Everything in moderation, as common sense advice goes. It’s especially true when it comes to food. But people want to live forever and are buying promises of energy drinks with amino acids such as taurine, with the aim of living forever, or at least a decade longer is now in fashion.

Related: energy drinks and why to avoid them

The amino acid taurine is one of the basic building blocks of the proteins in our bodies and plays multiple other roles in biology. Previous research has suggested that low levels of taurine may signal—or even drive—aging, but a new longitudinal study by Rafael de Cabo and his team at the US National Institute on Aging (NIA) says the answer is more complicated in a new paper, published in Science.

“We clearly show that there’s no need for taurine supplementation as long as you have a healthy diet,” says Rafael de Cabo, a gerontologist at the NIA.

And one study a few months ago suggests that taking taurine-supplemented drinks or vitamins could cause harm if you have leukemia.

Related: why Muslims don’t drink alcohol

A new study out of the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute has raised serious concerns about taurine—a popular amino acid commonly added to energy drinks—potentially accelerating certain blood and bone marrow cancers rather than promoting longevity.

Researchers led by Dr. Jeevisha Bajaj found that while healthy bone marrow cells naturally produce taurine, leukemia cells can’t make it themselves. Instead, they import taurine using genes like SLC6A6, dubbed the taurine transporter.

In both human leukemia cell cultures and mouse models, this imported taurine enhanced glycolysis—the breaking down of glucose for energy—and in turn helped cancer cells thrive.

For people with leukemia: Taurine intake—via supplements, energy drinks, or intravenous use—may not be benign. The researchers suggest that limiting taurine exposure could slow disease progression, and propose future studies to monitor taurine levels in leukemia patients.

For the general public: While current evidence does not indicate taurine causes leukemia in healthy individuals, experts caution that mice models may not fully predict human risk.

The post Taurine in energy drinks may harm, not help: new study appeared first on Green Prophet.

The ban still under review according to the Gulf News would be four years higher than the previous ban of 16, is issued by the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Economy.

Energy drinks are not just packed with dizzying amounts of sugar. They act as an intoxicant due to the high levels of caffeine in them – a drug that affects both physical and mental functioning.

In the UAE the ban will be enforced with a fine, around $30,000 for anyone who sells the drinks to minors. They will also be banned for sale in hospitals, schools and any education-related building.

If you aren’t convinced that energy drinks are bad for your health, read our story on 5 reasons why you should avoid energy drinks.

Image above via bluestorm energy

The post Energy drinks illegal for under 20s in this Arab country? appeared first on Green Prophet.

1. Each Energy Drink Has More Caffeine Than Four Cokes

After a hard night or at the beginning of a slow-going morning, it might sound like a really great idea to substitute your morning coffee with an energy drink, but this much caffeine is injurious to health. This is particularly true of people who have pre-existing cardiovascular health problems.

2. There are 13 Teaspoons of Sugar in Each Drink

Not only will this much sugar eradicate the gains of any well-meaning exercise plan, but it’s simply not good for you. This amount of sugar impairs absorption of fluids, which means that you are more likely to become dehydrated. Sugar also suppresses the immune system, increases inflammation and raises insulin levels. The sugar content of energy drinks should convince anyone to give them a miss, but if that’s not enough, let’s go on.

3. Energy Drinks Make You Feel Sober When You’re Not

Combining alcohol and energy drinks is quite trendy, but the consequences are disastrous. According to the New York Times, an American athlete drank several shots of tequila at a bar, which he then followed with a Red Bull. The energy drink disguised his level of intoxication, so he got in a car to drive home. He ended up killing a pedestrian as a result.

4. Energy Drinks Can Kill Even Young People

A spate of incidents in which young people have died from energy drinks prompted the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Queensland in Australia to look more closely at the ingredients used and the impact they have on people. In their report that was published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal, they noted that there have been at least five cases of people dying caffeine related deaths, after drinking energy drinks; a healthy 28 year old suffered cardiac arrest and an 18 year old died playing basketball after drinking two cans of Red Bull. There have also been four cases of mania in people who are bipolar.

5. What We Don’t Know Could be Even More Serious

The above references what we do know about energy drinks, but what we don’t know could be even more serious. Dr. John P. Higgins and co-authors wrote in the Mayo journal that teens and young adults are consuming these beverages at an “alarming rate” without knowing what the long term effects are. Some possibilities include liver and cardiovascular disease and life-threatening risks to brain and heart function. The scientists also called for more regulation by health authorities.

So, the next time you’re feeling sapped and start looking to your favorite energy drink for help, opt for a glass of water instead. Not only is this healthier for you, but it is also more effective as a hydrated body is an energized body.

Image credit: caution energy drinks, Shutterstock

The post Energy Drinks and 5 Really Good Reasons to Avoid Them appeared first on Green Prophet.