Australian researchers found that the “energy drink and alcohol” mixture made people drink even more. The list of negative health effects of “Energy Drinks” is long.
“Vodka-Red Bull” is the popular cocktail among young “partiers” right now. This alcohol-based and energy drink-based cocktail is however not without consequences on the health of those who consume it. Indeed, according to an Australian study to be published in the August online edition of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, cThe mixture would be associated with a desire to continue drinking.
A stronger drive
To reach this conclusion, these researchers from the Australian National University selected 75 Australians between the ages of 18 and 30. As part of an experiment, these participants unknowingly consumed two different cocktails depending on their group. The former received a cocktail mixing 60 ml of vodka-Red Bull and 200 ml of fruit juice, the latter a cocktail containing 60 ml of sparkling vodka-water and 200 ml of fruit juice.
Before and 20 minutes after the ingestion of alcohol, they underwent a battery of tests evaluating their desire to drink, their reaction to alcohol and drugs as well as a breathalyzer. Unsurprisingly, those who drank the alcohol-energy drink mix (BDE) showed more desire to continue drinking.
“This means that someone who mixes alcohol with a so-called energy drink would want to continue drinking more than their friends who don’t,” illustrated Rebecca McKetin, who led the study. But one cannot say that this translates into additional alcoholization. Obviously, other factors come into play: people can overcome their cravings, and the decision to continue drinking or not depends on many factors, ”she put in perspective. “On the other hand, if this results in increased alcohol consumption, we can expect people who mix alcohol and BDE to drink more than others,” she concluded.
Energy drinks associated with adolescent depression
In addition, che cocktail which therefore leads to “binge drinking” is not the only harmful effect on health. Indeed, a team from the University of Waterloo (Canada) recently interviewed more than 8,000 high school students. The study found that teens who use energy drinks are the least mentally healthy. They are more likely to suffer from depression or engage in risky behaviors. Consumption of alcohol or illicit substances is also higher among those who use these drinks. “This trend remains worrying due to the high rate of drug use among adolescents. These drinks attract young people with their temporary benefits, such as increased alertness, improved mood or physical energy, ”said Sunday Azagba, lead author of the study.
Energy drinks raise blood pressure
In addition, according to another recent study conducted in Germany, energy drinks affect the functioning of the heart. This team from Bonn has shown that the heart’s left ventricle contracts harder an hour after consuming an energy drink. The left ventricle is the part of the heart that receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and sends it to the aorta, which then diffuses it throughout the body. “The consumption of energy drinks has a short-term impact on cardiac contractility,” said Dr. Dörner, author of the study. The results specify, however, that a major unknown remains: researchers do not know the effect of this powerful contraction of the heart on daily activities or sports performance.
Except that another study conducted in 2012 had already shown that the most energy-boosting drinks could increase blood pressure and cause arrhythmias in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.
Finally, the last less well-known effect, very sweet energy drinks ruin athletes’ teeth. This study conducted during the London 2012 Olympics revealed that many athletes have poor oral health. Teeth problems which also penalized them in sports …
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