Nope, not soda—we're talking about energy drinks like Rockstar, Monster and Red Bull, which can contain up to five times more caffeine
than a cup of coffee. Although they may give you wings and make your workout feel like a breeze
energy drinks also spike blood pressure and stress levels, and increase the risk of heart problems in otherwise healthy young adults
To come to this finding, researchers had 25 healthy volunteers (with an average age of 29) consume either a 16-ounce energy drink or a stimulant-free placebo
beverage that contained the same amount of sugar and calories. After sipping the energy drink, study participants had a 74 percent increase in blood levels
of the "fight-or-flight" stress hormone norepinephrine, while those who sipped the fake energy drink only
experienced a 30 percent increase in the hormone. Blood pressure levels also soared after sipping the caffeine-packed drink, according to the report.
"The worry is that if these responses are seen in healthy young people, perhaps the effects of energy drinks may be more pronounced
in people who already have high blood pressure or arrhythmias," leading to more heart attacks and strokes