Thesis: “For every 20 ounces of #Monster you drink, it takes 6.3 gallons of water to flush it out of your kidneys. The average person drinks 6.3 gallons in 23 days.”
A sharepic is currently being shared on Facebook denouncing the serious consequences of regular consumption of energy drinks. Specifically, the brands Monster and Red Bull are targeted and it is shown how much water the kidneys need to process the two sugar bombs.
The sharepic that went viral, in which various types of the energy drink Monster can be seen in the above area and a supposed kidney filled with kidney stones in the lower area, also has the accompanying text:
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For every 20 ounces (note: corresponds to 567 grams. It is questionable whether the author of the post does not mean floz, i.e. fluid ounces, which would correspond to 591 ml) #Monster that you drink, it takes 6.3 gallons (roughly 23.8 liters ) water to flush it out of your kidneys. The average person drinks 6.3 gallons of water in 23 days. ?
For every 20 ounces of #RedBull you drink, it takes nearly a gallon of water to flush it out of your kidneys. The average person drinks a gallon of water in 2 days. (Many take a week for that much water). ☠️ Energy drinks hyperstimulate your adrenal glands to increase hydrocortisone and adrenaline production, and then GABA amino acid comes in to suppress the hyperstimulation so you don't feel jittery.
All this extra work for your adrenal glands can lead to adrenal fatigue or crashes. The extra hydrocortisone your adrenal glands produce makes you insulin resistant. Throw in all the artificial sweeteners that energy drinks contain and your pancreas will be working overtime. This can lead to weight gain, particularly in the abdomen. All of this hyperstimulation and production can cause metabolic syndrome, the initial symptoms of which include abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. As metabolic syndrome progresses, it leads to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and nerve damage. #sayNOtoenergydrinks #healthygang #SaveYourLife #NaturalSOULution #WunLove”
Let’s do the fact check.
First of all, analyzing the health risk is easier when the total quantity in a can is considered. A can of Monster contains (in its usual sales form) 500 ml, energy drinks come in different sizes, the most commonly sold can contains 250 ml.
These drinks contain 80 milligrams of caffeine and 27.5 grams of sugar in their 250 ml can. The ingested caffeine is in the blood within 10 minutes, and the effect becomes noticeable in the body after 20 minutes.
There is a clear feeling of excitement and the blood sugar level is then at its peak. After about an hour, the effect wears off, the sugar is converted into fat, and the caffeine takes about 12 hours to break down completely. How long it actually takes for both substances to break down depends on your age, state of health and physical activity during this time.
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The other added substances such as taurine (aminoethanesulfonic acid, which is formed when cysteine is broken down and is even produced by the body itself) and inositol are harmless to health, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
So are energy drinks a danger?
The answer to this question is ambivalent. In their basic form, energy drinks contain an extremely high dose of sugar and caffeine, which, especially when combined with alcohol and exercise, can lead to health risks such as cardiac arrhythmias and kidney problems.
Especially if you are underweight or overweight, have high blood pressure, or have general heart and kidney problems, the drinks can act as a multiplier for health problems.
It should also be noted that in the EU and especially Germany there are maximum caffeine limits for energy drinks, which means that an American Monster or Red Bull may contain significantly more sugar and caffeine than a similar one in Germany or Europe bottled energy drink.
However, it should be noted at this point that a systemic causal connection between the consumption of energy drinks and deaths has not yet been proven.
This means: Yes, there were deaths after consuming energy drinks, but it could not be proven that energy drinks were the only cause.
To process sugar, a healthy person should consume water depending on their calorie intake, daily temperature and body weight. This varies between 2 to 3.5 liters per day for an adult.
Kidney stones are crystalline deposits in the renal pelvic calyx system; this occurs primarily with foods containing fat and sugar, genetic predisposition, dehydration or with certain medications.
The antidote to kidney stones is generally drinking enough fluids throughout the day.
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And the sharepic?
Regarding the Sharepic it should be noted: The doses stated there are completely wrong . According to the Sharepic, 20 ounces of Monster (approx. 591.47 ml) require 6.3 gallons of water (approx. 23.84 liters) and for 20 ounces of Red Bull only 1 gallon of water (approx. 3.78 liters).
The caffeine value for Red Bull and Monster are both around 32mg per 100ml, assuming the basic variant in both cases. Even in large doses (500ml) the caffeine content is approx. 160 mg caffeine. According to the European Food Safety Authority, 200 mg of caffeine per single dose and 400 mg per day are harmless to human health. For children, the maximum recommended dose is 3 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. Under this premise, the values given above are completely exaggerated and simply wrong. The fact that the body needs almost 24 liters of water to process a single can of Monster is scientifically untenable and completely exaggerated. The sharepic also doesn't go into further detail as to why there is a difference between Red Bull and Monster.
In summary, the credo applies:
The dose makes the poison. According to doctors, a can of Red Bull does not pose a serious health risk in itself. However, anyone who consumes energy drinks in quantities similar to water runs the risk of damaging their kidneys, liver and, above all, their pancreas. The figures given above regarding the alleged water requirement of the kidneys to break down energy drinks are grossly exaggerated and simply wrong. In general, if you have any concerns, you should consult a doctor and treat an energy drink like a very large piece of sugary cake. Occasionally it can serve as a reward, but it should not take over the function of water or the morning café.
Related to the topic:
Fact check: Does Red Bull contain bull sperm?
Sources:
Caffeine: effects, side effects and what else you should know
Drinking against kidney stones
This is what energy drinks do to your body
Additives and alcohol: This is why energy drinks are dangerous
Author: Alexander Herberstein
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