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This is what happens to your body after drinking a can of Red Bull

This is what happens to your body after drinking a can of Red Bull
Shutterstock / Ash Pollard

A researcher has produced an infographic claiming to show exactly what happens to the body after drinking a caffeinated drink such as Red Bull.

And the effects last way longer than you might think.

Erwin Johnson from Personalise.co.uk tracked the effects of one can of Red Bull over 24 hours.

This is what he found:

Within 10 minutes

The caffeine enters your bloodstream, and your heart rate and blood pressure will start to rise.

15 – 54 minutes

Caffeine levels peak and you feel more alert.

30 – 50 minutes

After all of the caffeine is fully absorbed, your liver absorbs more sugar into the bloodstream.

1 hour

You will experience a sugar and caffeine crash, where your energy levels will start to fall and you will feel tired.

5-6 hours

Your body will have reduced the amount of caffeine in your bloodstream by half. Although women on birth control pills require double this time.

12 hours

This is the time it takes most people to fully remove caffeine from their bloodstream – depending on your age and how active you are.

7-12 days

This is the time frame required for your body to become tolerant to having caffeine regularly, after which you won’t feel the effects so much.

The infographic also picks out the main pros and cons of energy drinks. The main pros are that drinks like Red Bull come within guidelines on sugar consumption, and typically have less caffeine than coffees from coffee shops.

On the other hand, caffeine can cause a number of unwelcome symptoms, and admissions to US emergency departments due to energy drink consumption doubled between 2007 to 2014, the infographic states.

Gavin Partington, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, said in response:

“Energy drinks are functional beverages with a stimulating effect that have been on the market for more than 25 years. The safety of their key ingredients has been confirmed by European food safety institutions and they are enjoyed by consumers worldwide.

“It’s worth remembering that coffees from popular high street chains contain the same or more caffeine than most energy drinks. However, like all food and drink, energy drinks should be consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.”

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