On a day when it’s hard to stay awake, it’s common for people to have a cup of coffee or an energy drink. Usually sold in cans, energy drinks are high in caffeine and taurine, offering a hint to rev the consumer up and keep them awake and focused.
“Contrary to popular belief, taurine does not act as a central nervous system stimulant, but rather as a mediator of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Through this, we can further control excitatory stimuli to the brain,” explains the general practitioner Gabriel Resende.
According to him, by increasing calcium levels within muscle cells, there is a decrease in muscle fatigue, an increase in muscle endurance and the impression of better exercise performance.
Taurine is an amino acid found in certain foods such as fish and red meat. Concentrations of the substance are highest in leukocytes (defense cells), retinas, and skeletal muscles.
High Levels of Caffeine:
However, Resende warns that energy drinks are beverages that contain high concentrations of caffeine, which can contribute to the deterioration of certain biomarkers in the body, such as:
- Worst dream;
- Hyperactivity;
- Attention disorders;
- Cardiovascular disease;
“Among patients who do not tolerate energy drinks well, we can mention those with a history of arrhythmias, arterial hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, early and late insomnia, and general anxiety,” explains the doctor.
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The safe amount of coffee that a person can consume depends on age, according to a study carried out in the United States. Adults can consume up to 400 mg per day; a cup of coffee contains around 80 mg, for example, while a can of energy drink contains 110 mg.
Mixing the energy with any other drink is not the best idea according to the doctor. You should avoid consuming caffeinated liquids along with other brain stimulants, amphetamine-containing substances, psychotropic drugs, and more. Excessive stimulation can cause problems such as an irregular heartbeat.
At parties it is common to see a mix of alcoholic and energy drinks. Kombu is also harmful if consumed in excess, as the two drinks can create an arousal pump for the central nervous system, causing rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, fainting, and even sudden illness.