An energy drink is a non—alcoholic tonic product containing stimulants of the central nervous system, explains Anastasia Lebedeva, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Dietetics at ROSBIOTECH University. It usually contains caffeine, taurine, sugar or sweeteners, B vitamins, flavors, colors, and sometimes plant extracts such as guarana.
— The main physiological effect is associated with caffeine: this ingredient stimulates the nervous system, increases heart rate, increases blood pressure and temporarily reduces fatigue, — says Lebedeva. — T aurine alone in moderate doses is not considered toxic, however, in combination with caffeine it enhances the stimulating effect. Sugar creates an additional burden on the pancreas and metabolism, provoking sharp fluctuations in glucose levels.
Denis Prokofiev, a cardiologist with the status of "Moscow Doctor," recalls that energy engineers came into our lives from sports medicine. Their main task is to restore the water-electrolyte balance and compensate for the energy that is expended during heavy physical exertion. This, according to the doctor, occurs due to the activation of the cardiovascular system, intensive nutrition of muscle tissue, as well as stimulating effects on the brain.
— Therefore, when such drinks are used by a person with increased physical activity, this is normal. But if energy drinks are used in everyday life in order to cope with general weakness, fatigue and prolong the period of working capacity, then health problems are inevitable, the cardiologist warns.
The biotechnologist emphasizes that the components of energy drinks do not accumulate in the body like classical poisons, but with regular use they form a chronic burden on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. The negative effect can manifest itself both immediately — in the form of tachycardia, pressure surges, anxiety — and gradually, with a systematic excess of safe doses.
"The heart and blood vessels are becoming the most vulnerable organs," Anastasia Lebedeva continues. — High doses of caffeine can provoke arrhythmias, vascular spasms, increased blood pressure, and in severe cases, acute heart failure. The nervous system also suffers: panic reactions, insomnia, irritability, and decreased concentration are possible.
Prokofiev also emphasizes that, first of all, the danger lies in the fact that an energy drink has an exciting effect on the brain and the cardiovascular system. With excessive and regular abuse, the development of hypertensive crises is inevitable — up to the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes.
— Since energy sources provoke high blood pressure and a rapid pulse, the result is a heavy load on the heart. And if it becomes regular, the heart will increase in size, as myocardial hypertrophy will occur," explains Denis Prokofiev. — The heart will need more and more blood and oxygen. This will inevitably lead to the development of high blood pressure and the appearance of chest pains.
Thus, a person creates a diagnosis with his own hands, the doctor emphasizes.
"Plus, don't forget that energy products are often sold in aluminum cans," Prokofiev continues. — An aluminum can is a direct path to the development of pancreatitis, that is, damage to the pancreas, as well as to the development of gout.
Taking energy drinks is accompanied by other problems, including damage to the gastrointestinal tract, namely the gastric mucosa and duodenum, if you take energy on an empty stomach on a regular basis.
What does the pancreas suffer from?
The fact that the abuse of energy drinks leads to loss of health is no longer the usual horror story of doctors, but a real threat to life. Let's recall the most striking recent examples that shocked Russians last year. Doctors have been fighting for the life of 22-year-old Artemy from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District for a long time. Because of his love for energy drinks (he became addicted to them as a teenager), the guy lost the ability to walk. The medical statistics related to energy drinks also included a 22-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, who had been drinking tonic drinks since the age of 14. He is now confined to a wheelchair. A resident of Astrakhan became disabled due to his addiction to an invigorating drink combined with electronic cigarettes. He also acquired bad habits at a young age. Earlier, in 2023, a 39-year-old Muscovite died after consuming 15 cans of energy cocktails.
In the case of Artemy, the pancreas took the brunt. This organ is under special stress due to high doses of sugar, Lebedeva explains.
"Considering that almost all energy drinks contain a lot of glucose, they, like sugary carbonated drinks, increase blood sugar levels and increase the load on the pancreas," continues Dr. Prokofiev. — As a result, there is a violation of glucose tolerance. The body just can't handle a lot of energy drinks. Sooner or later, this can lead to the development of diabetes.
The cardiologist considers it very dangerous to use energy drinks in combination with coffee and alcohol. In these cases, the degree of toxic effects on the body is especially high. In particular, the two most important filters of our body, the liver and kidneys, have a negative impact.
It is significant that young people have been using energy drinks since adolescence. It is minors who suffer more than others from the effects of a harmful product. It is not for nothing that since March 1, 2025, Russia has banned the sale of energy drinks to those under the age of 18.
"The nervous and cardiovascular systems in children are still being formed, and the mechanisms of regulation of arousal are unstable,— explains Anastasia Lebedeva. — As a result, severe tachycardia, sleep disorders, increased anxiety and the formation of a habit of constant stimulation are possible. For pregnant women, such drinks are also undesirable, since caffeine penetrates through the placenta, and the fetal metabolic systems are not able to process it effectively, which increases the risk of complications.
The rate of caffeine per day
The cardiologist advises to remember that, in addition to energy drinks, a person's diet contains other foods that also activate the nervous system. For example, the same coffee or tea. If we add energy, we get excessive psycho-emotional excitement and overstrain of the nervous system. This leads to the development of neuritis, insomnia and cognitive impairments.
It turns out to have an effect that a person does not expect. He hopes to cheer up and increase his performance, but as a result, his memory decreases and his concentration worsens.
"For a healthy adult, it is considered safe to consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day from all sources, but individual sensitivity varies, and even lower doses can cause complications," the biotechnologist warns.
According to her, extremely high doses of caffeine can potentially lead to severe cardiac arrhythmias and life-threatening conditions, especially in people with cardiovascular diseases.
Despite feeling refreshed, energy drinks often worsen the quality of sleep, and chronic lack of sleep caused by regular stimulation negatively affects cognitive functions, memory, and emotional stability, Anastasia Lebedeva agrees with cardiologist.
"The combination of caffeine and sugar can increase anxiety, and sudden fluctuations in glucose levels contribute to irritability and unstable mood," she continues. — In the long term, frequent consumption of such drinks is associated with the risk of obesity, metabolic disorders, tooth decay and the formation of addictive behavior.
Thus, the effect of additional energy is short-lived, while the potential consequences of regular use can be systemic and serious, summarizes the biotechnologist.
Is it possible to become dependent on energy companies
Denis Prokofiev notes that there is no addiction to energy drinks, but there is a risk of getting the so-called withdrawal syndrome. It develops if a person consumes drinks daily for a long time, and then stops taking them.
— After giving up energy drinks, the body will want exactly the same amount of energy as it received with energy drinks — this is the effect of taurine and glucose on the nervous system, which are part of it, — continues Dr. Prokofiev.
It is not possible to get such a "dope" without the usual dose of energy drinks. And then, according to the cardiologist, a person has a depressive anxiety state, there is a violation of fat and glucose metabolism, as well as a violation of carbohydrate metabolism, muscle pain appears. All this, according to the expert, will be a clinical picture of the abolition of daily consumption of energy drinks.
Sugary carbonated drinks are not a substitute for energy drinks if a person decides to give up a tonic drink. Any added sugar that enters the body is harmful, emphasizes Dr. Prokofiev. It is especially difficult to regulate its amount when drinking drinks.
— I must say that sweet carbonated water contains a huge amount of sugar, many times exceeding its daily dose, — comments Denis Prokofiev. — Soda lovers become obese, and metabolic syndrome appears, a complex of disorders that lead to serious disruptions in the endocrine and cardiovascular systems. In addition, teeth suffer — the enamel collapses, carious lesions develop.
The doctor advises to stop consuming sweet water in favor of regular clean drinking water and compotes, thanks to which you can replace added sugar with sugar of natural origin, since live sweets are much healthier than artificial ones. "There is no acceptable dose of sweet water consumption — it must be excluded from the diet, so as not to cause great harm to health," explains the cardiologist.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
