It's 3 a.m.

現在是凌晨三點。

It's late.

很晚了。

And you're preparing for an exam the next morning.

你卻還在為明天早上的考試做準備。

Attempting to cram as much last minute information into your brain as possible.

希望能在最後關頭抱佛腳，能把多少資訊塞進腦袋就塞多少。

The only way to stay up and not fall asleep?

唯一能讓你清醒不打瞌睡的方法？

Red Bull!

Red Bull！

But as every minute passes, and every fresh can of that delicious energy drink is cracked open, is it too much?

時間一分一秒過去，當可口的能量飲一罐接著一罐被飲盡，是不是喝太多了呢？

Can it be too much?

能量飲有所謂的攝取過量嗎？

Can you overdose on caffeine?

真的有可能攝取過多的咖啡因嗎？

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that affects the brain and central nervous system.

咖啡因是天然的興奮劑，它會引響人的腦部與中樞神經系統。

It helps prevent onset tiredness, and keeps us generally more alert.

它可以防止人們開始感覺疲憊，也可以讓我們保持在警覺狀態。

Caffeine's primary function is on the brain.

咖啡因主要影響腦部。

Once it hits your gut, it enters your body and blood stream relatively quickly.

當它進入你的消化系統，很快地就會進入你的身體與血液系統。

Adenosine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that makes us feel tired, and relaxes us.

腺苷是一種腦中的神經傳遞素，它的作用得以讓人休息放鬆，也是我們感到疲憊的主因。

But once caffeine reaches the brain, it will connect the adenosine without activating it.

但當咖啡因開始影響我們的腦部，它就會在不活化腺苷的情況下跟它產生連結。

So, basically we don't get tired when we should.

因此我們基本上不會感到疲倦。

We feel more awake, stimulated, and focused at a time when we might otherwise feel tired.

在本應感覺疲憊的時候，我們會變得更清醒、更能專注。

Because Caffeine enters the body and bloodstream through the gut, it usually kicks in pretty fast.

因為當咖啡因從消化道進入人的身體與血液系統時，很快就會開始起作用。

The amount of caffeine found in one cup of coffee generally takes twenty minutes or less to take effect.

一杯咖啡所含的咖啡因通常要花 20 分鐘或更少的時間來起作用。

A can of Red Bull can actually begin making us feel more alert in as little as 15 minutes.

一罐 Red Bull 所含的咖啡因通常僅需 15 分鐘就可以讓人感覺更警覺。

So, when is too much?

那怎麼知道自己攝取過量呢？

It's generally accepted that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine is healthy and safe.

一般來說，400 毫克的咖啡因是被認為健康且安全的量。

That's roughly 4 cups of coffee.

也就是大概 4 杯咖啡的咖啡因總量。

To put things in perspective, a single 8oz serving of chocolate milk contains 2-7 milligrams of caffeine.

整體來說，一杯 8 盎司的巧克力牛奶含有 2.7 毫克的咖啡因。

Decaf Coffee contains 3-12 milligrams . Soft drinks contain 20-40 milligrams.

低因咖啡含有 3-12 毫克；軟性飲料含有 20-40 毫克。

Brewed Tea has 40-120 milligrams. Energy drinks like Red Bull, have 50-160 milligrams, while coffee and espresso can have between 120-720 milligrams of caffeine!

沖泡茶含有 40-120 毫克；像 Red Bull 這種能量飲含有 50-160 毫克，而一般咖啡和濃縮咖啡則包含 120-720 毫克的咖啡因！

Doctors say if you intake over the accepted 400 milligrams of caffeine you can expect to start having some serious side effects.

醫生表示如果你攝取超過 400 毫克的咖啡因，它可能會導致某些嚴重的副作用。

Those might include migraines and headaches.

其中包括偏頭痛與頭痛。

Nervousness.

焦躁不安。

Increased heart rate.

心跳加快。

Upset stomach.

肚子痛。

Muscle tremors.

肌肉顫抖。

And insomnia.

和失眠。

Okay, so those are the general symptoms that might begin to take effect.

那麼這些是常見的副作用。

But what really happens as you progressively drink more?

但如果你繼續攝取更多咖啡因呢？

Starting with one Red Bull, which represents roughly one cup of coffee, most consumers say they feel more awake, aware, and very functional.

從一罐 Red Bull 開始，其咖啡因含量大概是一杯咖啡的量，大多數的消費者說他們感覺更清醒且工作效率更好。

You may feel ready to take on a list of chores, or do extra work.

你感覺你已經準備好做一些雜事或是更多的工作量。

Maybe even stay up studying for a few more hours!

也許還能熬夜多讀幾個小時的書！

Now, let's say things have escalated.

現在我們假設事情開始更嚴重。

It's getting later and you reach 20 Red Bulls.

越來越晚了而你也喝了 20 罐的 Red Bulls。

That's nearly 1600 milligrams of caffeine!

那是將近 1600 毫克的咖啡因！

In Europe, a young woman used to drink nearly 20 cans of Red Bull each day.

歐洲一位年輕女子以前每天喝將近 20 罐 Red Bulls。

The repercussions were severe.

這麼做的代價很高。

Her liver was nearly destroyed, and she gained an enormous amount of weight, jumping from a size 14 to a size 22.

她的肝臟近乎被破壞，體重也暴增了，尺碼從 L 增至 XL。

Not to mention her bank account was also hurting.

更不用提這有多傷她的荷包了。

Even when you buy Red Bull in bulk, 20 cans a day for an entire year is roughly 8680 USD.

儘管你大量購買，以一天 20 罐的量買整整一年的份仍需花大概 8680 美元。

That's a lot of money!

這是一筆鉅款啊！

Let's just say for fun that things get really bad and you consume 100 Red Bulls.

來説說如果事情已經糟糕到了極點，你卻繼續喝到了 100 罐 Red Bulls。

That's nearly 8,000 milligrams of caffeine.

也就是將近 8,000 毫克的咖啡因。

This is serious health problem territory.

這會導致很嚴重的健康問題。

Effects now escalate to seizures, strokes, and even hallucinations!

副作用惡化成痙攣、中風，甚至有可能出現幻覺！

In 2012, a user posted a review of Five Hour Energy drinks claiming he had consumed 22 Five Hour energy bottles all poured into a Big Gulp cup and consumed in a very fast time frame.

2012年，一位用戶上傳了一則評論，內容提到他在極短時間內將 22 瓶五小時能量飲飲盡。

He said he hadn't been able to sleep in over 72 hours, no longer could feel his own pulse and was suffering from hallucinations!

他說他已經超過 72 小時無法入睡，感覺不到自己的脈搏，還出現了幻覺！

Now the big question: What would happen if you consumed 1000 Red Bulls?

一個更大的問題：如果你喝了 1000 罐 Red Bulls 會發生什麼事呢？

Really bad things.

極度糟糕的事將會發生。

Even if you could get past the severe dehydration that would probably occur early on, and the numerous other health problems that would manifest pretty early, most likely you would have severe heart palpitations that eventually can and probably will lead to a stroke.

儘管你能度過前期出現的嚴重脫水和副作用，但你最終可能會因為強烈的心悸而導致中風。

Your bodies internal organs might slowly cease to function, including the kidneys and liver.

你的內臟包括腎和肝可能會慢慢地停止運作。

And the possibility of death is serious, especially if you have a pre-existing health problems.

當你有早已有一些健康上的問題時，你極有可能死亡。

In the end, caffeine isn't a complete evil.

總結來說，咖啡因並不是完全不好。

Some studies have shown that consuming a healthy amount of caffeine daily can actually help the body.

某些研究顯示一天攝取適量的咖啡因對人體是有幫助的。

It can improve brain activity and functionality, metabolism, and exercise performance.

它可以增強腦內的運作與功能性，促進新陳代謝和提升運動表現。

In some cases, doctors have found it may even help prevent heart disease and diabetes.

某些案例顯示，咖啡因也可以預防心臟病與糖尿病。

But the overall effects caffeine produce are also subjective to each individual and based on their own body.

但咖啡因對於人的影響都是因人而異的。

Some people need more, some people need less, and some people don't even need it at all.

有些人需要較多的量；有些人需要較少的量；有些人則完全不需要。

The best bet with caffeine and energy drinks is to consume them at a safe, healthy level and not over do it.

最好的選擇就是適當地攝取咖啡因和能量飲。

Always remember to hydrate in-between, and replenish your body with plenty of fresh water.

記得要適時的補充水分！