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Energy Drinks, Health Risk and Death Connection

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Updated: 14 May 2020, by Marc Woodard

So what energy, soda or caffeinated drink and in what volume is considered safe?

The following recommendations for caffeine ingestion vary, but a good average across the board looks to be: adults can consume around 400mg/day of caffeine, pregnant women should stay below 300mg/day. A five-year old child should consume no more than 1 soda/day at 45mg caffeine [at the most]. And if you include a caffeinated soda in a Childs daily diet, this would mean no chocolate, tea, or any other food source with caffeine in it.

“A five-year old child should consume no more than 1 soda/day at 45mg caffeine [at the most]. …” Or one cup of chocolate.

As a point of reference, 1 energy drink does not equate to an 8oz cup of coffee (130mg/cup). One energy drink for example can have the equivalence of several cups of coffee!

Energy drinks flooded the marketplace over a decade ago, with ever increasing popularity within the teenage demographic. Within youth sports for example, energy drinks seem to be the rage and norm… because of the quick boost one receives before exercise activities… and employee’s become dependent on the drinks to accomplish work.

So what’s the bottom line on health risk? Here’s just a few updated citations I found recently on the Internet.

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“Energy drinks ‘can be dangerous because large amounts of caffeine may cause serious heart rhythm, blood flow and blood pressure problems,’ the NIH (National Institution of Health) has warned.”

“Researchers with the American Heart Association have warned that energy drinks can be ‘life-threatening,’ especially for those already with high blood pressure or cardiac issues.”

“The drinks have led to death. E.g., In 2017, a South Carolina teenager died after consuming an excessive amount of caffeine in a short amount of time.”

“Children with still-developing cardiovascular and nervous systems are also at risk as caffeine could harm them. The American Academy of Pediatrics said children should “never” consume energy drinks.”

“‘These energy drinks – one of the biggest problems – is that we haven’t the faintest idea what’s in them,’ Dr. Steven Nissen, M.D. of Cleveland Clinic pointed out.” “The manufacturers of these drinks are not required, by law, to disclose the contents. Those who have performed independent analysis on them have learned, at least a few of the drinks, are just loaded with huge amounts of caffeine.”

We already know exercise increases heart rate and blood pressure. When Energy drinks are introduced into the circulatory system and one participates in sport activity your system becomes super revved. The problem is, if you have an undiagnosed health issue, where an increased surge in circulatory pressure could lead to a stroke or heart attack. This leads one to wonder – is there a connection between high-dose caffeination and teenage deaths on the football field?

In 2012, Swedish authorities warned and believed mixing energy drinks with alcohol and drinking energy drinks after exercise can cause death! There was no hard scientific evidence available then on that health risk connection. “We are going through the Autopsy reports… ” (Anders Glyn, of the Swedish National Food Administration). Dr. Dan Andersson of Stockholm’s South Hospital stated, “If you drink a lot of Red Bull, and you are dehydrated, and/or mix it with alcohol, it can be very dangerous.” There have been recent incidents where energy drinks mixed with alchohol

“Swedish authorities warned and believed mixing energy drinks with alcohol and drinking energy drinks after exercise can cause death!”

Back in 2012, within the United States there was a crack down on manufacturers and retailers who made and sold energy drinks with alcohol in it. The FDA sent warning letters to manufactures… banning specific types of energy and alcoholic drinks in several states because of overdoses.

“Tue 12 Jun 2018 at 1812 AEST | 2012 NZST It has been reported that a teenage girl in Sydney has died after drinking a cocktail of alcohol and energy drinks mixed according to a recipe she found online. It is still too early for doctors to say the exact cause of death, though mixing alcohol and energy drinks has been known to cause health problems and even death in the past. …”

There is “a growing concern over the potential connection of energy drinks, alcohol and teen sport deaths.”

READ OUR FULL ARTICLE WRITTEN ON TOPIC which provides poison control data and a growing concern over the potential connection of energy drinks, alcohol and teen sport deaths. Also, you’ll learn about other ingredients in energy drinks that the FDA does not require to be listed on consumer labels.

It’s what many don’t know about the energy drink chemical composition that contributes to the cause of increased illness and disease and in some cases – shortened lifespans. This is enough reason alone to stick to coffee, tea and decaffeinated drinks [if caffeine intolerant] … Too much of any chemical-stimulant on the mind and body; and in the long run is not a healthy habit for anyone.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2012-20 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

Weight Loss through Body Chemical Activation

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Updated 15 November 2018, Marc Woodard

Any type of physical activity will stimulate the body’s natural release of feel good chemicals to help you lose weight and experience daily well-being.

It is the activation of muscle metabolism during low impact aerobics exercise that will activate these feel good chemicals – while simultaneously melting away body fat.

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Any aerobic activity will release addictive body chemicals to burn more body fat, benefit health and fitness levels.

Once you relate and apply the information that follows – it only takes a little will power to begin chipping away at your weight loss goals and experience well-being daily.

The advantage of low intensity aerobics exercise is it stimulates both the fat burning metabolic engine and activates addictive feel good body chemicals. Unlike high intensity strength and muscle bulking development; and high intensity aerobic exercise – these activities more or less suppress the fat burning engine to varying degree.

Walk to a destination place and fish for dinner.  “Thumbs down no fish.”

What many consumers don’t know is during low-intensity aerobic exercise the muscles metabolism prefers to burn fat fuel. That’s right the  metabolic energy needed to walk over a period of time prefers stored body fat to convert to glucose to fuel the large muscles in the legs and buttocks area.

The same muscles during high-intensity aerobics exercise like running and high impact aerobic dance for instance prefer mostly stored liver and muscle glycogen fuel to convert it to blood glucose [sugar].

The harder you train muscles in the body the less body fat you burn. That’s a major reason high intensity exercise makes you crave carbohydrates after you’ve finished the workout. And for that reason – IS the reason those folks have a hard time losing excess body weight.

The point is, you don’t have to train hard to lose body fat and excess body weight.

The second point I want to make, regardless of training intensity the body will produce chemicals to addict you to exercise whether your building muscle, increasing muscular endurance, or toning the body. But if you’re consuming a stimulant, diuretic or anabolic steroid or heavy herb concentrate supplement to “fast pace” any fitness goal, the natural chemicals released by the body will be suppressed and you’ll become addicted to an unnatural chemical supplement that may increase health risk. You may look and feel good [loss weight, or build muscle, etc.] for a while; but then bad at some point in time…

Unnatural fitness results through the use of fads, gimmicks, supplements and herbal diets are often short lived because their not sustainable habits. In the long run when applying these tactics to achieve a fitness goal – “too often,” may eventually break the fat burning (known as yo-yo dieting), or hormonal metabolism and increase health risk; then cause excessive weight gain.

Eat more healthy whole foods. Cut back on processed foods.

Once you connect how exercise and healthy whole foods dieting increases body chemical activation versus an unnatural fad-dietary course, you’ll better understand there is no good reason to “fast pace” a fitness result (e.g., weight loss). Thereafter you can avoid the pit falls of unsustainable lifestyle habits and ill-health consequences.

The 3 major chemicals the brain/body releases naturally during exercise and supports sustainable healthy weight loss…

1) Adrenaline a neurotransmitter and hormone produced by the adrenalin gland just above the kidneys, also known as norepinephrine and epinephrine (provides attention focus in brain). Together these chemicals activate your fight or flight stimulation designed to get the body out of a stressful situation, or survive an injury scenario. It acts as a natural pain killer, boosts oxygen and glucose fuel to brain, muscles and suppresses depression.

Walk your dog to a neat destination place you enjoy. Both receive the natural feel good brain-body benefits.

2) Dopamine is produced and synthesized in the brain which boosts positive behavior, cognition, motor activity, motivation, sleep, mood, learning and attention.

3) Serotonin is synthesized within the CNS (Central Nervous System). This chemical is also found in many mushrooms, plants, fruits and vegetables.

Research shows Serotonin plays an important role in liver regeneration and induces cell division throughout the body (important for repair and healing of the body). Serotonins role as a neurotransmitter of the brain is to modulate anger, mood, aggression, sleep, sexuality, appetite and metabolism.

Walk the beach and discover cool things.

People are motivated to move or walk for different reasons. Once you find something that motivates you to move more… you’ll enjoy the natural brain-body feel good chemicals; and want to repeat the low impact aerobics exercise experience daily.

Continuous low impact aerobic exercise like walking, hiking, dancing or riding a bike will release those feel good chemicals and cause “for most” an addictive habit to form – whereas you’ll want to continue the course.  It will take approximately 1-2 weeks to become addicted to daily low-impact walk habit for example.

A little alcohol is okay. Over indulging is a bad habit.

Everyone differs slightly in metabolism, exercise and activity interest, intensity, frequency and duration of exercise activity daily. For many daily low impact aerobics exercise will cause an instant craving to continue the course.

To maximize the odds of achieving a fitness, health or wellness goal four behavioral habits must be addressed if applicable. 1) Stop substance abuse. 2) Eat a balanced and nutritious diet. 3) Allow your brain-body the time to become addicted to the body’s natural feel good chemicals released through low-impact aerobics exercise activity. 4) Remove yourself from unhealthy and stressful environments.

Bike, explore and get fit.

The increased exercise activities experienced by former clients did not require a lot of will power to perform low-impact aerobics exercise to achieve significant fitness results.

But it did require some lifestyle changes.

For example, when beginning a daily walk program it doesn’t’ require much will power to get started. But it does require a commitment. In other words, the excuse I often hear people use to avoid any form of exercise, “I don’t have the time.” But if you can make the time you’ll lose weight and feel better almost immediately once you start. Then become addicted to it within 2-5 days.

The best New Year’s fitness resolution advice I could give anyone, as I’ve done with so many past clients… start a daily walk habit. Walking is the best low impact fat burning activity whose large muscles prefer fat stored energy and it’s easy on weight bearing joints.

Walk and capture nature in a picture.

I assure you, if you walk a little each day, you’ll begin to release more of those feel good chemicals. Then body fat will decrease and you’ll have more energy and feel lighter on your feet. You’ll begin to look and feel better in no time.

If you’ve been sedentary for a long time, walking at first may seem uncomfortable and maybe feel unnatural. But if you can work up to 15 or 30 minutes or more each day you’ll have significant fitness results success.

Keep this in mind. Before the automobile how did we survive?

As hunters and gatherers our bodies are designed to get work done by walking. Walking is a very natural and a primal thing we’re designed to do for a lifetime. I guarantee – if you maintain your walking muscle metabolism you’ll become addicted to sustaining it, and in return for your efforts your body will allow you to live life to the fullest.

Walk to the grocery store to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables.

I’ve had plenty of overweight clients walk or ride a stationary bike for a year before they achieved their weight loss fitness goal. Thereafter participated in a competitive long distance walk, hike, jog or ran or biked a marathon event. They never imagined themselves capable of doing anything like it.  They simply believed it possible because they could relate to the muscle metabolism and feel the chemical activation truth working within their brain-body.

Walk a county fair.

Be excited about all the possibilities that lie in front of you and enjoy life to the fullest by maintaining a daily low impact aerobics exercise habit! Now go get addicted to the natural feel good drugs produced by your own body and reap the ideal body weight, longevity, wellness and health benefits!

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2018 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Get Free Newsletter.

Aspartame the Silent Killer

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Last Updated: 26 May 2020, by Marc Woodard

Many years back, I posted Dr. H. J. Roberts, Aspartame and Shocking Health Risks, featured in MirrorAthlete’s March 08 newsletter.

I’ve now updated this important topic to a group of new subscribers and consumers. Which include Victoria Inness-Brown’s famous experiment that exposed the truth about Monsanto the manufacture of Aspartame and its harmful effects on human health. Aspartame a substitute sweetener is alive and well and its addictive qualities are now hidden within approximately another thousand food products then when I first posted this information in 2008.

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While the chemical alone has the potential to make you fall ill with who knows what, I believe as scientific evidence showed us during the seventies, nothing has changed except the number of people who’ve become obese and those who now have diabetes disease. There appears to be a strong correlation between this disease and Aspartames addictive flavor and weight gaining properties. And this chemical sweetener appears to be a major contributor to an increasing childhood obesity epidemic. Other illness and disease may be related to Aspartame, but epidemiological and controlled studies are still controversial and inconclusive for various subjective and objective reasoning as you’ll soon learn.

Ageless MirrorAthlete covers among other things – hard to find fit healthy lifestyle and consumer truths. Learn how to live the lifestyle you need, want and deserve now!

Aspartame History Matters, 

“In 1975 the FDA came to the conclusion that aspartame should not be allowed on the market. They requested that further studies be conducted. The FDA’s next move was to set up a public board of inquiry composed of outside experts to investigate the safety of aspartame, and in 1980 that board unanimously rejected aspartame’s request for approval. Another internal FDA panel convened in 1980 also rejected aspartame for approval. If you count the Bressler Report compiled after 1977, FDA scientist’s uncovered fraud and manipulation so wrought with concerns they forwarded the files to the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s office for prosecution” [Mercola, 2015].

So this was 4 strikes against Monsanto of the times prior to FDA approval. But this didn’t detour Monsanto from getting their product approved to market. Eventually deep pockets prevailed and the FDA approved the chemical sweetener to market. The controversy and untold truths still continue today and the health concerns connected to the Aspartame have only grown. [Refer to www.mercola.com]. Yes the reality is we’re living in a grand social-consumer experiment. Where there is no consequence to its creators and/or trustees who’ve unleased food chemical assault on consumers, whereas global effects on human health continue to be realized.

Early on, within Dr. Roberts talking points back in March 08, I learned his consumer safety talking points back then pertaining to Aspartame should not be taken lightly. Here are the facts.

  1. Aspartame is profitable. For example Maryland-based biotech company Genex Corp., went from reporting $14.3m in 1985 revenues to $2.8m in 1986 after they lost their aspartame business.
  2. Aspartame was initially listed by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent. How does a consumer make sense out of this?
  3. Chemical changes occur within Aspartame sodas when stored in warm temperatures. Thereafter chemical properties are transformed into a chemical poison and toxins and bad for our health.
  4. Aspartame is a common sugar substitute in our food chain keeping us overweight and known cause of diabetes. Aspartame is extremely bad for those now diagnosed with diabetes.
  5. There is a direct correlation between children with ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and childhood obesity.
  6. Monsanto’s patent on Aspartame has expired, now there are over 6,000 products on the shelves [~5000 known in 2008] containing aspartame. It is also marketed as NutraSweet, Equal and Spoonful. And who knows exactly how many other brands contain this chemical.
  7. Uninformed parents are unknowingly poisoning their children and themselves through easy bake, baked snacks or prepared or processed deserts, soda, ice cream, candy treats, weight loss and dietary foods, etc.
  8. The American Diabetes and Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians know about the Aspartame and health risk connections and acknowledge it. While the U.S. FDA and many medical doctors endorse Aspartame as completely safe for human consumption!
  9. Children are specifically at risk and susceptible to Aspartame poisoning because of their thin undeveloped blood brain barrier. This chemical effect on this barrier lowers its resistance to toxins absorbed by the body and increases the potential of neural cell death. …

… Aspartames chemical breakdown of this brain barrier could leave one susceptible to many types of disease. For example, Multiple Sclerosis, hormonal problems, Alzheimer’s and dementia, ALS [also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease], hearing loss, Parkinson’s disease, brain lesions, memory loss, epilepsy, neuroendocrine disorders, etc. The list of potential disease and ill-health problems are too numerous to list. However, it should be noted if you have symptoms of any of the aforementioned disease, in some cases once consumption of Aspartame products is stopped the symptoms clear up. [Refer to: www.mercola.com, Aspartame: Is This FDA-Approved Sweetener Causing Brain Damage?].

Victoria Inness-Brown’s experiment proved on April 2011 that Aspartame is something all consumers should be educated on. This experiment truly challenged Monsanto and FDA to defend its position that Aspartame is a safe food chemical sweetener.

Summarizing Victoria Inness-Brown’s experiment: Her family was addicted to diet soda’s. “Concerned aspartame would one day lead to illness or disease, she performed an aspartame experiment. Starting with 108 rats for 2 years and 8 months. The dose – She gave the rats a daily dose of NutraSweet comparable to 14 cans of diet soda per day for the females, and 13 cans for the males.” [http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/09/victoria-innessbrowns-aspartame-experiment.aspx#!]

Victoria ensured the doses per rat weight was adjusted, using under Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), set by the FDA and considered safe for human consumption. However, even after safe adjusted dosage distribution fed daily, thirty seven percent of the female rats developed tumors, some of massive size.

“One 12 oz. diet soda contains about 180mg of aspartame/15mg per oz, which equals approximately 4.5 packets of NutraSweet. The propaganda industry-machine tells consumers the ADI, set by the FDA equates to about 20, 12oz-diet soda for adults, or 6 for children is safe and acceptable. If the rats get sick consuming far under ADI, why wouldn’t we?”

The insanity of it all, aspartame was once undeniably opposed by the FDA for approval to marketplace. Presently its chemical composition has not changed since the 80’s and continues to be claimed a safe food additive and recommended by many doctors as a safe sweetener substitute.

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Consumer Safety Recommendation:  Do not consume aspartame, or products marketed under the following brands: NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Equal-Measure and Canderel. Aspartame can be found in more than 6,000 products. Including, but not limited to: Diet sodas, juice drinks, flavored waters, chewing gum, table-top sweeteners, diet and diabetic foods, breakfast cereals, such as Fiber One, fiber supplements, such as orange flavored Metamucil, jams, and other sweets.

Be sure to read your food labels to ensure you’re not consuming this dangerous chemical. Only purchase foods sweetened with natural sugars. If the label does not mention Aspartame, just keep this in mind: If it says artificial, substitute or other sweeteners, chances are its Aspartame or some other generic or similar manmade chemical sweetener.

I try to only consume products with sugar cane, or natural fruits, or one of the 3 major and naturally occurring sugars: lactose, fructose or maltose. If you’re diabetic or allergic to any foods, or currently have disease, there may be health implications of consuming too many natural sugars as well. Always seek dietary and medical advice from your doctor when any ill-health symptoms occur.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2015 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Inc., www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.