Red Bull is one of the top-selling energy drinks around all the globe (1Trusted Report). Read out more Red Bull Nutrition Facts below!
It’s advertised as a method to boost energy levels and improve physical and mental performance.
However, there are some concerns regarding its safety and possible negative side consequences.
This article examines the possible negative effects associated with Red Bull, including whether drinking excessive amounts could pose a life-threatening risk.
What is Red Bull?
The first time it was sold was in 1987 within Austria, Red Bull is a carbonated drink that contains caffeine, in addition to other compounds that boost energy levels, such as many B vitamins and the amino acid taurine (1Trusted source).
The exact composition of Red Bull varies according to the country, the other ingredients included in Red Bull include sugar, baking soda, carbonated water magnesium carbonate, citric acid, glucuronolactone and artificial flavours and colours (1Trusted Source).
Red Bull Nutrition Facts!!
8.4-ounce (260-ml) container gives (2Trusted source):
- Calories: 112
- Protein: 1.2 grams
- Fat 0.01 grams
- Carbs 27 grams
- Sugar 27 grams
- Caffeine: 75 mg
- It’s also rich in several B vitamins, such as Thiamine (B1) as well as Riboflavin (B2) Niacin (B3) B6 and B12. (2Trusted Source).
Furthermore, Red Bull has sugar-free alternatives, like Red Bull Zero and Red Bull Sugarfree that are made using artificial sweeteners aspartame, acesulfame K, instead of sugar (3Trusted Source).
Although the components included in Red Bull may provide a boost in energy levels but they could also cause both long-term and short-term negative effects — particularly when consumed in large quantities.
SUMMARY
Red Bull is a sugar-sweetened caffeinated beverage that is advertised as a method to enhance physical and mental performance. Due to the combination with other ingredients, it has raised worries about its possible adverse effects, particularly when consumed in large quantities.
The potential side effects of drinking Red Bull
Although Red Bull remains a popular drink, studies suggest that it could negatively impact your health.
1. Increase the heart rate and blood pressure.
The heart rate and blood pressure are two of the most important indicators of heart health. Higher levels have been linked to the chance of hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease (4Trusted Source 5Trusted Source).
A number of studies conducted on healthy adults have revealed that drinking a 12 ounce (355-ml) bottle be a significant amount of Red Bull significantly increased blood pressure and heart rate within 90 minutes, and for up to 24 hours following consumption (6Trusted Source 7Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8TrustedSource 9Trusted Source).
The rises in blood pressure and heart rate are believed to be because of the caffeine content in Red Bull as a large 12-ounce (355-ml) can have more than 108 mg of caffeineapproximately the same as the glass of coffee (2Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 11TrustedSource).
Despite these rises moderate or occasional consumption of Red Bull is unlikely to cause heart issues for healthy adults.
However, excessive intakeespecially among younger people has been associated with abnormal cardiac rhythms, heart attacks or even the death of a person (11Trusted Source 13 13, 13Trusted Source).
In addition, even though research is still scarce however, drinking Red Bull could worsen heart health and pose a risk to people who have pre-existing coronary illness (11Trusted source).
2. Could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes
Consuming too much sugar, particularly from sweetened drinks, can increase the risk of having the type 2 form of diabetes (14Trusted source).
In actual fact, a study of 310,819 adult subjects discovered that drinking just 1-2 servings of drinks that contain sugar was associated with a risk of 26% higher the type 2 form of diabetes (14Trusted source).
It is known that Red Bull is sugar-sweetened -offering the equivalent of 29g sugar per 8.4-ounce (260-ml) portion having a serving or more daily could increase the risk of having the type-2 diabetes (2Trusted source).
3. Can cause tooth damage
Studies have shown that drinking beverages with acidic ingredients could damage enamel on your teeth which is the tough outer layer that protects your teeth from tooth decay (15Trusted Source).
Red Bull is an acidic drink. Therefore consumption over time can harm the enamel on your teeth (16Trusted source).
A 5-day study in the test tube found that exposing human enamel with energy drink for fifteen mins, 4 times in a day, caused significant and irreparable erosion of the tooth’s enamel (17Trusted Source).
Additionally, the study revealed that energy drinks are twice as damaging to tooth enamel as soft drink (17Trusted Source).
4. Could negatively impact the health of your kidneys.
While drinking occasionally Red Bull is unlikely to be harmful to kidney health, studies suggest that excessive consumption and long-term consumption may have a negative impact on kidney health.
A 12-week study on rats showed that long-term intake of Red Bull may cause a reduction the kidney’s function. However, these findings are not reproduced for human research (18).
In addition, studies suggest an association between the consumption of high levels of sugar and a higher likelihood of developing chronic kidney diseases (19Trusted Source 20Trusted Source, 21TrustedSource).
Since Red Bull is high in sugar, frequent and over-the-top consumption could increase your risk.
5. Could increase risky behavior
Studies have shown a link with consumption of Red Bull and increased high-risk behaviors, especially when combined in conjunction with the consumption of alcohol (1Trusted Source).
If consumed in combination, the caffeine present in Red Bull can mask the effects of alcohol, causing you to feel less sluggish, yet being impaired by alcohol (22Trusted Source 23Trusted Source Source).
This could cause serious problems.
One study revealed that college students who consumed alcohol and energy drinks together are more likely drive drunk and suffer serious alcohol-related injuries in comparison to when drinking alcohol on its own (25Trusted Source).
Even if they are not mixed with alcohol, research studies have shown that among young adults, frequent consumption of energy drinks such as Red Bull is linked to the risk of developing alcohol dependence and drug abuse (22Trusted Source 26Trusted Source Source).
Of obviously, not everyone who consumes Red Bull will experience an increase in risky behavior. However, it’s crucial that you are aware dangers that could be present, particularly in young adults, and especially when alcohol is present.
6. Could result in an overdose of caffeine, and even toxic effects
While the safe dosages of caffeine can vary based on the individual The latest research recommends restricting caffeine intake to 400 mg or less for adult healthy individuals (28Trusted source).
In fact, one 8.4-ounce (260-ml) container from Red Bull provides 75 mg of caffeine Drinking greater than five cans a day can increase the danger of overdose from caffeine (2Trusted source).
The half-life for caffeine in blood can vary from 1.5-9.5 hours. That means it can take as long as 9.5 hours for your blood levels of caffeine to fall to half its initial amount (29Trusted source).
It’s difficult to know what amount Red Bull that could lead to a caffeine overdose.
In addition, children who are younger than 19 could be at higher risk of experiencing caffeine-related side negative effects (30Trusted source).
Current guidelines suggest limit caffeine consumption up to just 100 milligrams or less each day for adolescents aged between 12 and 19. Thus drinking more than one 8.4-ounce (260-ml) amount of Red Bull could increase the danger of a caffeine overdose within this age range (28Trusted source).
The symptoms of caffeine overdose and toxic effects can include vomiting, nausea hallucinations, anxiety, high heart rates, dizziness difficulty sleeping as well as seizures (31Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
A few times a week, moderate consumption of Red Bull is unlikely to produce any adverse side consequences. However, if consumed regularly and in large quantities, it could have a variety of negative, potentially life-threatening, effects.
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