Are you feeling lethargic and in sudden need of energy? Go and have a Red Bull. Wait! Before consuming it, you must question yourself: is Red Bull bad for you? Think about it: a drink that gives instant energy. How safe might it be? If you need not worry, we will explain it to you. In this blog, we will tell if consuming Red Bull is bad for your body. So make sure you stay tuned to the very last.
What Is Red Bull?
Before knowing the answer, is Red Bull bad for you, we have to know what Red Bull is. It is an energy drink that was made in Thailand and originally known as Krating Daeng. It was later bought by Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz in 1984 under the brand name Red Bull after the drink was able to cure Mateschitz’s jet lag. Originally, the product wasn’t carbonated, but after the involvement of the Austrians, the company decided to add carbonation to the drink to make it more appealing to European taste buds. Moreover, the company’s marketing scheme was also unique and robust. Mateschitz started marketing it as the most extreme energy drink. This reputation was further solidified by the fact that Red Bull sponsors pretty much every adventure sport on the planet.
Ingredients of Red Bull
Is Red Bull bad for your body? To answer this, we first have to know the composition of the drink. Although the exact ingredients of Red Bull differ from country to country, it is made from a composition of Taurine, Sugar, Caffeine, Carbonated Water, Baking Soda, Citric Acid, Magnesium Carbonate, added colours and flavours.
Risks Of Energy Drinks Like Red Bull
The answer to your question ‘Is Red Bull bad for you’ is pretty simple and it wouldn’t take a degree to know that. The ingredients of Red Bull alone are not good for the body when taken in excessive amounts. Some of the ingredients that can harm your body are:
- High Levels Of Caffeine (75 Mg) (equal to 4 cups of coffee)
- High Levels Of Sugar can cause problems.
- Artificial colours and flavours
- Added Stimulants and compounds
Here you can see that Red Bull contains high levels of caffeine and sugar which is not good for the body and can cause some serious problems if consumed more than the daily recommendations which is 400mg for caffeine and 36 grams for sugar. One of the major problems with consuming excessive caffeine is that it affects your heart and can even lead to cardiac arrest. Moreover, the drink is acidic, which can adversely affect your bones, muscles and brain health and increase blood pressure.
Some other side effects of consuming too many energy drinks are:
1- It Can Increase Type-2 Diabetes Risks
When asked, is Red Bull bad for you? The first risk that comes to mind is diabetes. One 260 ml serving of Red Bull has around 30gm of sugar, which is a lot and almost 84% of the daily recommended sugar intake for adults. This can significantly increase the risk of Type-2 diabetes. Moreover, a study was conducted on 310,819 individuals that suggested that consuming 1 or 2 servings of sugar-sweetened beverages can increase the risk of type-2 diabetes by 26%.
2- It Can Damage Your Teeth
Many researchers have suggested that consuming acidic beverages can significantly damage your tooth enamel and make them brittle. As we mentioned above, Red Bull is acidic, and consuming excessive amounts of Red Bull can damage your teeth.
3- It Can Lead To Caffeine Toxicity
Redbull contains high levels of caffeine, and consuming more than 400 mg or 4 cans of Red Bull every day can increase the risk of caffeine toxicity. For children of the age group of 12 to 19, taking more than 100mg of caffeine can be harmful. So, if you are from this age group, you shouldn’t consume more than a single can of Red Bull.
So, after reading these side effects, you might be thinking, what about sugar-free Red Bull? Is Red Bull bad for you even if it has no sugar? So, the straight answer is yes, but only if you consume many cans per day, anything less than 4 cans should be just fine. The sugar-free version of the beverage still contains artificial sweeteners, which have another set of harmful effects. It’s not only Red Bull; other energy drinks can also have the same effect on your health because pretty much every energy drink contains the same ingredients.
What Are Some Substitutes Of Energy Drinks?
Now that we have answered your question, ‘Is Red Bull bad for you’, it’s time to look at some natural and non-harmful substitutes to get instant energy. Here are some of the best ways to stay energetic throughout the day:
1- Fruits+Nuts
Consuming a combination of energy-providing fruits and nuts that are rich in protein and fat is the best way to stay energetic for the whole day. Consume 1 apple with an ounce of almonds or a banana with an ounce of Brazil Nuts.
2- Whole Grain + Dairy
Consume a whole-grain snack with a low-fat dairy product to stay energised for the whole day. Whole-grain toast with butter or whole-grain cracker with low-fat cheese can be a very good option.
3- Fruit+ Protein
Pair a healthy fruit with a protein source like an egg, or you can consume mixed berries with low-fat yoghurt.
Our Take On The Matter
Is Red Bull bad for you? It’s not, as long as you don’t consume more than 3 or 4 cans per day. Moreover, consuming these beverages daily can have some adverse effects on your body if you already deal with some diseases like diabetes. So if you’re ever feeling lethargic, you can go for a Red Bull, or you can consider eating the healthy substitutes we mentioned above.
