Pinks Mag 003

CAN#'REDBUL' GIVEYOUW. HEARTATACKS??
THEY SAY THAT THE ENERGY DRINK 'RED
BULL' CAN GIVE YOU WINGS... BUT CAN
THEY ALSO GIVE YOU A HEART ATTACK!?
One study published in Mayo Clinic
Proceedings found that Red Bull and similar
energy drinks could prove harmful to people
who have cardiovascular conditions, and can
also cause healthy people to experience
similar symptoms.
One trial consisted of giving 15 healthy test
participants two cans (500 ml) of an
unidentified energy drink almost identical to
Red Bull in terms of ingredients on a daily
basis for one week.
Researchers found that the test participant?s
blood pressure increased by 8% just four
hours after consuming the beverage, climbing
to 10% by the end of the week. They also
found that test participant?s heart rates
increased by 8% on the first day and reached
11% by the end of the week.
Both of these factors are associated with a
higher risk of experiencing a heart attack.
High blood pressure can damage the arteries
which leads to stroke and heart attack -
causing blood clots, and high heart rates have
frequently been associated with an increased
risk of heart attacks.
Red Bull Ingredient s
Aside from tons of sugar and carbonation,
Red Bull?s main ingredients are a variety of
stimulants, the main two being caffeine and
taurine, along with several B-group
vitamins.
Although these ingredients have not been
shown to cause very many adverse side
effects in the average person, very little
research has been done on the effect that
the combination of these ingredients has
on people.
Dangerous Red Bull Side Effect s
Another study published in the same
journal looked at the effect that Red Bull
had on people during and after exercise.
The study consisted of 13 participants who
were experienced in endurance training.
Researchers had them perform exhausting
exercise three times a day, and each time
before they exercised they would either
drink Red Bull, a drink similar to Red Bull
but without taurine, and a placebo without
any stimulants.
Researchers found that Red Bull was the
only drink that had any effect on a
participant?s stroke volume, which is the
amount of blood pumped in and
out of the heart. This shows that,
although the stimulants found in
Red Bull may not cause serious
side effects separately, when
combined they have significant
effects on the body?s
cardiovascular system, effects that
have been associated with
increased risk of heart attacks.
In conclusion, these studies
basically prove what most people
already know: Red Bull and energy
drinks like it are NOT good for your
heart.
If you need a quick pick-me-up,
stick to coffee or any other
beverage that has only one
stimulant, not the chemical
cocktails that these energy drink
companies are selling. Or, check
out natural, energy boosting
recipes.