Get your facts right on the dangers of tonic water with quinine
Quinine is used to fight several diseases as well as in several drinks but if you are apprehensive of drinking tonic water then you should first get your facts right on the dangers of tonic water with quinine. There are several misconceptions related to quinine and you should separate fact from fear before sipping on that glass of tonic water.
Quinine was used extensively in the past mainly to treat malaria, arthritis, and lupus, among several other diseases that were rampant especially in the tropical regions of the world. However, this potent drug that is extracted from natural sources as well as made in laboratories also presented several dangerous side-effects such as disturbing heart rhythms, diarrhea, constipation, and several other reactions in case of very high dosage. Patients have to be monitored for their cardiac functions as well as glucose levels when they are administered quinine for medical reasons.
However, quinine is known to cause severe problems only when taken in extremely large doses and without medical supervision. In addition to being used as a medicine, the bitter flavor of quinine proved to be a hit when it was blended in extremely small doses in tonic water. Several reputed manufacturers offered tonic water mixed with very small amounts of quinine to tickle the palates of drinkers all around the globe.
While several happy sippers loved the taste of tonic water with quinine, others found out that their leg cramps seemed to reduce considerably after drinking tonic water infused with quinine. The fact that several brands offer tonic water that contains very small amounts of quinine puts the doubt of dangers of tonic water with quinine to rest. However, people that have heart problems, diabetes, and erratic blood sugar levels consult their doctors before sipping on tonic water containing quinine.
Several types of tonic water also contain caffeine as well as sugar that could pose health problems to people that are not in the best of health in the first place. This could increase the risk factor even as quinine would be the first to get blamed in case of any complication. If you are a healthy person then sipping on tonic water that contains quinine should pose no problem even as you experience mild relief if you suffer from leg cramps. However, if you plan to use this drug as a form of treatment then medical supervision is mandatory since the FDA has disapproved of quinine as a form of medical treatment due to several complaints in the past about adverse side-effects.
On the other hand, International brands such as Schweppes, Pepsico, A.G.Barr, and many others offer bottled tonic water that contains extremely mild levels of quinine to provide that unique taste that is so loved by people in several countries where it is marketed. You can certainly enjoy drinking such tonic water without facing any health problems. Several manufacturers also use quinine in producing various brands of carbonated water too.
If you are apprehensive about drinking tonic water on a regular basis that contains small amounts of quinine then you can relax and sip on. The amount of quinine used in tonic water is too miniscule to cause any damage and in fact may even alleviate leg cramps in some drinkers. These enlightening facts on the dangers of tonic water with quinine should certainly help you to enjoy that glass of tonic water without any problems.