Alcohol and Energy Drinks What are energy drinks? A bottled concoction that usually contains fruit juice with any number of herbal extracts created to give you a physical or mental "boost". Some Energy Drinks are called "Sports Drinks" designed to give you an energy boost while working out. They can also contain large amounts of caffeine, sugar, minerals, and/or vitamins. Some names of energy drinks: Red Bull SoBe Gatorade Powerade Snapple "Elements" (Rain, Earth, Fire, Voltage, Moon, etc.) Kava Sutra Niagara Guru Adrenaline Rush ISO Sprint Dragon Viking Some substances that energy drinks contain: Caffeine (typically the amount in 2.5 Cokes) Guarana (caffeine-like stimulant from Brazil) Taurine (stimulant) Ephedrine (stimulant) Siberian Ginseng (stimulant) Green Tea (caffeine) Echinacea (herb) Ginkgo Biloba (herb) St. John's Wort (alleged antidepressant) Kava Kava (traditional Polynesian sedative) Damiana (herb) Mate (caffeine-like) Schizandra (herb) Health concerns over energy drinks alone: Ephedrine and caffeine together has been proven to cause deadly heart problems. Some people have sensitivity to caffeine and/or other stimulants. Sugar in energy drinks slows the body's absorption of water, contributing to dehydration. Concerns with mixing energy drinks with alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics (promote fluid loss), so dehydration is a possible issue and is suspected to be the cause of 3 deaths involving Red Bull and alcohol. Combining strong stimulants (caffeine or caffeine-like stimulants) with a heavy depressant (alcohol) could cause cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular failures. Both stimulants and alcohol contribute to a loss of coordination and balance. Both stimulants and alcohol affect the body's ability to regulate temperature. Stimulants may cause drinkers to feel more alert, making them perceive themselves as less impaired for driving or other dangerous activities. Stimulants cause drinkers to stay awake and alert longer, possible extending the length of time they will continue drinking.
These should definitely be taken in moderation and considered a "drug" for lack of a better term. I do drink the Tab Energy drink some afternoons as a pick-me-up. It doesn't have sugar but the caffeine/stimulants do help get me through a tough day at work. I would avoid using any of these drinks during the evening, any carbonated drinks actually, and definitely do not mix with alcohol. Like all other "new" products all it takes are a few idiots to abuse before they are lifted from the shelves, no longer available to those who use them intelligently.
since there's a lot of binge drinking and the Desire to get drunk quickly and make it last from morning until the next morning... I figured it was something to at least consider.
OK? Me? I've never been OK.... but if you mean has there been any catastrophic occurences or trauma in my life since our last heart-to-heart talk... No. I am as perfect as ever.
