Red Bull can cause a STROKE?!?!?

[Greg Nagaye]

OK Naldi...you may have me here...from Reuters 8/14/08:

Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. The effect was seen even in young people.

The caffeine-loaded beverage causes blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.

One hour after drinking Red Bull, your blood system becomes abnormal, as might be expected from a patient with cardiovascular disease.

Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health risks.

OK...but how about 2 Rock Stars a day???;)

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSSYD5846120080815?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

[Herm Blancaflor]

The caffeine-loaded beverage causes blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.I'd like to see a bit more science on this. Sticky blood = stroke? Do they infer that caffeine causes blood to become sticky? What exactly do they mean by "sticky"?

[John Nguyen]

My question is how many other food products and drinks and circumstances (dehydration, environment, time of day, etc) cause "sticky" blood. Although this blood condition may be one of the many pre-cursors related to cardiac diseases, it certainly may not mean it causes cardiovascular disease.

Read the ingredient labels for both regular Red Bull and Diet Red Bull. You'll see that it's a drink that is basically carbonated, caffeinated, sugar water (like many of the junk beverages out there), with synthetic vitamins and natural and artificial flavors and colors, with the diet version containing aspartame. Can this amalgamation cause cardiac arrest or stroke? If so, then "healthy" vitamin water products at every major supermarkets should also be illegal along with most items at your local Starbucks.

I'm fine with drinking just water and red wine, though. :)