What Are Caffeinated Energy Drinks
Caffeinated energy drinks are advertised as being able to boost your energy and make you feel more alert. Use them with caution according to the instructions on the label.
There are many brands, flavours and sizes of energy drinks. Common brand names include Red Bull® and Rockstar Energy®. Energy drinks are often sold in stores near other sugary drinks like soft drinks, vitamin-enhanced waters and sport drinks.
Clean Cause Yerba Mate
CLEAN Cause is an easy-to-find, relatively healthy energy drink that gathers its caffeine from yerba mate tea. With their low calorie options, you’ll find 60 calories per 16-ounce can. But you can avoid calories completely by purchasing from the company’s zero calorie line, which has 9 grams of sugar alcohol in each 16-ounce serving.
No matter which of their products interests you the most, there’s another reason to try this drink. CLEAN Cause donates 50% of all profits to addiction recovery. Per the drink brand, the company gives back by creating “sober living scholarships” that help to support individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. They’ve created nearly 3,000 scholarships of this kind with almost $1.5 million in donations and have grasped the attention of musician Macklemore, who has been open in recent years about his own struggles with addiction.
CLEAN Cause energy drinks are also widely available. They can be found at Walmart, Safeway, and other stores.
Unhealthy Ingredients To Avoid In An Energy Drink
Sugar
Sugar might juice you quickly, but it’s going to have a strong crash and screws up both your glucose and energy levels throughout the day. Unfortunately, most drinks are packed with these.
“Proprietary” Blends
Proprietary blends are often stood up to sound impressive or scientific, but they’re usually a way to group a bunch of trace amounts of minerals together and act like it’s going to be more effective than it actually is.
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V8 +energy Drink Caffeine:
Think of an energy drink. Theres caffeine in it. That little boost is just what you need to get through the day and keep yourself sharp for when that big job interview comes around, or your next exam rolls around on a Monday morning after one too many rounds at Saturday night parties. You might think coffee has more than enough caffeine, but did you know some chocolate bars also contain high amounts?
Find Out How Much Caffeine Is In Popular Energy Drinks
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As a lover of coffee, I dont turn to energy drinks very often.
Dont get me wrong: I actually enjoy some occasional caffeinated energy drinks, but since I typically drink my cold brew coffee every single day, thats plenty of caffeine for me.
Can you have coffee & an energy drink on the same day? Of course.
But, depending on your caffeine tolerance, you may find that level of caffeine consumption to be too much for you.
I want to break down some of the more popular energy drinks out there to see how they stack up. And since this blog is all about health and nutrition, well also take a quick look at the calories, sugar, and ingredients.
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Are Sports Drinks Different Than Energy Drinks
Yes. Sports drinks, like Gatorade® and Powerade®, are designed to rehydrate the body after intense exercise. They typically do not have caffeine.
In general, water is the best choice when physical activity lasts less than one hour. For endurance or high intensity activities lasting longer than an hour, like running or hockey, a sports drink may be helpful.
Energy drinks should not replace sports drinks.
Best Matcha Option: Matchabar Hustle Energy
- Caffeine: 120 mg
- Pros: yerba mate has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Guayaki uses Fairtrade ingredients
- Cons: contains added sugar, 100 calories per can, expensive
Guayaki Yerba Mate is a lemon-flavored, noncarbonated blend of brewed yerba mate and organic fruit juice.
Yerba mate is a species of plant that naturally contains caffeine. Due to the higher caffeine content in this beverage, a person will likely feel a boost in their energy levels after consuming it. A 150 ml cup of yerba mate tea contains around 80 mg of caffeine, similar to coffee. A 2021 review also states that it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and heart-protective properties.
The manufacturers of this product state that it contains Fairtrade ingredients. This means that the people manufacturing the ingredients are paid fairly.
The company writes that this drink is not suitable for children, pregnant or breastfeeding people, or those who are sensitive to caffeine.
A pack of 12 cans costs $35.88.
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Black Tea Green Tea Or White Tea
Like the coffee bean, tea also contains caffeine. But most teas contain less caffeine per serving than coffee.
For example, an average 8-ounce cup of coffee contains around 80 to 100 mg of caffeine.10 Caffeine levels in white, green, and black teas range from 14 to 61 mg per serving. Decaffeinated tea contains less than 12 mg per serving, while herbal tea is the only truly caffeine-free tea.11
So, switching to one of these caffeinated teas can decrease your caffeine load but still give you a bit of an energy boost. But as with coffee, youll also want to avoid cream and sugar in your tea .
The best thing about tea is that its full of healthy antioxidants. Green tea, in particular, is packed with protective polyphenols. These powerful antioxidants are an essential part of any healthy diet.12
Are Natural Energy Drinks Good For You
Now thats the million-dollar question you see, theres lots of speculation and debate over whether or not energy drinks are healthy, which we dont intend to add to in this article.
But what we would like to highlight, is theres a new breed of energy drinks out there now that you could describe as being a mark two on the traditional energy drink.
Its these newer varieties of natural energy drinks that are reportedly more focused on the impact on peoples bodies i.e. creating less of brain buzz and being even kinder to the waistline.
On the whole, these natural energy drinks are fuelled with B vitamins and brain-boosting adaptogens and contain zero added sugar, sweeteners, flavours and colours.1
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How Much Caffeine Is Too Much
The need for caffeine, a central nervous stimulant that boosts energy levels and alertness, is the primary reason energy drinks were created. However, as more Americans have become sleep deprived and are in a constant search for ways to stay awake and productive, energy drink companies have responded by creating more caffeinated products for consumers.
And while common sources of caffeine occur naturally in coffee beans or tea leaves, many energy drinks contain synthetic caffeine. Synthetic caffeine, derived from chloroacetic and urea acids, are absorbed faster than natural caffeine and can lead to greater spikes and crashes of energy.
In general, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Anything more can have negative effects.
Depending on the brand, a single 16-ounce energy drink typically has around 160 or 170 mg of caffeine. Compared to a single cup of coffee that has 95 mg of caffeine, thats nearly double the amount of one energy drink.
Some drinks are two or three times more potent. For example, a 12-ounce can of Hyde Xtreme packs in 400 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to drinking four cups of coffee in one sitting.
Alani Nu Energy Drink Claims
Alani Nu Energy Drink claims to use hand-selected ingredients with no fillers. They also claim that the supplement only contains nutritious ingredients to help boost workouts, as they aim to gain customers for life.
The drink says it can help improve health in a number of ways as well, all while providing an added boost during a bustling day. The drinks are sugar-free, have 15 calories, and contain a small amount of biotin.
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V8 +energy Drink Pros And Cons:
There are many good things about this drink. Here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
- The V8 +Energy Drink is a great way to stay up for hours in the afternoon when you need that little boost of energy.
- The 80 mg caffeine wont keep you awake all night, but it will help power through your workday with ease.
- This drink has 0 g sugar, so that it can be great for sugar-free diets or any other diet.
Cons:
- It has 140 calories which can be bad for different diets, such as low-calorie diets.
How To Pick The Best Healthy Energy Drinks
When shopping the aisles for an energy drink, there are certain nutritional and ingredient claims to look out for.
To help eliminate the guesswork at the grocery, we rounded up the healthy energy drinks on the marketas well as the unhealthiest energy drinks to avoidto help you make smarter choices for your caffeine boost. Our list is based on caffeine, calories, and sugar content. However, if some don’t have any of those, we then based on the carb content.
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How Much Caffeine Does Aspire Energy Drink Have
A single 12 fl.oz can of Aspire Energy contains 80mg of naturally-sourced caffeine.
Caffeine is an important ingredient in energy drinks as its responsible for supplying you with a boost of energy, improving your cognition, and enhancing your exercise performance.
With 80mg of caffeine, Aspire is one of the low caffeine energy drinks available, considering that some brands can have up to 300mg of caffeine in each can.
Aspire Energy works pretty well in my case since my caffeine preference lies between 50mg to 100mg of caffeine per serving.
However, its possible that one can of Aspire isnt enough to give you the boost of energy you need if you have a high caffeine metabolism.
Of course, be sure not to go overboard with the caffeine, as the FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 400mg for healthy adults. Consume more than that, and it might lead to some serious adverse effects like:
- Rapid heart rhythm
While Aspire has relatively low caffeine content, still its best to consume it in moderation and monitor your daily intake to avoid exceeding the limit.
Can You Drink Both At The Same Time
Caffeine poisoning is quite real. Consuming too much of it in a short period can be fatal. Drinking both beverages at the same time is highly discouraged. Even if the worst should not happen, youre likely to end up with all kinds of nasty side effects from doing so. Here are some of the most common.
- Jitteriness
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Extra Boosters Such As Amino Acids And Vitamins
When looking for a healthy energy drink, try and get those that contain a sensible amount of taurine, B vitamins and other ingredients.
Besides caffeine, energy drinks usually contain lots of other ingredients like taurine and B vitamin complex to increase the overall energy boost.
Taurine is an amino acid that works well together with caffeine to boost your mental performance. B vitamins on the other hand are essential in helping your body to convert food into energy.
While B group vitamins are water-soluble, consuming extremely large amounts of them can be risky. Always read the label and think twice about consuming anything that contains multiples of the recommended daily value of anything.
Healthy Options For Caffeine Consumption
by Unify Health Team | Aug 20, 2020 | Nutrition |
Many people love a caffeine fix whether its a morning cup of joe, an energy bar, a chocolate bar, a dietary supplement, or an energy drink. However, if youre someone who relies on energy drinks, theres a few things you should know about healthy caffeine consumption.
While caffeine in moderation can be a part of a healthy diet, theres one big problem with energy drinks. Most are full of far more than just caffeine including many ingredients that are damaging to your health. On top of that, the amount of caffeine in most energy drinks is far more than you really need. This can lead to that dreaded afternoon crash. If you need an energy boost, there are better ways to consume caffeine. Read on to learn more.
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V8 +energy Drink Sugar:
Sugar is a staple ingredient in many drinks, and it enhances the taste. If youre not using sugar, you probably use sucralose instead to add flavor. Sugar consumption can be dangerous for diabetics or those special diets trying to avoid excess sugars too much of any sweetener can pose health risks over time as well!
Does Aspire Energy Drink Work
Aspire Energy Drink does work as an energy drink, owing to the presence of caffeine in the drink.
With 80mg of caffeine, Aspire could surely supply you with a pretty decent boost, along with improving your physical performance as well as mental focus. Plus, the caffeine within Aspire is sourced from green tea and guarana seed extract, which could increase your metabolism, helping you to burn more calories during exercise.
Besides, its also filled with lots of vitamins and amino acids that could give you a slight edge in performance.
Overall, Id say that Aspire Energy is a pretty effective energy drink that not only contributes some nutrients to your health but also helps you to push through your tasks, whether its workouts or long hours at work.
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Worst: Mountain Dew Rise
Are you surprised this one landed at the bottom? Mountain Dew may be targeting morning non-coffee drinkers with this, and it may even claim to be flavored with 5% grape juice. However, all this gives rise to what Dr. Avena says is a big warning for young Mountain Dew Rise drinkers: “Although it’s relatively low in sugar, the first ingredient aside from water is sugar white grape juice concentrate and it contains multiple artificial sweeteners and colors .” Why the yellow flag on yellow 5? Avena says: “Some research shows a potential link between artificial colors, including yellow 5, and hyperactivity in children.” In fact, she explains, if a product in the European Union contains yellow 5, among other artificial colors, it must contain a warning label.
Bodyarmor Edge $2099 For A 12
Bodyarmor Edge
Nutrition per serving: 180 calories, 0g fat, 50mg sodium, 45g total carbs
Taking the same hydration formula that makes BODYARMOR Sport Drink so effective and giving it an extra kick, BODYARMOR Edge combines caffeine and electrolytes for a powerful impact. You get the energy you need, without any artificial flavors or sweeteners.
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Healthier Ways To Get Your Caffeine
Theres nothing wrong with enjoying a little caffeine hit if you stay within your personal limits and are aware of added ingredients. The main concern for caffeine and heart health comes if you exceed those limits.
Again, research shows that a moderate amount of tea or coffee should be fine for most people. In fact, one small study found that a single cup of coffee may even support healthy blood vessel function.8
And of course there are better ways to consume caffeine than an energy drink.
Here are three caffeinated drinks that can be a part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation.
Its A Bad Idea To Combine Alcohol And Energy Drinks
Mixing alcohol and energy drinks is a dangerous combination. The caffeine found in energy drinks can mask the depressive effects of alcohol. So, if you drink them together, you might not notice how alcohol is impairing you. That can lead you to drink too much alcohol and put you at risk of alcohol-related problems.
And despite what you may have heard, caffeine doesnt make you metabolize alcohol more quickly or sober you up, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
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What Are The Possible Reactions To Energy Drinks
Energy drinks can have many side effects, especially when consumed in high amounts. Some reported reactions include:
- Nausea, vomiting, and/or an upset stomach
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Tremors or seizures
Report any adverse or unexpected reactions from using energy drinks to your health care provider, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the energy drink manufacturer.
Your Super Energy Bomb Mix
Just because youre living a coffee-free lifestyle, doesnt mean you dont need a little lift now and then. The Energy Bomb Mix from Your Super is an all-natural pre-workout booster made with guarana, a naturally caffeinated fruit that provides a more even burst of energy. With only six ingredients including acai for antioxidants and maca, an adaptogen that can help boost energy and athletic performance try mixing this into your next smoothie, yogurt, or protein shake.
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Bang Caffeine Free Energy Drink
Caffeine boosts the metabolism and increases energy, but it should not be consumed excessively. These caffeine-free Bang energy drinks pack the same bang as their caffeine-containing counterparts.
Energy drinks, like most other sugary beverages, can cause blood sugar levels to rise, thereby causing health problems.
In that case, excess carbohydrates are converted to triglycerides and stored as fat once the body reaches its glycogen stores limit.
Bang energy drinks contain no sugar or carbohydrates.
CoQ10 in Bang energy drinks is combined with the patented Super Creatine the only form of creatine that is sustainable for sustained periods in liquid form.
EAA amino contributes to muscle growth and maintenance. Your body does not produce them and they have to be obtained externally.
These gluten-free, vegan-friendly energy drinks are perfect for anyone with a dietary restriction or lifestyle preference.