The One Sugary Drink Experts Say No One Should Be Having Anymore Because It Leads To Inflammation And Weight Gain
August 14, 2022 by Faith Geiger
This story has been updated since it was originally posted on 04/11/22
If you’re like many people in the world, you rely on caffeine to get you through the work day. For some of us, that caffeine comes from a hot cup of coffee every morning. Others go a sweeter route and opt for energy drinks instead–but it turns out that an energy drink habit could lead to some serious health consequences.
You’ve likely heard about many of the common downsides to energy drinks. Too much caffeine can lead to restlessness, insomnia, a higher heart rate, and anxiety, to name a few. However, the negative effects of drinking too many sugary energy drinks often go beyond these classic pitfalls. Energy drinks could be detrimental to your long-term health for another reason, too: inflammation.
To get down to the bottom of it all, we spoke to dietitians Dana Ellis Hunnes PhD, MPH, RD and author of Recipe for Survival and Trist Best, RD for Balance One, about this unexpected downside to energy drinks no one tells you about.