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Do Energy Drinks Make Your Eyes Red? (Reality)

We all have bad days where we feel almost drained out of energy, I do not know about you, but I prefer drinking caffeinated beverages to make that fatigue go away.

There are many traditional ways to make that fatigue go away; however, modern problems require modern solutions.

There are many energy beverages available in the market which just require you to open the can, nothing else! So you do not have to do extra work.

However, many researchers claim energy drinks to be unhealthy food. A few side effects of energy beverages are quite understandable like weight gain; however, some side effects are not faced by everyone. But some people might face these side effects.

Energy drinks can cause insomnia, nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Some people also face allergic reactions after drinking energy drinks. Some allergic reactions due to energy drinks are asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

Due to the long-term consumption of energy drinks, these allergic reactions can occur and due to these allergic reactions, one can also experience red eyes as a combined symptom. In short, yes, energy drinks can cause red eyes.

Let’s talk a little more about the reasons why energy drinks cause red eyes!

What Causes Red Eyes?

Red eyes are an optical symptom that occurs when the blood vessels in the eyes are dilated or enlarged.

Red eyes are a common sight. They are often a symptom of tired or stressed eyes. Red eyes are a common symptom of many health problems, such as fatigue and allergies. However, if your eyes are red for an extended period, it may be a sign of a serious health problem.

They can also be caused by allergies, sunburn, skin diseases, and drug use. Some people even have red eyes because of a genetic condition. It can also be caused red when blood vessel damage and infection. Both can be treated, but a visit to the doctor is always the best option.

In some cases, red eyes may be a sign of a serious condition, such as blood vessel disease or cancer. If you have red eyes, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention.

Red eyes
Red eyes can be caused due to many reasons including allergies

However, red eyes are one of the most common symptoms people experience when they are sick. They are also one of the most common symptoms people notice when other people are sick. While red eyes may be caused by a variety of factors, the most common cause of red eyes is a common cold.

When you have a cold, your nose and throat are usually congested, which makes it hard for you to breathe and causes your eyes to itch.

Food Mediated Allergic Reactions

There are many ingredients in energy drinks that do not suit some people. Food allergies are a common and often serious condition in which the body reacts to certain foods by producing symptoms such as a rash, itchiness, and swelling.

Some people are naturally allergic to a wide variety of foods, while others are sensitive to only a few. The most common food allergies are called IgE allergies, which are characterized by the presence of specific antibodies called IgE in the blood and other body fluids.

A few symptoms of IgE food allergies are:

  • Hives on skin.
  • Eyes redness and itch.
  • Clear nose discharge, itching, and congestion.
  • Mouth itching, swelling of lips, tongue swelling.
  • Throat tightness, and trouble while speaking.

If you have allergies, you are probably familiar with the feeling of your eyes itching, swelling, and watering. Allergic reactions often start in your eyes, and if you have contact lenses, they can be even worse.

Ingredients in Energy Drinks that Cause Red Eyes

Following are a few ingredients that might cause red eyes or allergic reactions:

Caffeine

Caffeine is an ingredient that can be spotted in almost every energy drink as a source of providing you with an immediate energy boost.

There is a good range of benefits found by the consumption of caffeine, such as boosting energy, increasing cognition, sharpening memory, and so much more.

However, caffeine might cause some unwanted effects such as:

  • Restlessness and shakiness can be common symptoms of caffeine consumption.
  • Insomnia is another common symptom of caffeine.
  • Headaches can occur by drinking caffeine.
  • Caffeine can cause a person to become dizzy.
  • It can cause a fast heart rate.
  • Dehydration can also be caused by caffeine consumption.
  • Anxiety and depression can worsen by caffeine consumption.
  • Caffeine dependency is another caffeine symptom.
  • Caffeine can also cause a burning sensation
  • Allergic reactions such as eye tingling can also be caused by caffeine consumption.
caffeine
caffeine in energy drinks might cause an allergy to people including red eyes

In some cases, when you consume too much, you are likely to get allergic reactions. These allergic reactions include tingling of the eyes, along with little red eyes.

Some people are allergic or intolerant to caffeine and this caffeine allergy might cause the immune system to respond with IgE antibodies.

To avoid excess caffeine, you can choose an energy drink that doesn’t include synthetic caffeine, sugar, or other artificial substances.

Soy

Soy is the most consumed meat alternative in the world. It is also the primary source of protein for the world’s second-largest population, vegetarians. Soy is used in a wide range of products, from tofu and soy milk to soy burgers and soy cheese. It is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world.

Soy is the most common allergen in the world. Because of this, people can develop an allergy to soy. Soy allergy is a type of food allergy, meaning the body reacts to the proteins in the food.

This reaction can be mild, such as a rash or itching, or severe, including a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Most people will never know they are allergic to soy.

They often show up as a rash on the skin or as a severe reaction in the throat, nose, or mouth.

Some energy drinks are vegan-friendly and they contain soy as a protein source. Such drinks can cause allergic reactions in people who are intolerant to soy and such energy drinks can cause red eyes along with itchy and swollen eyes as an allergic reaction.

Gluten

Gluten is the primary protein in wheat, barley, and rye. When a person has a gluten-free diet, they avoid foods containing gluten.

The most common sources of gluten are wheat and barley, but other grains such as rye and Kamu also contain small amounts of gluten. Generally, grains such as rice, corn, and soy contain less gluten than wheat and barley.

Many energy drinks contain gluten as it provides a particular texture to them.

However, Gluten is a potent allergen and it might cause allergies. Some people have a particular type of disorder or intolerance toward gluten and this gluten intolerance is named Celiac disease.

Celiac disease (also celiac sprue) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which the immune system of a person with gluten sensitivity, or celiac disease, reacts abnormally to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.

gluten in energy drink
Gluten in energy drinks causes allergic reactions

Celiac disease is also called gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Celiac disease can cause anemia, joint pain and abdominal pain, dry and red eyes, and other symptoms.

So the energy drinks containing gluten might cause your eyes to become red if you have gluten intolerance.

People with celiac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet to manage their symptoms and prevent complications.

Sweeteners

Consuming food high in sugar is not only bad for your weight, but it can also pose serious threats to your eye health.

As you consume sugary drinks like energy drinks, your blood sugar level spikes quickly. The prolonged use of these sugary drinks causes inflammation.

This inflammation can cause issues for your overall body, including your eyes. Your eyes might swell up, and become itchy and red.

Moreover, some artificial sweeteners are not really good for your body, including your eyes. Aspartame can be harmful to your eyes.

Do Energy Drinks Cause Red Eyes?

Eye allergies are one of the most common forms of allergic reactions. They can range from mild irritation to full-blown, life-threatening allergic reactions.

Many times, the first sign of an eye allergy is redness or swelling in the eyes. These allergies can be induced because of a variety of reasons, including the food you eat.

Energy drinks contain various ingredients which can cause allergic reactions and cause your eyes to become swollen and red.

Not everyone is likely to have red eyes because of the consumption of energy drinks, however, a few people allergic to certain ingredients might.

To avoid this, you must read the nutrition labels of energy drinks along with the ingredients present in them.

Check out the video to know more about eye allergies!

Energy Drink Recommendations

Final Verdict

  • The increasing trend of energy beverages has led to an enormous consumption of energy drinks each year.
  • However, many researchers claim energy drinks to be unhealthy food. A few side effects of energy beverages are quite understandable like weight gain; some side effects are not experienced by everyone but most people
  • Due to the long-term consumption of energy drinks, these allergic reactions can occur and due to these allergic reactions, one can also experience red eyes as a combined symptom. In short, yes, energy drinks can cause red eyes.

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