They’re a great pick-me-up when you’re feeling sluggish, but have you ever wondered what else energy drinks are doing to your body?
Erwin Johnson, a researcher from personalise.co.uk, monitored changes to his body in the first 24 hours, and the following 11 days, after consuming one 250ml can.
Here’s what he found:
10 minutes
This is when the shot of caffeine starts entering your bloodstream, triggering a spike in heart rate and blood pressure.
15-45 minutes
Your caffeine levels will have peaked, making you feel alert and energetic with improved concentration.
30-50 minutes
All the caffeine has now been absorbed and your liver will often respond by absorbing more sugar.
1 hour
Get ready – you’re about to experience the “sugar crash”. Also, your caffeine levels will drop and you’ll start to feel tired.
5-6 hours
The caffeine will have reduced by 50 per cent.
12 hours
All the caffeine from the drink should now be out of your system. However, exit times vary according to age and activity levels.
12-24 hours
If you’re a regular consumer of energy drinks, this is when you’ll start to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, irritability and constipation.
7-12 days
This is the time it takes your body to become tolerant of your daily caffeine dosage. If you keep your daily levels the same, it’s unlikely you’ll feel any effects by now.
Says nutritionist Ella Allred: “Energy drinks are a bad way to get caffeine. Many people drink them every day to help them survive a busy week. However, relying on those drinks pushes our bodies to the limit.” And sets you up for a crash.
