Negative Side Effects of Amp Energy Drink

Energy drinks line store shelves now more than ever. A favorite of students and young adults, energy drinks such as Amp are designed to give you a boost to keep you going. However, consumers usually do not take the time to read the ingredients and learn of their possible side effects. For instance, many think that since Amp does not contain alcohol it must be safe to consume. Although having a few Amp energy drinks is not likely to cause you to react negatively, consuming too much of the active ingredients could expose you to health risks.

One of the main ingredients in Amp is high fructose corn syrup, a common sweetener and preservative found in many foods. But if you consume too much high fructose corn syrup your waist line will grow, and you will be at risk of becoming overweight, which can lead to health risks such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Another side effect of consuming too much high fructose corn syrup is elevated insulin levels. Not only can this lead to diabetes, but it can also raise your risk of developing arthritis and heart disease. Consuming too much high fructose corn syrup over time can elevate your insulin to dangerous levels.

Caffeine is common in coffee and soft drinks, but it is found in energy drinks at even higher levels. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, giving a feeling of alertness. But consuming too much caffeine can cause both moderate and severe effects, such as an increased heart rate and blood flow, headaches, panic attacks, prolonged depressions, nausea, a jittery feeling, irritability and sleeplessness. The amount of caffeine needed to cause these side effects varies from person to person. People suffering from mood disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart or kidney disease are more prone to these side effects and should limit their intake.

The purpose of energy drinks is to give you a quick boost to help get you through a short period of time, but the old adage of what goes up must come down applies to these beverages. When you consume large amounts of sugar and caffeine you get a boost of energy that is short-lived. The high sugar and caffeine intake causes your blood sugar level to increase rapidly, which causes your pancreas to work harder to produce the correct amount of insulin. As the insulin does its job, blood sugar levels begin to decrease and you are left feeling weak, tired and listless. In most cases, you have less energy than before you consumed the Amp.

Consuming caffeine can cause your body to become dependent on it. When your body craves caffeine and you do not give it what it wants it starts to withdraw. The most common side effect of caffeine withdrawal is headaches, which can occur 12 hours after you last consumed caffeine. The headaches typically last one to two days, though some people can experience longer periods of pain. Other symptoms include depression, mood swings and nausea. Fortunately, symptoms of caffeine withdrawal typically last only a few days.