We all have felt nervous at some point in our lives – perhaps an exam, a speech before hundreds of people, or a sudden, unexpected situation might have given rise to this feeling of nervousness.
However, sometimes we feel nervous without any particular reason. Have you been there? So have I.
But do you know that this feeling of anxiety, fear, and agitation which can be summed up as nervousness can be triggered by eating certain foods and ingredients?
If we particularly talk about energy drinks, so yes, energy drinks can make you nervous. The main ingredient of energy drinks is caffeine; despite several benefits of caffeine, the ingredient might show a little vile side which you might not be a fan of!
In case, you are a regular energy drink consumer or you are planning to start drinking energy drinks, I would recommend you explore whether these sweet energizing drinks could be a potential culprit behind triggering the feeling of nervousness or not.
So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Caffeine in Energy Drinks
Energy drinks without caffeine seem almost ineffective and people do not prefer buying non-caffeinated energy beverages until and unless they are caffeine sensitive.
In fact, energy beverages are consumed as a source of caffeine by most people. The effective results of caffeine in promoting mental health along with physical wellness cannot be ignored.
A few health benefits of caffeine include:
- Increased energy level.
- Sharpened memory.
- Improved concentration and focus.
- Reduced headaches.
- Better metabolism.
- Quick fat burn.
- Better physical performance.
- Better mood.
Caffeine surely seems like an ingredient that can help you with almost everything. However, the dosage of caffeine matters; if you drink caffeine in an unchecked quantity then you are most likely to suffer from various side effects, a few of which are mentioned below:
- Restlessness and shakiness.
- Insomnia.
- Headaches.
- Fast heart rate.
- Dizziness.
- Nervousness.
- Dehydration.
- Anxiety.
- Headache.
If you are wondering what is the right dosage of caffeine, then you should know that overtaking caffeine at 400 mg can be harmful to you.
In fact, even anywhere above 250 mg of caffeine can be too much for a few individuals. It is always best to intake, caffeine anywhere between 85 mg to 250 mg because this amount of caffeine is not only safe but also effective.
Alcohol in Energy Drinks
Energy drinks, those cans, bottles, and cans of refreshing liquid goodness, are a multibillion-dollar industry. They are primarily sold as a source of caffeine to keep you awake, but they also contain other ingredients such as taurine and guarana to give you that extra boost of energy.
Some energy drinks also contain alcohol, which has become a controversial issue in the energy drink industry and beyond. Some people argue that because alcohol is a depressant, it should not be added to energy drinks at all. Others say that the small amount of alcohol in energy drinks does not cause any harm.
Even though, as a depressant, alcohol can provide you with a sensation of relaxation, prolonged use can cause anxiety and nervousness.
Sugar in Energy Drinks
Sugar is a carbohydrate that is found in foods and beverages. It gives foods and beverages a sweet taste and makes them energy dense. Sugar is a critical nutrient for our bodies. It provides energy, helps with mood and energy, and plays a role in many other processes.
It is also used in processed foods to improve their flavor and keep foods fresh longer. Sugars are naturally found in foods like fruit, milk, and honey.
However, too much sugar can have negative effects on our bodies, such as causing obesity and diabetes.
In fact, sugar does not only make you obese and diabetic, it can cause certain unwanted processes to happen in your body, such as causing your blood sugar level to go on a rollercoaster of highs and lows.
These highs and lows in blood sugar levels can cause a sugar crash and in fact, it can give you anxiety, uncomfortable feeling, and a feeling of nervousness.
Do Energy Drinks Make You Nervous?
After discussing all the ingredients that can cause anxiety, we can finally say that if these ingredients are present in energy drinks, then energy drinks can actually cause you to feel nervous and depressed.
Not all energy drinks will trigger nervousness, however, most energy drinks are capable of making you nervous and anxious.
Some energy drinks contain a high amount of sugar and caffeine, these drinks can trigger anxiety and make you feel nervous most often. Following are a few popular energy drinks with a high level of caffeine and sugar:
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content | Sugar Content |
| Red Bull 16 fl oz | 147.6 mg | 51 grams |
| Monster Energy Drink | 163.3 mg | 54 grams |
| G Fuel | 300 mg | 0 grams |
| Rockstar Energy Drink | 160 mg | 63 mg |
Do Energy Drinks Make Anxiety Worse?
In case you are someone who suffers from anxiety, then consuming energy drinks can actually make your anxiety worse. So, it’s better to avoid highly caffeinated or sugary beverages in such cases.
Caffeine can be very addictive and difficult to stop. Too much consumption can lead to anxiety attacks.
Prolonged consumption in high doses can be sure to make the anxiety worse. It’s bad news for someone suffering from anxiety.
However, some people who are habitual of caffeinated beverages might feel less anxious when they drink caffeinated energy drinks.
Can Energy Drinks Cause Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks, also known as anxiety attacks, are sudden, severe form of anxiety that develops when a person feels threatened or confronted.
Often a major factor in the experience of panic attacks is characterized by feelings of intense fear or anxiety, as though you’re “on the edge” of something. This is often accompanied by a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pains, flushing, weakness, palpitations, or sweating.
Panic attacks are one of the main anxiety disorders and can be triggered by a number of factors, such as feeling out of control or having a stressful event. These attacks can be caused by a wide variety of threats or stimuli, and are most often associated with the sudden onset of anxiety.
Caffeine can make you anxious and be a source of panic attacks as caffeine is not suitable for each individual.
Can Energy Drinks Affect Your Mental Health?
Energy drinks can actually affect your mental health; both positively and negatively. When taken in the right amount, energy drinks can actually make you feel better and improve your focus and attention.
However, if you consume energy drinks too much and by means of it, your caffeine intake surpasses the daily limit, then your mental health can deteriorate over time.
Can Red Bull Trigger Anxiety?
Red Bull is a well-known energy drink, best known for its bold flavor and extreme sugar and caffeine content. Originally invented as an energy drink for athletes to use during long-distance races, Red Bull soon became a much-loved drink for anyone looking for a caffeine fix.
Today, Red Bull contains an average of 80 mg of caffeine per serving, making it a perfect pick-me-up for those with caffeine cravings, such as myself. Red Bull also contains other energy-boosting ingredients such as taurine and ginseng, which help to give you energy and improve your concentration.
However, over the past few decades, much negative research about energy drinks such as Red Bull has been circulating; moreover, the high amount of sugar can make it an anxiety-triggering drink.
Does Monster Give You Anxiety?
Monster Energy is the leader in energy-rich, performance-driven energy drinks with more caffeine, vitamins, and other beneficial ingredients to boost energy, enhance focus, and improve concentration.
However, Monster energy, just like Red Bull contains tons of sugar, which can give you a temporary good mood followed by anxiety.
Do Energy Drinks Cause Mood Swings?
Have you ever experienced mood swings after consuming an energy beverage; feeling happy for a moment and then feeling agitated and anxious the very next minute?
Energy drinks and convenient sources of stimulants have caused concern for professionals due to the rich content of sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants, like guarana and taurine. Excess consumption of these ingredients can cause complications including mood swings.
Well, energy drinks can cause mood swings because of the stimulants they contain.
Can Energy Drinks Cause Suicidal Thoughts?
Energy drinks contain many stimulants which have the power to affect your mental health, both positively and negatively.
In case, you consume these drinks in the wrong way, they can affect your mental health negatively. If this negative impact goes to the extreme, then it’s possible that you might have suicidal thoughts.
This isn’t always the case, because energy drinks do not always cause anxiety and depression; but if you already suffer from anxiety and depression, then consuming energy drinks might worsen the symptoms.
Energy beverages are rich in ingredients such as caffeine and caffeine, being a stimulant, can actually cause you to feel anxious and worsen the case of anxiety.
Final Verdict
- Nervousness is the feeling of anxiety, fear, and agitation.
- There are several things that might evoke the feeling of anxiety and nervousness. However, a few ingredients such as caffeine and sugar can also cause anxiety.
- Energy drinks are rich in sugar and caffeine, and both of these ingredients can trigger nervousness and anxiety.
- Prolonged consumption of energy drinks in high doses can actually make anxiety worse.
- Energy drinks and varieties of stimulants like guarana, taurine, sugar, and caffeine with excess consumption of these ingredients can cause complications including mood swings.
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