sports drinks Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Energy Drinks Increase Heart Attack Risk Within 90 Minutes of Consumption

The AHA! Team — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:11:31 +0000

Dena Schmidt via NaturalHealth365 – Most people reach for a cup of coffee to increase their energy levels. However, in recent years, energy drinks have become the pick-me-up of choice, especially among younger people. But here’s the warning: Researchers have found that these high-caffeine, high-sugar beverages negatively impact heart health. In fact, within just 90 minutes of having one of these drinks, blood vessels can constrict dramatically – by as much as half in some cases. This reduces the blood supply and nutrients to the body’s organs and inhibits their function. How energy drinks put a squeeze on our blood circulation Keep in mind: blood flow constriction to the heart increases the risk of both heart attacks and stroke. And that’s exactly what happens when you drink these beverages. In addition, their high sugar content raises blood glucose levels – which can cause (or make worse) metabolic disorders like diabetes and prediabetes. In one study, the researchers examined 44 college students from the McGovern Medical School at UT Health. All participants were non-smokers, in their 20s, and generally ‘healthy.’ Since the subjects were young, they all had strong endothelium, the layer lining the inner walls of blood vessels. Endothelium integrity is crucial to heart health. Now, for the shocking results: the effect of energy drinks on otherwise normal endothelium was measured using ultrasound before and after consuming a 24-oz. energy drink. Ninety minutes after consuming the drink, endothelial function was tested for vessel diameter and arterial blood flow. How perfectly good blood vessels get damaged by just ONE drink After just 90 minutes, the artery’s inner diameter was reduced by half – from 5.1 percent to around 2.8 percent on average. The researchers believe this effect is due to the high levels of caffeine, sugar, taurine, and many other stimulating ingredients. As agitating as too much caffeine can be, the researchers believe it’s the high sugar content of these drinks that is the biggest culprit of severe blood vessel constriction. A drink like Red Bull contains 37 grams of sugar – equivalent to over NINE TEASPOONS. However, caffeine is also a factor, causing the body to release adrenaline rapidly. Each 250-ml drink contains around 80 mg of caffeine, which is 2.5 times the amount in a can of soda. Editor’s note: This article should be considered a ‘red alert’ for young athletes. Don’t combine your high-intensity training with these drinks. The result could be a deadly heart attack. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that around one-third of teenagers aged 12 to 17 consume these high-caffeine sugary drinks regularly. Find natural alternatives to energy drinks Finding natural, low-sugar ways to boost energy is always better for long-term health. If you’re a parent of a teenager reaching for one of these beverages, warn them about the risk of heart attack, restrict their consumption, and encourage healthier options. For example, green tea, coconut water, and fresh vegetable-fruit juices have (natural) energizing properties, and they are much healthier than high-sugar, caffeine-infused options. Once you get started, you’ll never look back. Remember: good health is our greatest asset. We should do everything possible to protect it. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov News-Medical.net To read the original article click here.

The post Energy Drinks Increase Heart Attack Risk Within 90 Minutes of Consumption appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Switchel Recipe: Nature’s Sports Drink that Benefits Your Gut

AHA Publisher — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:00:11 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS – Before there were sports drinks to rehydrate after intense physical labor or sugary drinks designed to boost energy levels, there was switchel, an all-natural drink similar to lemonade that’s experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Currently a favorite in “hipster” markets and upscale cocktail bars, thanks to its numerous health benefits and great taste, this centuries-old beverage is primed to become the next kombucha or kvass. Get ahead of the curve, and start sipping on this fermented drink today. What Is Switchel? Made from apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger, maple syrup and then cut with water, switchel’s arrival to America is hazy. Some say this “ginger water” came from the West Indies, where molasses was used instead of maple syrup. Others say it’s derived from oxymel, an ancient Greek medicinal elixir made from vinegar, honey and water. Wherever its origins, by the 18th century, “haymaker’s punch” was being guzzled down by American farmers during long work days to keep cool and stay hydrated in the heat. At the time, people thought throwing back warm drinks during hot days was better for the body, as it supposedly maintained the body’s equilibrium with the weather. And because farmers couldn’t drink alcohol while working on the fields, benefit-rich ginger was a safe second bet, as it produced a similar feeling to alcohol’s burn while going down. While their reasoning might not have been totally sound, it turns out these farmers were onto something. Switchel uses are numerous, in fact. Here’s why switchel should be your new favorite summer drink. Health Benefits 1. Ease inflammation Is switchel good for you? Yes! The ginger that makes up a key part of switchel is a natural inflammation reducer. Inflammation, causes physical symptoms like skin problems and digestive issues. So keeping inflammation at bay with the ginger found in switchel can have other unexpected, welcome side effects, like clearing up acne. Additionally, because it reduces inflammation, which also counts pain as a side effect, ginger is also a powerful pain fighter. In fact, one study found that consuming a small amount of ginger is more effective at reducing pain symptoms and inflammation than painkillers. 2. Get an electrolyte boost Electrolytes are nutrients or chemicals in your body that help it perform specific functions, like regulating your heart beat or telling your legs it’s time to get moving. But after undergoing intense physical exertion (like running a marathon), getting sick, eating a poor diet or even taking certain medications, electrolytes imbalance can occur. Signs that your electrolytes need some replenishing include constantly feeling thirsty, frequent headaches, fatigue and nausea. But because of the maple syrup and apple cider vinegar found in switchel, potassium-rich electrolytes, particularly potassium, are replenished, making it an excellent alternative to sugary drinks like Gatorade. Pour a glass after a tough workout on a hot day to feel refreshed and give help your body restore its electrolyte balance. 3. Enjoy a dose of apple cider vinegar By regularly drinking switchel, you’ll get all the terrific benefits of apple cider vinegar, including healing compounds, like potassium, magnesium and probiotics. Thanks to the many uses of apple cider vinegar, it’s one of my favorite natural remedies. It balances your body’s pH levels and, as a liver and lymphatic tonic, detoxes your body. Not bad for one of the most common household items! 4. Reap maple syrup’s sweet surprises If you’re using sweeteners, maple syrup is one of the top natural sweeteners. When used in moderation, it is an excellent alternative to cane sugar. Maple syrup affects blood sugar levels less than regular table sugar and includes trace antioxidants and minerals that regular sugar lacks. How to Make Switchel It doesn’t matter what time of year it is — switchel is delicious any season. Let’s make it! Switchel, unlike other trendy fermented drinks like kvass or kombucha, is quite easy to make at home. We’ve included a recipe below to whip up your own batch. Fill a 2-quart saucepan about two-thirds of the way with water and freshly chopped ginger. Bring the water to a boil and let the mix boil for about 2 minutes, then remove the saucepan from the heat and let the ginger steep for another 20 minutes. Then, in a pitcher, add maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and fresh lemon juice — yum! Now it’s time to add the ginger water. Use a strainer while pouring the water into the pitcher to keep the chopped ginger out. Stir all the ingredients together. That’s all there is to making this switchel! You can enjoy this drink either at room temperature or served on ice. You can even give switchel a little kick and add a splash of alcohol, like gin or vodka, to it. It’s a terrific drink to keep on hand to serve kids instead of sugary soft drinks or juices. They’ll love it, too! Switchel Recipe DESCRIPTION Before there were sports drinks to rehydrate after intense physical labor or sugary drinks designed to boost energy levels, there was switchel, an all-natural drink similar to lemonade that’s experiencing a resurgence in popularity. INGREDIENTS 1 cup ginger, chopped ½ cup maple syrup (add more if need it to be sweeter; you also can substitute molasses for a very old-fashioned taste!) ½ cup apple cider vinegar ⅔ cup lemon juice 6 cups water INSTRUCTIONS Fill a 2-quart saucepan 2/3 with water and add ginger. Bring water to a boil and allow ginger to boil for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let ginger steep for 20 minutes. In a 2-quart pitcher, add maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Strain ginger as you are pouring into pitcher. Stir and mix all ingredients well. Can be served warm or on ice. *Add more water to dilute if needed. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

The post Switchel Recipe: Nature’s Sports Drink that Benefits Your Gut appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Daily Intake of Two or More Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Associated with Higher Bowel Cancer Risk

AHA Publisher — Tue, 11 May 2021 07:00:55 +0000

BMJ via News-Medical – Drinking two or more daily sugar-sweetened beverages in adulthood is linked to a doubling in the risk of bowel cancer before the age of 50–at least in women, finds research published online in the journal Gut. And each daily serving is associated with a 16% higher risk, rising to 32% per daily serving during the teenage years, the findings indicate. Cases of bowel cancer diagnosed before the age of 50, formally known as early onset colorectal cancer, have been increasing in many high income countries over the past two decades. But it’s not clear why. In the US, adults born around 1990 run twice the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer of adults born around 1950. Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks, fruit flavored drinks, sports and energy drinks, make up the leading (39%) source of added sugar in US diets, and 12% of the population drinks more than three servings (8 fl oz each) every day. Heavy consumption has been linked to a heightened risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Although these drinks have steadily risen in popularity, particularly among teens and young adults, it’s not known if this intake might also be associated with a heightened risk of bowel cancer in mid-life. To explore this further, the researchers drew on information provided by 95,464 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II, an ongoing monitoring study of 116,429 US female registered nurses aged between 25 and 42 at enrolment in 1989. The women reported what they ate and drank, using validated food frequency questionnaires every 4 years, starting in 1991. And 41,272 of them reported on what, and how much, they drank during their teenage years (13–18) in 1998. Information was also supplied on potentially influential factors, including family history of bowel cancer, lifestyle, regular use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamin supplements. In 1989, participants were additionally asked to recall their health status, weight (BMI) and lifestyle in their teenage years. During 24 years of monitoring, 109 women developed bowel cancer before the age of 50. Higher intake of sugar-sweetened drinks in adulthood was associated with a higher risk of the disease after accounting for potentially influential risk factors. Compared with those who drank less than one serving a week, women who drank 2 or more every day were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer, with each daily serving associated with a 16% higher risk. Among the 41,272 who reported on their teen patterns of consumption, each daily serving was associated with a 32% higher risk of subsequently developing the disease before the age of 50. Substituting sugar-sweetened drinks with artificially sweetened beverages, coffee, or semi-skimmed or whole milk was associated with a 17% to 36% lower risk of a bowel cancer diagnosis before the age of 50. This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause, only correlation. And given that most participants were white women, the findings may not be applicable to men or other racial/ethnic groups, acknowledge the researchers. Nevertheless, they point out that there are some biologically plausible explanations for their findings: sugar-sweetened drinks suppress feelings of satiety, so risking excess energy intake and associated weight gain. These drinks also prompt a rapid rise in blood glucose and insulin secretion, which, over the long term, can induce insulin resistance, inflammation, obesity and type 2 diabetes, they add. Emerging evidence also suggests that fructose can impair gut barrier function and increase gut permeability, which could promote the development of cancer, suggest the researchers. “[Sugar-sweetened beverage] consumption may contribute to the rising incidence of [early onset bowel cancer],” they suggest. “Reducing intake and/or [substitution] with other healthier beverages among adolescents and young adults may serve as a potential actionable strategy to alleviate the growing burden of bowel cancer before the age of 50],” they conclude. To read the original article click here.

The post Daily Intake of Two or More Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Associated with Higher Bowel Cancer Risk appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.