Is Drinking Red Bull Bad For You?

As an energy drink, Red Bull is one of the most well-known brands in the market, and it has a strong presence and brand personality of its own. It has an intriguing background too: According to First We Feast, the drink has its origins in Thailand and was first sold to laborers and truck drivers who were struggling to tackle difficult shifts and needed something to keep them going. The energy drink was similar to Red Bull, but was a lot sweeter.

The drink that was called Krating Daeng got a popularity boost when it was sampled by an entrepreneur from Austria named Dietrich Mateschitz, who was amazed by its results. It helped him beat his jet lag and inspired him to collaborate with the brand's founder, Chaleo Yoovidhya. Thanks to Mateschitz, this drink was launched in Europe in the late 1980s as Red Bull.

Here is the pertinent question: Is Red Bull harmful? Not according to the brand that claims to provide a mixture of caffeine, vitamins, water, sugar, and more to its customers in the form of a delicious energy drink. It also explicitly states, "Health authorities across the world have concluded that Red Bull Energy Drink is safe to consume ... one 250 ml can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains 80 mg of caffeine, the same amount as in a cup of coffee." However, keep reading to learn about some potential side effects.

Per Healthline, Red Bull may come with unexpected consequences. For example, consuming too many cans of the beverage in one go could lead to higher blood pressure and a faster heart rate. Also, the drink is overloaded with sugar: A single can has 29 grams of sugar, something that can make you more susceptible to type 2 diabetes. Also, overconsumption may lead to kidney damage.

According to an Insider piece, energy drinks in general aren't the healthiest options to turn to. They're known to increase anxiety and cause heart arrhythmias and headaches among other things. Mohamad Moussa, an associate professor from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Science, told Insider, "If someone already has heart disease, which is one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States, energy drinks could have a negative effect on the body." Yikes.

That said, energy drinks like Red Bull are alright in moderation (via Shape). Just don't make them a part of your daily schedule.