Red Bull is an addictive caffeine and sugar sandwich (with some synthetic taurine and synthetic B vitamins thrown in) that promises to “vitalize your body and mind.” Using the word “energy” in naming their products makes people think these poisonous cocktails are actually healthful.
One third of adolescents and young adults in the US have succumbed to the multi-million dollar marketing of these empty cans of hype. These kids have grown up with sugar-addled brains, which are treated with Ritalin, so they need more sugar and also caffeine to get their “fix”. It is quite conceivable that they will soon turn to cocaine to continue their high. Experts state that sugar is more addictive than heroin.
Another medical concern is that these energy drinks are being consumed with alcohol to counteract its sedative effects. People may not be doing that consciously, but the result is that energy drinks keep you awake longer so you end up drinking more alcohol. Or you may think you are “awake” enough to drive when you have an elevated blood alcohol level that will impair your driving.
Ingredients of Rockstar: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, (a total of 65 grams of sugar) citric acid, taurine, natural and artificial flavors, guarana seed extract, ascorbic acid, caramel color, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate (preservative), caffeine (160-240mg), niacinamide, inositol, l-carnitine, milk thistle extract.
Let’s put these ingredients in perspective – 65 grams of sugar is actually 15 tsp. At any one time your blood stream only holds about 2 tsp of sugar. Fifteen teaspoons of sugar hits your pancreas like a sledge hammer and insulin explodes out to try and get rid of that extra 13 tsp that your blood can’t hold. A cup of coffee gives you about 95 mg of caffeine. Obviously 240mg is 2.5 times that amount, so these energy drugs are going to make you high on sugar and buzzed on caffeine.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has finally weighed in on the sugar controversy and recommends limiting the amount of added sugars women consume to 25 grams or about 6 tsp per day. Men are apparently “allowed” 9 tsp. This is on average HALF the amount in ONE energy drink. The World Health Organization recommends no more than 25 grams across the board.
Researchers are looking at the possibility that energy drinks increase the risk of cocaine use, which is quite likely because sugar and caffeine are so addictive and you will crave bigger highs. But we predict that long before that is proven, daily users will develop diabetes, adrenal fatigue, and yeast overgrowth at triple the rate and much earlier than their parents, because they are ingesting triple the amounts of sugar and caffeine. Already, 50% of Americans suffer with chronic disease. Many assume that’s confined to the older population. No longer!
