Will a dose of
caffeine and
sugar—the getup-
and-go ingredients
in most energy drinks—
give you a jolt? Yes,
temporarily, and having
one occasionally is fine.
But you shouldn’t be
relying on chemical
stimulants to keep you
up every day.
For one, they can
cause a steep rise and
fall in insulin levels,
triggering inflammation,
potential hormone
imbalances, and moodiness.
That boost you get
fom a caffeine-sugar
fix is usually followed
by plummeting blood
sugar—which will have
you reaching for another
lif.
Even if you’re not
caffeine-sensitive, you
can easily overdo it.
Most of these drinks
contain anywhere
fom 70 to 200 mg of
caffeine per serving
(equivalent to one to
two 1-ounce espressos),
which can trigger heart
palpitations, the jitters,
and insomnia. That sets
you up for needing a fix
the next day, too. One
popular brand has 62 g
of sugar—the same as
nearly two candy bars!
If you reach for an
energy drink daily, talk
with your doctor about
finding the cause of your
fatigue. For an occasional
lif, take a brisk walk
or eat a piece of fuit.
In Ayurveda, dates are a
natural energy booster.
Add some to your favorite
smoothie recipe
for your own healthier
energy drink.
SOURCE :
Tasneem Bhatia, MD, is
medical director and founder
of the Atlanta Center for
Holistic & Integrative Medicine
