Following the recent shocking story of a 17-year-old girl who began hyperventilating after overdosing on espresso, Abubakar Habib has decided to explore the effects of bad food and drink in a must-read
C-World guide.
ENERGY DRINKS such as Red Bull, Venom, and Reload are designed to give you a burst of energy thanks to a combination of stimulants that include caffeine, guarana, ginkgo biloba and ginseng. These drinks are powerful and can contain as much as 80mg of caffeine, the equivalent found in a cup of coffee. Compared to the 2.83mg of
caffeine found in a Mountain Dew or the 2.67mg found in a Cola-Cola, that is a big punch.
The stimulating properties in energy drinks can increase the heart rate and blood pressure to the point of palpitations.
Energy drinks are a no no before intensive exercise because they can cause dehydration or even collapse, particularly if people drink more than one can before exercising, says Karam-Hage, medical director of Chelsea-Arbor Treatment Centre in Michigan, USA.
FIZZY DRINKS such as Coca Cola, Pepsi and Fanta taste delicious to most young people, but they do have their downsides. According to a study published in the British Dental Journal, fizzy drinks are by far the main cause of increasing dental erosion among teenagers.
Researcher Dr Peter Rock, of Birmingham University, said that drinking fizzy drinks only once a day may significantly increase a child's chances of suffering dental erosion, while frequent consumption increased those risks further.
Fizzy drinks have also been linked to pancreatic cancer and sleeplessness. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, revealed that drinking two or more fizzy drinks each day was linked to a 90 percent extra risk of pancreatic cancer compared with people who never drank them. And sleeplessness has been found among
teenagers who drank large amounts of caffeinated fizzy drinks, according to a separate US study. These teenagers were more likely to suffer sleep deprivation and reduced levels of concentration. However, the research is not clear cut as another body of researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland found that sugary drinks can significantly boost memory by almost 20 percent. This is because the glucose triggers activation of the cells in the memory area of the brain.
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Moderate use of ALCOHOL can be an enjoyable and safe experience. When drinking sip each one slowly and always consume alcohol with food. Space drinks out to no more than one an hour and consume plenty of water in between drinks. Never drink while pregnant and never drive when intoxicated.
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Health Effects of Alcohol Consumption |
Cancer
|
Increases the risk of cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus! |
Foetal Alcohol
Syndrome |
Causes physical and behavioural abnormalities
in the foetus |
Heart Disease
|
Raises blood pressure, blood lipids and the risk of stroke and heart disease in heavy drinkers. The risk of heart disease is generally lower in light to moderate drinkers. |
Kidney
Disease |
Enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions, and increases the risk of kidney failure |
Liver Disease
|
Causes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis |
Nervous
Disorders
|
Causes neuropathy and dementia; impairs balance and memory. Obesity Increases energy intake,
but not a primary cause of obesity |
Psychological
disturbances |
Causes depression, anxiety and insomnia
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Young people love PIZZA, but did you know that a medium sized pizza contains nearly 2000 calories and more than double your required daily salt intake? What’s more it’s loaded with saturated fat, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. So although pizzas taste great it’s a good idea to eat a lot less of them.
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Eating a pack of CRISPS a day is equal to almost five litres of cooking oil a year Most young people like eating crisps, but we probably like eating them too much. Half of UK children “drink” almost five litres of cooking oil every year as a result of their pack-a-day crisp habit, says the British Heart Foundation. The organisation’s Food4Thought campaign aims to expose hidden salt, fat and sugar in common foods.
A typical 35g bag of crisps contains about two and a half teaspoons of oil and a larger 50g pack contains three and a half, according to Food4Thought. But the Snacks, Nuts and Crisps Manufacturers Association claims the BHF “overestimated” the oil content by basing its calculations on large crisp packets.
A BURGER does have some of the good things that the body needs for good health such as protein and carbohydrates. But it contains too much salt and saturated fat. Too much salt and saturated fat can cause high blood pressure and eventually lead to heart disease and strokes.
