Carbonated beverage Red Bull was initially sold in Austria in 1987. It contains caffeine, as well as B vitamins, taurine, and other energy-boosting compounds.
Red Bull also contains sugar, carbonated water, baking soda, citric acid, magnesium carbonate, glucuronolactone, and artificial colors and flavors.
Additionally, Red Bull offers sugar-free options, such as Red Bull Zero and Red Bull Sugarfree, which contain artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame K instead of sugar.
Red Bull's Potential Side Effects
Red Bull Energy Drinks are popular with young adults, with 30 to 50 percent of young adults and adolescents consuming energy drinks. However, researchers suggest that it may negatively impact your health.
Can Increase The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Red Bull is sweetened with sugar and contains 29 grams of sugar in a serving of 260 ml, and drinking one or more servings a day can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
On the other hand, sugar-free Red Bull still contains two artificial sweeteners - aspartame and acesulfame K - which may also increase your risk of type 2 diabetes if consumed regularly.
Can Raise Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
There are 80 milligrams of caffeine in an 8.4 ounce can of Red Bull, compared to the caffeine levels in a 12-ounce can of soda which are between 35 and 45 milligrams, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
In addition, several studies in healthy adults have shown that drinking a 12-ounce (355 ml) can of Red Bull significantly increases blood pressure and heart rate within 90 minutes and up to 24 hours of consumption.
Can Cause Caffeine Overdose
Caffeine content is one of the side effects linked to Red Bull energy drinks. One can (8.3 oz) of this energy drink contains 80 mg.
You can experience caffeine overdose if you consume too much Red Bull a day. There are many health risks associated with high caffeine intake, including irregular heartbeat, seizures and may lead to hormonal imbalance.
According to the FDA, caffeine intake for adults should be limited to 400 mg per day. So as long as you stay under that limit, you should be okay.
On the other hand, adolescents should not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine a day. While women who are pregnant should limit their consumption of caffeine to 200 mg per day or less, since the effects of caffeine can be harmful to the unborn child.
May Cause Mental Health Problems, Aggression, and Fatigue
While occasionally drinking Red Bull is unlikely to have any serious effects on mental health, research suggests that excessive intake could. According to a study by the US Military, soldiers who consume more than two energy drinks per day are likely to suffer from mental health problems, aggression, and fatigue.
Moreover, research has also found that Red Bull consumption increases the risk of reckless behavior, particularly when combined with alcohol.
The caffeine in Red Bull can mask the effects of alcohol, causing you to feel less intoxicated while experiencing alcohol-induced impairments.
May Promote Unhealthy Sleeping Patterns
Having an energy drink before bed is not advisable for obvious reasons. These drinks contain a lot of caffeine, which can make it hard for you to fall asleep, decreasing your sleep time.
Additionally, a study found that poor sleep quality is highly prevalent and significantly correlated with energy drinks which includes Red Bull consumption. Poor sleep quality has been found to be associated with stress and poor productivity.
The Takeaway
Red Bull is a sugar-sweetened (artificially sweetened- for the sugar-free version), caffeinated energy drink.
It may have serious and potentially life-threatening side effects when taken frequently and excessively, especially when combined with alcohol.
Additionally, as Red Bull is high in sugar and low in nutrition, choosing healthier alternatives to help boost your energy may be a better choice.
##### Sources #####
[0]: https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/disadvantages-drinking-energy-drinks-5505.html
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[7]: https://www.uhhospitals.org/Healthy-at-UH/articles/2018/08/how-the-drawbacks-of-energy-drinks-far-outweigh-potential-benefits
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[9]: https://reizeclub.com/benefits-drinking-energy-drinks/
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[11]: https://www.caffeineinformer.com/top-10-energy-drink-dangers
[12]: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/energy-drinks-health-downsides-not-worth-the-extra-pep/
[13]: https://www.theactivetimes.com/fitness/nutrition/pros-and-cons-energy-drinks
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