Student:

Montzerrat González Núñez

Section:
103

Educational Experience:
Basic Biochemistry .

Teacher:
Dra. Miriam del Carmen Sánchez Flores

Date:
19/08/2019

Content:
“Energy drinks”
 Energy drinks.
The beverages known as energizers are stimulant preparations, caffeine compounds and
carbohydrates (glucose , glucoronolactone, fructose or sucrose), accompanied by dietary
supplements (taurine, vitamins, min erales) or plant extracts and acidifying additives ( citric
acid and sodium citrate), preservatives (sodium benzoate), flavorings (citrus) and
dyes. Vien usually in liquid and gasified form.
The feeling of well-being produced by energy drinks is caused by an energy effect that is
produced by the action of their psychoactive tanks (chemical substance that when introduced
by any route and passing through the bloodstream produces some effect on the central
nervous system) that act on the system, inhibiting neurotransmitters responsible for
transmitting feelings of tiredness or sleep, and enhancing those related to feelings of well-
being and concentration.
Composition of energy drinks.
 Water : Energy drinks contain carbonated water, as do soft drinks or soft
drinks. Carbonated water is achieved through the introduction of carbon dioxide under
pressure, achieving the effervescent effect when opening the container.
 Carbohydrates: The amount of carbohydrates in energy drinks varies widely, from 0
to 67 grams per 240 ml (8 ounce) serving, with most between 18 to 25 grams. Among
them we can mention: glucose, sucrose, maltodextrins, fructose and galactose. Some
diet or light versions contain non-caloric sweeteners instead of carbohydrates. The
caloric content of these drinks includes the range of 10 to 270 calories every 240 ml .
 Caffeine : While carbohydrates provide energy, caffeine is the main source of energy
in this type of beverage. Most of these drinks contain between 70 to 200 mg of caffeine
every 240 ml .
 Amino acids :

Certain amino acids are added to some sports and energy drinks, some of them are:

-Taurine: it is an amino acid that our body produces naturally. It is also found in meats
and dairy products. Within its functions, it participates in the regulation of the heart
rate, in the muscular contractions, in the neurological development and in the balance
of water and minerals of our organism.

-Glutamine: it would improve the immune function and increase the glycogen reserve
in the muscles during recovery after exercise

- Arginine: it would favor vasodilation.

 Herbs:

- Guarana: it is the fruit of a shrub (paullinia cupana) from South America. It contains
a large amount of caffeine called guaranine, in addition to theophylline and
 theobromine. One gram of guarana contains about 40 mg of caffeine and its addition
to energy drinks greatly increases the total caffeine present in these drinks.

- Ginseng: It is considered an apologetic herb, that is, it helps the body adapt to its
environment (fatigue, stress, strenuous exercise, etc.) according to naturopathic and
alternative medicine.

- Ginkgo biloba: it is an herb used to treat disorders in the circulatory system and
associated with improving memory, physical performance and depression according
to several scientific studies.

 Vitamins and minerals: Many energy drinks and sports drinks contain B vitamins,
vitamin C, calcium and magnesium. There is no advantage of consuming these vitamins
and minerals present in beverages, since they can be obtained from a healthy and
balanced diet.

-Inositol: nutrient associated with vitamins of group B. It acts in the cells of the brain
and in the metabolism of lipids and cholesterol.

 Electrolytes: It is common to find sodium and potassium in most energy and sports
drinks. The sodium content varies between 25 to 200 mg, while the potassium content
is from 30 to 90 mg per 240 ml serving.

Health effects caused by energy drinks.

 Most energy and sports drinks, as well as soft drinks, contain citric acid that together
with the acidic pH of these drinks (pH 3-4) cause enamel demineralization, leading to
dental erosion.
Caffeine high dose (6 mg / kg body weight: 480 mg in an 80 kg) has been shown to improve
physical function in adults increasing the endurance and strength, improved reaction time
and avoiding fatigue as temporary (less than 2 hours). However, the amount of caffeine
consumed per day should not exceed 300 mg / day. A moderate consumption of energy drinks
should not have adverse effects on health.
Excess (more than 300 mg / day) can have negative consequences such as:
- Increases heart rate (tachycardia)
- Increases blood pressure
- Increase speech rate
- Increase motor activity
- Increase alertness
- Increases gastric secretion
- Increase urine output
- Increase body temperature
- Alters sleep
- Increases anxiety in people with anxiety disorders
  The high amount of carbohydrates in energy drinks will decrease the rate at which
the liquid is absorbed by the intestine into the blood, which will prevent rehydration
during exercise. Therefore it is highly advisable not to drink energy drinks before or
during physical activity. In addition, high concentrations of carbohydrates cause
gastrointestinal discomfort, such as bloating, abdominal cramping or laxative
effect. We must not forget the risk of carbohydrate consumption in diseases such as
diabetes and obesity .
Examples
There are plenty of energy drinks, however, the most common in Mexico are Red Bull,
Monster and Burn. In the case of the Red Bull drink, it contains 80 mg of caffeine in 250
ml; The Monster drink contains 160mg of caffeine in 470 ml; Finally, the Burn drink contains
80 mg of caffeine in 150 ml.
As for sugar, by comparison, the Red Bull drink contains 13 cubes of sugar, while the
Monster drink contains 15 cubes of sugar.

Conclusión
Las bebidas energizantes son aquellas que se utilizan para potencializar ciertas funciones de
nuestro cuerpo y disminuir algunos otros efectos, en general, estas bebidas buscan disminuir
el cansancio, el estrés, la fatiga, el sueño o cualquier proceso de nuestro cuerpo relacionado
con las ya mencionadas. Este efecto es logrado mediante las distintas sustancias que
contienen estas bebidas, empezando por el agua que esta carbonatada, hasta la cafeína, las
hierbas, los aminoácidos, las vitaminas y los electrolitos. Cada uno de estos compuestos de
los energizantes está agregados en porciones muy altas para lograr producir el efecto que se
requiera, regularmente causando la sensación de bienestar, sin embargo estas bebidas tienen
muchos efectos secundarios, principalmente si se usan con regularidad, ya que al contener
sustancias en exceso producen la irregularidad de los procesos naturales de nuestro cuerpo,
pueden aumentar la frecuencia cardiaca y respiratoria, afectar la presión arterial, influir en la
temperatura corporal, alterar los ciclos del sueño, entre otras.

Nuestro cuerpo está elaborado para obtener la mayoría de los elementos de estas bebidas de
forma natural mediante una dieta balanceada y adecuada, sin embargo estas bebidas se
utilizan como un complemento a ella, a pesar de que pueden producir enfermedades como la
diabetes.