![]() Since at least 2010, Red Bull's online FAQ has addressed questions about the taurine used in their popular energy drink being made from bulls' testicles or derived from bull semen: But the taurine used in Red Bull brand energy drink (and other foods) is not derived from bulls (or any other animal) at all: it's synthetically produced in laboratories. The composition of that substance's name - " taur" being a Greek/Latin root for "bull," and the " -ine" suffix denoting something derived from the preceding root - suggests to the casual observer that taurine is something made or excreted by a bull, possibly something like "bull urine." And of course the brand name "Red Bull" ties the product to the image of a bull and connotations of the strong, powerful, potent life force that animal represents, so it doesn't seem like such a stretch that the drink might contain some type of "vital essence" taken from the animal itself.Īlthough taurine is so named because it was first isolated from ox bile, it is actually found in the large intestines and tissues of many different animals, including humans. The "bull sperm" rumor seems to stem from the fact that the Red Bull brand of energy drink includes taurine, an organic acid which, among other uses, is often added to infant milk formulas (because taurine is naturally present in breast milk). And between 90 minutes and two hours later you get what’s termed a sugar crash.Energy drinks such as Red Bull have long been dogged by rumors that they contain dangerous ingredients such as "artificially manufactured stimulants," and in more recent years such rumors have taken a turn towards the bizarre with claims that various brands of energy drink include "bull semen" or "bull sperm." More outlandish versions of such rumors maintain that some entity such as the "Longhorn Cattle Company" performed tests on energy drinks and "found in fact they do contain bull sperm." (Why a livestock company would want to test commercial beverages for the presence of bull sperm remains unexplained.) “But by 60 minutes your liver begins treating the caffeine like a poison and tries to eliminate it, which is why these drinks have a diuretic effect which can be dehydrating. At around 40 minutes your brain will release a chemical called dopamine, which is a ‘reward chemical’ – the type that’s released during smoking, gambling or sex. “By now all the caffeine will also have been absorbed and you’ll be at peak caffeine levels and your brain will be maximally stimulated. She continued: "By twenty minutes levels have reached a maximum and drinkers will feel euphoric, stimulated and alert from the sugar. Well known brands of energy drinks include Red Bull, Rockstar and Monster.Īre tomatoes good for you? What are the health benefits and how many should you eat a week How long do energy drinks last?Įmer Delaney, a dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association told The Telegraph that energy drinks don't linger in the body but the ingredients quickly pass through and within ten minutes they reach the intestines where sugar is absorbed, leading to higher blood sugar levels. Companies often have sponsorship deals with extreme sport franchises, presumably to sell the message that energy drinks are edgy and energetic." ![]() "Energy drinks are marketed for their perceived or actual benefits as a stimulant, for improving performance and increasing energy. Many pubs and clubs will sell jugs or 'fish bowls' of Red Bull and vodka. ![]() "It is now commonplace, especially among young people, to mix energy drinks with alcoholic spirits. ![]() They go on to explain: "They were originally introduced in Japan during the 1960s and became increasingly popular in Europe during the 1980s and 90s, possibly due to the rise of rave culture. The NHS website defines energy drinks as "a non-alcoholic drink that contains caffeine, taurine (an amino acid) and vitamins, in addition to other ingredients". They can cause a number of serious problems for pregnant women who consume them - including late miscarriages, low birth weight and still births.Ī study published in the Interantional Journal of Health Sciences in 2015 also found that excessive energy drink consumption is also linked to anxiety, insomnia, gastronomical upset, headaches and diuresis. These include caffeine overdose (which can cause nausea and vomiting, palpitations, convulsions, high blood pressure, and in some cases even death), type two diabetes, sensation-seeking behaviour, poor dental health, obesity and neurological and cardiovascular system effects. Energy drinks to be banned for children in England Are energy drinks bad for you?Īccording to a study by the World Health Organisation, which was shared by the NHS, the caffeine content in energy drinks can pose some major health risks.
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