Can a cancer patient drink energy drinks?
It may be tempting to reach for that can of Red Bull to help you cope with the fatigue related to cancer, but it is probably not the best solution. Energy drinks are loaded with sugar and caffeine—you may get a small burst of energy from these ingredients, but it will not sustain you through the day. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of sugar ranging from 21 g to 34 g per oz. The sugar content is mainly in the form of sucrose, glucose or high fructose corn syrup. Therefore, high energy drink intake may increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.Energy drinks typically contain electrolytes, sugar, caffeine, and calories. So, they’re not a good choice for anyone, especially if you have diabetes. There are low-sugar or no-sugar options. But these contain artificial sweeteners, which may have long-term health risks.While energy drinks may temporarily boost energy, they can also damage kidney health. Why? Energy drinks are ultra-processed foods (UPF) full of additives with little or no nutritional value. Research has linked a high intake of UPFs to an increased risk of kidney disease.Reign. Coming in first as the unhealthiest energy drink is Reign, containing 300 mg of caffeine and zero grams of sugar in 16 oz. Although they are said to have zero grams of sugar, they have to sweeten the drink with something, hence Sucralose, an artificial sweetener.Specifically, the intake of sugary beverages is linked with several health issues, including obesity, dental caries, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses 29. This study shows that energy drinks like Red Bull and Power Horse can have harmful effects on liver function.
What not to drink with cancer?
Avoiding alcohol is one of the simplest things you can do at any time to lower your cancer risk. The less you drink it, the better off you are. This is especially true during cancer treatment. We actively discourage the intake of alcohol during chemo because it is processed by the liver,” says Hassan. Your habits. Certain lifestyle choices are known to increase your risk of cancer. Smoking, drinking more than one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men, excessive exposure to the sun or frequent blistering sunburns, being obese, and having unsafe sex can contribute to cancer.There is no evidence showing that sugar directly causes cancer. Consume no more than the recommended amount of sugar each day to avoid obesity, a risk factor for cancer. Limit artificial sweeteners because they offer no nutritional value. Choose natural sugar sources like fruit when possible.
What is the best alternative to energy drinks?
If you want to avoid added sugars and artificial ingredients altogether, coffee and tea are your best bets. An 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 95mg of caffeine, while the same-size cup of black tea has 47mg. They’re also low in calories, so long as you drink them black, at only one to two calories a cup. Even in moderate amounts it can cause jitteriness and anxiety,” said Dr. Kilgore, noting that caffeine “can also increase respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure, which is most often fine in normal people, but if they have a health condition it should be under consideration.Caffeine can be a great thing, at low doses, Miller told Live Science. With the consumption of five 5-hour Energy drinks, however, you move past alert and awake, into the territory of jittery, anxious and [heart palpitations].Especially if you drink more than 2 energy shots per day which would take you over the recommended daily caffeine intake of 400 milligrams per day. When ingesting too much caffeine a person can suffer from issues including headaches, insomnia, increased heart rate, anxiety, and even dehydration.Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose? Given the negative health effects that the high caffeine content of energy drinks can cause, plus the high amounts of added sugar, coffee is a healthier option for getting your caffeine fix.