New research suggests energy drinks linked to sleep problems in university students; here is what can help

A new study published in the BMJ Open medical journal suggests that university students drinking energy drinks to stay alert could possibly be facing negative consequences.

It is not uncommon for college kids these days to just slosh bottles of energy drinks to pull off an all-nighter before that one exam that’s bringing your whole grade down (guilty as charged). But according to these new findings, those who regularly drank these energy drinks were more likely to have insomnia, a sleeping condition. “The results from the current study show that there is a robust association between the frequency of (energy drink) consumption and the different sleep parameters,” researchers of the study, Siri Kaldenbach of the Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Innlandet Hospital Trust in Lillehammer, Norway, wrote.

Concurring with the findings of the study, Dr Mickey Mehta, holistic health coach, tells indianexpress.com in an interaction that artificial energy drinks typically have a lot of caffeine, sugar, and other chemical stimulants.

“These stimulants keep you extremely alert, accelerate your heart rate, cause nervousness and difficulty in relaxing—all of which can negatively impact our brain, putting it into hyperactive mode,” he said. “This flux of high and low puts your circadian rhythm in a flux and can interfere with the normal sleep-wake cycle.”

While energy drinks might be alluring, Dr Mehta suggests individuals not to drink them before bedtime.

This is in cognizance with previous studies done on the same topic. According to a 2017 research paper published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, “up to 60% of all college students suffer from poor sleep quality, and 7.7% meet all criteria of an insomnia disorder.”

If you’re still into energy drinks, Dr Mehta advises these options. “We should have natural energy drinks that don’t spike your energy in high speed. Instead, it goes up naturally and gradually, after that the drop also has no side effects.”

Here are some ways to naturally increase your energy throughout the day:

*Herbal teas: Peppermint or chamomile provides a soothing and caffeine-free option.

*Green tea, although containing a moderate amount of caffeine, is an antioxidant with a milder energy boost.

*Using organic jaggery, rock salt, a little bit of saffron, and naturally squeezed lemon juice or orange juice can become a great energy drink without a spike in unnatural sugar and caffeine.

“These mildly regulated drinks do not get our system into a flux,” said Dr Mehta. “Also, consuming nutrient-rich snacks such as fruits, nuts, and seeds can provide a steady release of energy. Include a mix of whole grains, lean proteins, veggies, and good fats in your meals,” he added.

These natural energy drinks can also help improve your workouts by combating feelings of fatigue and dehydration, said Dr Mehta. “Dehydration can contribute to low energy levels, so drinking water throughout the day is a simple yet effective way to stay alert.”

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