Mayo Clinic study: Even one energy drink per day carries risks
A new study by the Mayo Clinic provides another boost to the growing amount of evidence on the dangers of consuming energy drinks.
According to Mayo researchers, drinking just one 16-ounce energy drink can significantly increase blood pressure and stress hormone responses. Previous studies have suggested that energy drinks pose health risks when consumed regularly, particularly when mixed with alcohol.
But the latest study, published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that even one drink can increase your risk of cardiovascular problems.
“In previous research, we found that energy drink consumption increased blood pressure in healthy young adults,” said Dr. Anna Svatikova, one of the report's authors, in a news release from Mayo. “We now show that the increases in blood pressure are accompanied by increases in norepinephrine, a stress hormone chemical, and this could predispose an increased risk of cardiac events – even in healthy people.”
For better ways to boost your energy, Mayo recommends getting good sleep, increasing physical activity and eating a healthy diet.
You can also try switching over to coffee, which provides the caffeine jolt without all the sugar. A recent study by Harvard researchers evens suggests moderate coffee drinking may actually lower your risk of premature death.
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(Cover photo: File / CC)
