Expert reveals the effects energy drinks actually have on the body

We've all been there, getting hooked on a TV series with such frustratingly good cliffhangers that you find yourself awake at 3am with work in a few hours.

The fix for me is an extra-strong coffee in the morning followed by an energy drink at lunch, I'd feel pumped shortly after before crashing and feeling worse off than I previously felt - and according to anatomy expert Justin Cottle, there's a reason why.

While appearing on the Institute of Human Anatomy's YouTube channel, the Utahn explained exactly the effects energy drinks actually have on our bodies.

There are hundreds of energy drinks to choose from, but do we know what we're consuming? (Getty stock)

Caffeine and the nervous system

The Salt Lake City man explained how caffeine blocks adenosine from reaching receptors in the brain. Adenosine is a chemical compound that when bound with adenosine receptors it sends a signal to your brain that you are tired.

But caffeine actually 'plugs up' the receptors preventing the sensation of drowsiness.

"So you then are left feeling energized despite not actually being given any energy, you just don't feel drowsy," Cottle told viewers.

"But here's the problem, the caffeine will wear off, and when it does, the adenosine that has been getting produced all throughout the brain's tissue is going to pile onto those receptors.

"When it does, just picture all these zooming signals going throughout the brain, saying, 'I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired', and that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call the crash - or that energetic crash."

Sugar and the brain

The medical expert explained how not all energy drinks contain sugar, instead some opt to use artificial sweeteners like sucralose.

Sucralose however affects insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, potentially impacting the brain's ability to perceive sweetness, Cottle detailed.

He went on to detail how sugar gets broken down in the body, and before it reaches the liver it can be broken down by bacteria in the digestive system.

Cottle explained: "This is really, really interesting, because recent data has shown an association between sugar metabolization from those bacteria and metabolic syndrome.

While drinks like Red Bull give us a boost, shortly after we'll crash (Getty stock)

"Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, it's possible that the gut bacteria can actually influence the brain through the peripheral nervous system, through the byproducts of sugar metabolism."

Cottle stressed that more research is needed to fully explore any link between sugar consumption and Alzheimer's, however.

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system includes the sympathetic, known as the 'fight or flight', and parasympathetic, 'rest and digest', nervous systems, and when energy drinks are consumed there is an activation of the sympathetic branch.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced by the adrenal glands in response to caffeine.

The effects of this include pupil dilation, saliva inhibition, bronchial dilation, bladder relaxation, intestine inhibition, increased heart rate, and decreased blood flow to erectile tissue.

You can watch Cottle's full video here.