Page 82 - SOM FALL 2017 BOOK
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the good life | health
BUZZ
just how healthy is it?
Column by Nisha Jackson
et’s face it, Americans love The reality is that energy drinks “flight or fight” response with your system, mood, insulin levels (fat
to be wired! As you stroll are laced with novel additives, tak- nervous system. This leaves most storage hormone), energy, crav-
Ldown the grocery store ing people into unchartered nutri- of us feeling like we’ve been hit by ings, and hormone balance is
aisles where the cranked up drinks tional territories, especially when a Mack Truck when it wears off,
are displayed, it’s hard not to mixed with alcohol. Even if they creating dependency and the need
believe that these drinks are good are not deemed truly “danger- for another “pick-up.”
for you. The packaging and adver- ous,” energy drinks are fostering a
tising brainwash us into thinking dependence on caffeine and sugar, The typical energy drink carries
you could really be on top of your and giving a false sense of energy. with it another addictive sub-
game if you engaged in a gulp. Typically, each 8-ounce drink car- stance—sugar! The sugar in most
Vitamins, amino acids, caffeine, ries a punch of caffeine equal to of these drinks is equivalent to
herbs, sugar—the ultimate “drug- twice that of a cup of coffee, as roughly 10 to 20 teaspoons (or
like” drink, a true thrill-seeking well as spices, herbs, and other more) of sugar per drink. Sugar
adventure for people young and tinctures aimed at giving you a is the reason most of us have too
old, male or female. We’re all buzz and extreme refreshment much fat around the midsection
looking for that extra “pick-me- like you have never had. The bot- of our bodies, the one toxic sub-
up” to accomplish the impossible tom line is that caffeine produces stance we have got to get a handle
every day, right? So what’s the a real psychological and physi- on. Understanding the negative
problem? ological dependence and creates a impact of sugar on the immune
80 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2017
