While it is extremely difficult to overdose on caffeine, there may be certain health risks to be aware of by consuming too much. A drink can’t be “edgy” unless there’s a risk to a trip to the hospital, right? Energy drinks aren’t regulated, but some lobbyists say they should be, because of the high doses of vitamins, caffeine, and other substances.
Like anything, doing something to excess can be bad for you. Here’s some tips from the surgeon general:
- Guarana should not be used by people who are sensitive to caffeine or xanthines.
- People with heart conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy, overactive thyroid, anxiety, insomnia, and kidney disease should only use guarana under the supervision of their doctor.
- The safety of guarana in pregnant or nursing women has not been established. Since many doctors recommend limiting caffeine during pregnancy and nursing, guarana should be avoided because caffeine content differs from product to product and it isn’t possible for consumers to accurately estimate how much caffeine they are consuming through guarana.
- Guarana should not be taken with any products containing ephedrine. Serious adverse effects have been reported with this combination. It may increase the risk of stroke, hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, and sudden death and has been associated with increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and potentially harmful changes in glucose and potassium levels.
- A report published in the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy described the case of a heart rhythm abnormality called premature ventricular contraction associated with two herbal supplements that both contained large doses of guarana.
- Initial symptoms of guarana overdose include difficulty urinating, vomiting, and abdominal cramps and spasms. If you suspect a guarana overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
What research has been done on guarana?
An animal study examined the effect of 14 days of guarana supplementation on fat metabolism in sedentary and trained rats and found that the guarana’s fat-burning effect is due to the caffeine content. Decaffeinated guarana extracts had no effect on lipid metabolism.
A Journal of Psychopharmacology study found that guarana improved memory, mood and alertness at low (37.5 mg, 75 mg) vs. higher (150 mg, 300 mg) doses. However, another study examined the long-term use of guarana, caffeine, or placebo on the cognition of 45 older individuals. There were no significant effects of guarana on cognition.
It is extremely unlikely that anyone will ever overdose on caffeine (or any energy drink). Bawls is safer than coffee, especially when you consider that you can calculate how much caffeine you’ve consumed by counting the empty bottles next to your computer… which could be all night.
Bawls Guarana is just what the LAN gamer needs to blast away your foes all night long. It has a good amount of caffeine and tastes way better than other popular energy drinks.
