Friday, 26 January 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Young adults who consume energy drinks may suffer from lack of sleep, nausea and diabetes, experts said. The consumption of energy drinks by young adults, particularly college students, has been on the rise. This increase can be attributed to various factors such as curiosity and the desire for perceived status symbols. Further, parents play a significant role in introducing energy drinks to children at a very young age, the experts said.
Dietician Richa Kukreti said that the habit of consuming energy drinks has become more prevalent among children and young adults due to fewer parental restrictions. However, this habit can lead to various health issues including lack of sleep, diabetes, overweight, hypertension, migraines and digestive problems in adults.
“It is advisable for teenage girls to avoid consuming energy drinks due to their adverse effects on the body like hormonal imbalance and conditions like PCOD. Instead, young adults should consider opting for homemade beverages like lemon water, fruit shakes, milkshakes and coconut water,” Kukreti said.
She further emphasised that parents have a responsibility to monitor their children and prevent them from consuming energy drinks, as they can negatively impact their immune systems. “Energy drinks typically contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, which can have detrimental effects on health. Young adults are particularly susceptible to these drinks and may experience symptoms like nervousness, sleeplessness, diabetes, difficulty focusing on studies and hypertension. Another issue associated with energy drinks is hormonal imbalance,” said senior physician Dr Praveen Panwar. He further added that simply limiting the consumption of energy drinks is not the best solution- it’s better to avoid them altogether. Lemon water, buttermilk and milkshakes are much healthier alternatives to energy drinks. He also emphasised that parents should avoid consuming energy drinks themselves as this can directly influence their children to consume them.
