Following the disclosure of what happened to our bodies after drinking a can of Coca-Cola and Diet Coke an hour ago, an infographic explaining the effects of energy drinks has emerged. The graphic from Personalise.co.uk depicts what happens 10 minutes, 15-45 minutes, 30-50 minutes, one hour, five-six hours, 12 hours, and 12-24 hours after drinking Red Bull.From the first 10 minutes, when your blood pressure and pulse rate rise, to the final twelve to twenty-four hours, when your body begins to exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, irritability, and constipation.

But is the data in the image scientifically accurate? Dr. Stuart Farrimond, a food researcher and science communicator, presents FEMAIL with a professional examination of energy drinks’ impact on the body.Energy drinks are a terrible way to get caffeine, according to Dr. Farrimond, who spoke with FEMAIL about the consequences of energy drinks on the body as a whole. “They have a lot of sugar—some terrifyingly so.” The so-called “added extras,” such as taurine, are bogus and solely serve to boost the drink’s marketability.Because carbonation renders all fizzy drinks acidic, drink manufacturers frequently add extra acid to give their products a “zing.”

Red Bull’s pH is 3.3, the same as vinegar. When coupled with sugar, they corrode teeth enamel and cause long-term dental problems. “Moderate coffee consumption has been associated with longer life expectancy, but energy drinks most likely do not fall into this category.” Furthermore, caffeine does not make us smarter; rather, it simply makes us feel more awake and conscious. Several studies have found that coffee lowers our capacity for original thought.”Tea and coffee are much better options.” Naturally, anything in moderation!Within the initial ten minutes: As soon as caffeine enters your system, your body responds by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.

15 to 45 minutes: Depending on how quickly you drink it, the caffeine content will peak during the first 15 to 45 minutes. This is when you’ll feel more aware and able to concentrate. Caffeine is a stimulating substance. If you feel you need to be more alert when driving, this is the time to drink. Dr. Farrimond continued: “These times are about right: after drinking a caffeinated drink, caffeine passes from the intestines into the blood and then into the brain and around the body.” It is a stimulant medicine that inhibits the brain’s “tiredness signals.” Adenosine, a neurotransmitter that builds in the brain during the day and causes us to feel drowsy in the evening, influences our level of weariness.

Caffeine works by temporarily inhibiting adenosine pathways, providing a boost and facilitating the creation of “feel good” neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain. You have more awareness and self-confidence! 30 to 50 minutes: After you’ve stopped drinking and your body has completely digested the coffee, your liver will frequently react by absorbing additional sugar. At this point, your body has also absorbed the majority of the drink’s initial sugar. Dr. Farrimond responded: “Yes, ordinarily you would expect all the caffeine to be absorbed by about 45 minutes after drinking, although it could be longer if drunk as part of a meal.”

Coffee causes blood sugar levels to rise because it is metabolized by the liver. But it’s not as straightforward as the infographic suggests. Caffeine, for example, can aggravate hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. It’s worth noting that coffee has been linked to a lower risk of liver cancer and liver disease, implying that caffeine may be good to the liver. However, this has not been shown for energy drinks. 60 minutes: After an hour, you’ll most likely suffer the dreaded “sugar crash,” which is caused by a combination of low blood sugar levels and the caffeine’s effects wearing off.

Dr. Farrimond stated that many scientists do not believe the “sugar crash” exists. We believe we know whether our sugar levels are high or low, but we often don’t. There are other reasons why having a meal makes us tired, and caffeine can produce a hangover that starts at this time. Furthermore, once the “happy hormones” in our brains wear off, we may have a mild depressed episode. Caffeine’s half-life is around five to six hours. This means that your body need this many hours to completely eliminate 50% of the caffeine from your system. This time is doubled for women who use oral contraception.

Dr. Farrimond stated, “This is accurate for adults of normal weight.” The oral contraceptive pill will extend the half-life, albeit it may not be double depending on the specific tablet. Pregnancy, liver illness, and other drugs can all reduce the pace at which the body excretes caffeine. Importantly, adolescents and teenagers’ bloodstreams store caffeine for longer periods of time and at higher levels than adults’ due to their substantially longer half-lives. As a result, youngsters who consume caffeinated beverages may exhibit behavioral issues as well as anxiety.

12 hours: The majority of people will have completely cleared all caffeine from their bloodstream 12 hours after drinking their energy drink; however, this process will occur at a different rate and length for each individual. Dr. Farrimond stated, “Yes, this is a fair approximation, excluding children and teenagers.” 12 to 24 hours: If you are a frequent drinker, you will notice that the desire to take a caffeine break begins between 12 and 24 hours. Other adverse effects include headaches, irritability, and diarrhea.

The doctor said, “Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are usually overstated and aren’t as bad as we think they are.” The duration of withdrawal symptoms varies according to the amount of caffeine consumed, and can last up to nine days. Naturally, each person is unique, but many of the so-called “withdrawal” symptoms appear to be psychological in character. According to research, your body can withstand the quantity of caffeine you consume each day for seven to twelve days. In one study, participants who took a caffeine pill rather than a placebo had similar moods, alertness, and energy levels after eighteen days; the high-caffeine group had gotten addicted to their daily fix.

Dr. Farrimond stated, “We become tolerant of caffeine with time, requiring more to achieve the same effect. It would be interesting to learn more about these “studies.” The graphic continues by discussing the potential benefits and drawbacks of drinking energy drinks. It states that most foods are acceptable when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This also applies to energy drinks, but be cautious because many of them include a lot of sugar.

Caffeine recommendations are 400 mg per day, thus consuming one can of this product per day should not surpass this limit. However, you should consider the extra sugar and addiction risk. Energy drink research has been undertaken all over the world; in the United States, energy drink-related emergency department admissions more than doubled between 2007 and 2014, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Dawn Report.

Energy drink producers frequently compare their beverages to coffee. For example, a Starbucks Venti Caffe Americano contains 300 mg of caffeine, more than four times that of a Red Bull 250 ml can. Many coffee cafes provide high-caffeine beverages. Dr. Stuart stated, “Tiredness is a big killer: about 500 deaths per year are caused by driving while sleepy.” Caffeine, when consumed in moderation, can assist you stay awake when driving late at night or in the afternoon slump after lunch.” ‘However, it is far preferable to pull over, sip a cup of coffee, and rest for 10 minutes than to try to get pumped up with a can of Red Bull.

“My original infographic and article were meant for my clients who suffer from health issues, as well as others who are on long-term medications for metabolic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, and who really want to get better or prevent them from happening,” said Niraj Naik, the graphic designer for Coca-Cola and Diet Coke on his blog The Renegade Pharmacist, in an interview with FEMAIL.

On the other hand, folks who live active, healthy lives and efficiently manage their stress are considerably less likely to develop stress-related disorders. As a result, occasionally drinking a can of cola or an energy drink will not be detrimental. Problems develop when it is consumed in excess and instead of other, healthier foods or beverages. I counsel everyone, including my customers, to live a healthy lifestyle, manage their stress, be physically active, eat a mostly clean, nutritional diet, and view beverages like energy and fizzy drinks as treats rather than foods to be taken with every meal.

Gavin Partington, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA), told FEMAIL that energy drinks provide a caffeine or glucose-based energy boost and are enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world. This year, the European Food Safety Authority reaffirmed the safety of energy drinks and their constituents. It’s important to note that a 250-ml can of energy drinks provides the same amount of caffeine as a standard cup of coffee.”