With the arrival of summer, various beverages have once again become a consumption hotspot. Recently, the seemingly novel beverage pairing of "Blind Box Bartending Challenge" has become popular among young people - mixing functional drinks, carbonated drinks, coffee, and alcohol to drink. Many people believe that this can keep them awake and "excited". But the latest medical research reveals that this drinking method may cause persistent damage to the brain, especially to the brain health of developing adolescents, and the adverse effects will continue into adulthood. What adverse reactions can occur when drinking mixed drinks? A reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed Jia Pingping, Deputy Chief Physician of the Clinical Nutrition Department at Beijing Century Altar Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University. Jia Pingping listed three common but potentially health related drink "mix and match" drinking methods and explained the reasons behind them. Firstly, alcoholic beverages+functional drinks. Functional beverages contain caffeine, taurine, and alcohol, while alcoholic beverages contain alcohol. When the two are mixed and consumed, the stimulating effects of caffeine and taurine partially counteract the inhibitory effects of alcohol, causing people to temporarily forget about fatigue in the short term and creating a feeling of mental fullness. Unconsciously, they will consume more alcohol, leading to excessive alcohol intake and causing more serious damage to the body. In addition, Jia Pingping stated that the alkaline substances in caffeine and alcohol can also stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to excessive secretion of stomach acid and further increasing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Once this stimulation is excessive, it may lead to gastroesophageal reflux and cause esophageal inflammation. Secondly, alcoholic beverages and carbonated drinks. The main component of carbonated beverages is carbon dioxide. When mixed with alcohol, carbon dioxide stimulates the stomach wall, accelerates gastric emptying, and allows alcohol to enter the small intestine faster, accelerating the process of alcohol absorption. Therefore, the alcohol concentration in the human blood will rapidly increase, making it easier to get drunk. In addition, this mixed drinking method can easily induce acute gastroenteritis, alcohol poisoning, or chronic gastroenteritis. Thirdly, coffee+functional beverages. Both coffee and functional drinks contain caffeine, which can stimulate the central nervous system. According to the standards of the World Health Organization, the daily intake of caffeine for healthy adults should not exceed 400 milligrams, and the single intake should not exceed 200 milligrams. Once mixed, the intake of caffeine in the human body can easily exceed the safe threshold, which can overstimulate adrenal secretion and dilate blood vessels, increasing the burden on the heart. If consumed excessively, it may also trigger acute heart disease and arrhythmia. Teenagers are in an important stage of growth and development, and their various organ functions have not yet matured. Therefore, they are more sensitive to some ingredients in mixed drinks, which may cause greater harm. Although adults have more mature physical functions compared to adolescents, excessive consumption of mixed drinks can also have serious adverse effects. High sugar and caffeine in mixed drinks will increase the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, Jia Pingping stressed that for patients with basic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, mixed drinks may aggravate the disease. If pregnant women excessively consume mixed drinks, it can also affect the development of the fetal nervous system. In addition, Jia Pingping reminds that taurine has a slight permeability, and excessive intake in the short term can cause a certain burden on the digestive system, which can easily lead to symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach pain; Excessive intake of caffeine can increase the burden on the nervous system, leading to increased heart rate and causing conditions such as insomnia and headaches. Beverages containing these two ingredients, even if not mixed together, can pose health risks when consumed in moderation. What should I do if I accidentally drink a mixed drink? Jia Pingping suggests that you can first observe your own condition. If it is only consumed in small amounts and there is no obvious discomfort, further home observation can be conducted to see if there is any more severe discomfort. If there are mild symptoms of thirst and dizziness, you can supplement water in moderation, such as drinking warm water, to dilute the concentration and promote metabolism. In addition, in emergency situations, it is also possible to try using emetic methods to alleviate symptoms. If you experience particularly severe discomfort, such as severe vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention promptly. (New Society)