Energy drinks are strongly associated with exercise.
But the combination can be directly life-threatening, says the doctor Peter Munkhammar.
– It can lead to dehydration with a further increased risk of serious rhythm disturbances in the heart, he says to Helsingborgs Dagblad.
Criticism of energy and functional drinks continues.
Now it is pediatric cardiologist Peter Munkhammar who raises a warning finger for combining the drink with physical activity.
– They contain enormous amounts of caffeine, as well as varying amounts and combinations of taurine, guarana and L-carnitine. All these substances intervene in a variety of biological processes in almost all the body’s organs. The potentially most dangerous effects affect the heart and brain.
– In combination with exertion and sweating, it can lead to a lack of fluids with a further increased risk of serious rhythm disturbances in the heart, says Peter Munkhammar to Helsingborgs Dagblad.
“Potentially life-threatening”
Also The Swedish Food Agency advises against the combination of energy drinks and exercise.
“Do not use energy drinks to quench your thirst or as a fluid replacement when you exercise or otherwise exert yourself physically,” it says on their website.
Research shows that a certain dose of caffeine has positive effects on performance when it comes to exercise. But too much can be directly dangerous to health, says Peter Munkhammar.
– The most common are palpitations and various heart rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation, atrial and ventricular extra beats. The latter are potentially life-threatening as they can be a prelude to a fatal heart attack, he tells HD.
The beverage giants’ response to the criticism
Nocco and Celsius are just some of the energy drinks marketed in the context of training. South Sweden and Helsingborgs Dagblad has been in contact with the companies regarding the criticism.
– We agree with the Swedish Food Agency that functional drinks should never replace water as the main thirst quencher, especially not during exercise. Nocco does not replace water, that is not the purpose of Nocco. However, that caffeine has positive effects during training, such as increased endurance and focus, has been established by, among others, the European Food Safety Authority, says Joel Ibson, communications manager at Nocco.
Magnus Hammarsköljd, marketing manager at Celsius, agrees.
– What the Swedish Food Agency writes is that they advise against using energy drinks as a thirst quencher or to restore fluid balance during exercise. This is completely in line with our and the industry’s recommendations of a maximum of two cans per day.