The concept
of energy drinks crept into our diet without letting people know the health
implications. Just like several individuals on the plus side has resorted to
sugar-free drinks in an attempt to watch their weight without knowing the
courtship with medical trouble that may arise.
Most of the
energy drinks are truly not energy drinks! You are gradually killing your
health and might be too late before you realise it.
“Energy drinks are beverages like Red Bull,
Rock Star and Monster, which contain large doses of caffeine and other legal
stimulants like guarana and ginseng. The amount of caffine in an energy drink
can range from 75 milligrams to over 200 milligrams per serving. This compares
to 34 milligrams in Coke and 55 milligrams in Mountain Dew.”
“If a drink advertises no caffeine,
the energy comes from guarana, which is the equivalent of caffeine. 5-hour
energy drink advertises “no crash,” but this claim is referring to no “sugar
crash” because the drink has artificial sweeteners.” – Health Education, Brown University.
The 3 big
diseases (3BD) Cancer, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure have all been known to
be initiated and sustained by certain components found in these drinks.
According to
Dr. Joseph Marcola, Aspartame, a sweetener used in the food industry in place
of sugar has been found in the production of energy drinks, sugar-free drinks,
chewable vitamin C, flavored drinks, etc. and is by far the most dangerous item
in the market that is added to foods.
Overwhelming
evidence proves it actually promotes weight gain, and is linked to a higher
risk of diabetes, headaches, vision problems, high blood pressure, and heart
diseases. Aspartame intake is a worse evil when compared with sugar
consumption.
According to
Dr. Janet Hull, creator of the Aspartame Detox Program, there are over 92
different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption.
Other
sweeteners used in energy drinks include Ace-K, sucralose and stevia (stevia is
a natural sweetener which is good for other uses outside of energy drinks).
Aside the
sweetener, Aspartame, Caffeine is the most common component of energy
drinks. Caffeine tolerance varies
between individuals. Caffeine has been known to be addictive and is at the root
of several medical conditions. Caffeine is also known to cause agitation and restlessness
in young people as Cola drinks is also implicated in unstable behaviour in
kids.
“Dizziness, irritability, increased
urination, increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, nausea etc. can all
develop at an intolerable dosage on caffeine .” – The Mayo Clinic
Consumption
of energy drinks poses great danger to pre-existing conditions especially in
cultures where individual’s medical history is largely unknown. According to
the US National Library of Science, energy drinks cause more forceful heart
contractions which could be harmful to people with certain heart conditions.
Individuals
with severe and re-current headaches and migraines have also been known to
experience relief after stopping the consumption of energy drinks.
Medical News
Today recently reported that a compound in energy drinks raises heart risks via
gut bacteria.
THOUGHTS
& SUGGESTIONS
1 1. To eat for energy, eat less.
"When you eat too much, your
body expends most of its energy on digestion so it has less to put towards
concentration," - Rachel Begun,
M.S., R.D.
When your food is rightly prepared, little food gives your body the
nourishment it requires.
2 2. Do you know why there are no
depressed monkeys?
Monkeys love bananas. It’s a known fact. This is because bananas contain
tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to
make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Researchers at Appalachian State University's Human Performance Lab in
the Kannapolis-based North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) has revealed
additional benefits while researching working with cyclists.
"We found that not only was
performance the same whether bananas or sports drinks were consumed, there were
several advantages to consuming bananas. The bananas provided the cyclists with
antioxidants not found in sports drinks as well as a greater nutritional boost,
including fiber, potassium and Vitamin B6, the study showed. In addition,
bananas have a healthier blend of sugars than sports drinks”.
When next you think you need energy, go for banana not energy drink. A
note of caution for individuals who are diabetic as banana can aggravate diabetes.
3 3. Start the day with this smoothie
recipe.
This has been my favorite smoothie recipe since my mentor recommended it.
A smoothie is a combo of fruits blended together to form a paste. This
particular recipe contains avocado pear, apple and banana. You can use coconut
water, coconut milk or carrot juice as your solvent while you blend using your smoothie
maker or your normal kitchen blender.
Avocados are rich in heart-healthy, artery-smoothing unsaturated fats,
giving you the best of both worlds - energy, plus less risk of a heart attack
and you have also been told that an apple a day, keeps the doctor away.
This gives you a clean and healthy energy than any energy drink can give
you. It also offers health benefits for all. Banana is also the sweetener in
the combo but individuals with history of diabetes should watch their banana
intake.
4 4. Check out Whole Oats and other Whole grains–
The Super Breakfast!
It is an age-long known truth, oats and other whole grains are great for
breakfast. They are high in fibre, releases fuel for the day’s activity and
confer several health benefits on the body.
Unfortunately, we have substituted these great meals for “foodless-foods”,
fast foods and fried foods like my mentor would say.
According to the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition, in many studies, eating whole grains, such as oats, has
been linked to protection against atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, diabetes,
insulin resistance, obesity, and premature death.
A new study and accompanying editorial published in the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition explains the likely reasons behind these findings and
recommends at least 3 servings of whole grains should be eaten daily.
Wheat bran, for example, which constitutes 15% of most whole-grain wheat
kernels but is virtually non-existent in refined wheat flour, is rich in
minerals, antioxidants, lignans, and other phytonutrients—as well as in fiber.
There are several health benefits of whole grain which is the reason it is
advocated instead of refined/white flour.
You can also drink your oat as milk. Blend your oat using your soyabella
machine or your blender and add a little honey for taste. A glass in the
morning is a great starter.
5 5. What about nut milk?
Any nut can be juiced into milk. This is a great replacement for cow milk
and all its attendant issues. Mothers are especially advised to consider this
for their family health.
Nuts like almond, coconut, tigernut (though a root crops) gives great
milk with super healthy benefits. These milks are great starters for your day,
they keep you going in the afternoon and get you relaxed after a hard day’s
work.
You can also get milk from your brown rice (local unpolished rice). Just
add a little honey for taste and you may be tempted to forget cow milk for the
rest of your life with all the options listed above.
6 6. Raisings are not just for bread and
cakes!
Never knew for a long time the health benefits of raisins which are dried
grape fruits. I sometimes throw them out of their breads and cakes. Raisings
are fast energy-giving foods.
Orthodox medicine prescribes the use of glucose-D for people running out
of energy for resuscitation despite the side effects. The use of raisings has
been discovered to be more effective than glucose-D.
A 2011 study published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning
Research” reports that raisins are a feasible energy-boosting alternative to
sports jelly beans during high-intensity endurance exercise.
According to Erin Coleman, R.D., L.D. “Because raisins are rich in carbs, especially natural sugars, they give
you a quick boost of energy when you’re feeling sluggish -- without weighing
you down.”
“Raisins, like all dried fruits, are
very good tools for gaining weight in a healthy way, since they are full of
fructose and glucose and contain a lot of potential energy. Raisins form an
ideal part of a diet for athletes or body builders who need powerful boosts of
energy or for those who want to put on weight without accumulating unhealthy
amounts of cholesterol.” – Organic Facts.
Raisings are great to snack on instead of white flour products.
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