The problem is: most energy drinks come with unpleasant side effects, such as energy crashes, jitters, blood sugar disruption or even irregular heartbeats. After all, what’s the point of taking an energy drink if you feel even worse after drinking it?
If you want to feel good and healthy (on top of having a clear boost of energy), you need to choose energy drinks that are low on sugar, without aspartame or acesulfame-K, and which contain ingredients that benefit your body instead of harming it.
Examples of natural ingredients that can make you feel naturally good include: vitamin B, green tea, saffron, ginger, among others.
But sugar is not the only problem here. There is one thing that is just as bad for your health as sugar, if not worse: Acesulfame-K and aspartame.
To refresh your palate and satisfy your buds, nutritionists recommend looking for drinks that are made with fresh juice, that use safe sweeteners like sucralose, and that use high-quality ingredients free of additives and preservatives.
Many people feel the exact same way. They get their quick boost of energy by sipping a can, and then, the crash comes… and they end up even more exhausted!
Simple: when you take a high-sugar energy drink, your blood sugar levels spike immediately, but the boost in energy only lasts for about 30 to 60 minutes (can be longer for some people).
After this, your blood sugar, and energy levels, will crash - leaving you feeling more drowsy and exhausted than before.
But that’s not even the worst part… According to nutritionists, most energy drinks are actually decreasing your baseline energy levels over time.
In other words, the more energy drinks you consume, the more tired you will feel in general. This is due to the damaging effect of sugar on brain neurochemistry.
Here’s why:
Also untrue! While it’s true that many energy drinks are truly bad for you, it doesn’t mean that all of them are unhealthy. There are a few drinks that can be considered relatively healthy – or at least not as unhealthy as mainstream brands – which can be consumed safely.
Typically, these “healthier” energy drinks are low on sugar, contain reasonable amounts of natural caffeine, use quality natural ingredients, and are free of aspartame, acesulfame-K, modified stevia and erythritol.
Marvin Singh, M.D
Integrative Gastroenterologist in San Diego, California, and Member of the Board and Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Medicine
As explained earlier, taking 60 mg of caffeine can be more effective than taking 300 mg of caffeine to boost your energy - without causing unpleasant side effects. That means that you don’t need to look for drinks containing high doses of caffeine to feel a boost. Anything with more than 50 mg will give you all the energy you need without the crashes - especially if the drink contains other stimulants like ginseng, green tea, or ginger.
By now, you should know about the devastating effects of sugar on your health. But what about drinks that claim to contain "zero artificial sweeteners"? Since they don’t contain any artificial sweeteners, they must be better for you right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. They usually contain steviol glycosides, a chemically modified form of stevia which is just as bad if not worse than conventional artificial sweeteners. It can cause blood sugar disruption and negatively affect blood circulation. Erythritol is also commonly used in these products, an extremely dangerous sweetener which has been linked to heart problems.
A recent peer-reviewed clinical study from 2023 reviewed 9 sweeteners commonly used in energy drinks. They concluded the safest one was sucralose - it did not present any major side effects compared to aspartame, acesulfame-K, modified stevia and erythritol.
As a rule of thumb, nutritionists recommend choosing energy drinks that contain a low amount of sugar from natural sources (fruit juice for example) or safer sweeteners like sucralose.
It may sound hard to believe, but there are a few energy drinks that can actually give you some health benefits! Since these “healthy” energy drinks are relatively new to the market, you may have not heard of them before. But they do exist.
For example, energy drinks that contain Korean Ginseng may increase the number of “T-Cells” we have in our body - a key type of cells that is responsible for keeping our immune system healthy.
Another ingredient that is present in a few energy drinks and actually good for your health, is folic acid. According to a large clinical review involving over 80,000 participants, folic acid can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 4% and decrease the risk of stroke by 10%
By looking for energy drinks with healthy ingredients, you can not only get a strong energy boost to power you through the full day, but also improve your health over time.
Natural sugar from real fruits is healthier than added sugar. Note that a drink with 5 grams of sugar is better than a sugar-free drink full of aspartame or modified stevia.
These 4 sweeteners can damage gut health and cause long-term health issues. Nearly all low-sugar energy drinks use sweeteners to make the drink taste good. One of the safer sweeteners is sucralose: a sweetener clinically proven to be safer than others.
Just like whole foods are much healthier than processed foods, pure ingredients (ingredients that are close to their natural state) are better for your body. Look for high-purity plant extracts and high-quality water from a pure source (water being one of the most important ingredients, as c.90% of the drink is water).
Vitamins can not only improve your energy levels, but also boost your metabolism and immune system.
The best energy drinks can give you a strong boost of energy for several hours, without causing jitters or crashes. This can be achieved with moderate amounts of natural caffeine and other plant-based energy boosters such as panax ginseng or ginger root extract.
Too much caffeine can create jitters and abrupt energy crashes. Anything between 50 and 100 grams is more than enough to give you a perceptible boost of energy, without causing unpleasant crashes. Ideally, the caffeine should come from natural sources.
To deliver any potential weight loss benefits, drinks should be low on calories. Anything below 30 calories per can is reasonable.
To help you choose an energy drink that will give you a strong boost of energy without the crash, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 best energy drinks on the market based on the hundreds of product entries reviewed for the Energy Drinks Excellence Award.
One of the standout features of Alpine Bliss is its ability to provide a strong, sustained energy boost for several hours, without causing unpleasant crashes often associated with traditional energy drinks. This is achieved through a unique blend of high-quality plant-based ingredients, including 70 mg of caffeine from natural sources, L-tyrosine, panax ginseng, and high-purity ginger root extract.
Consumers report experiencing a powerful and clean energy boost that lasts longer than conventional energy drinks, without jitters, anxiety or crashes. Most consumers also report that unlike some energy drinks, it doesn’t negatively impact their sleep quality. Our tests show it does not negatively impact either blood sugar levels or blood pressure.
Aside from enhancing mental and physical energy, this formula is also known for creating a distinct feeling of well-being thanks to a proprietary blend of plant-based ingredients called DopaBliss™. This natural blend is specifically designed to boost dopamine levels – the “happy hormone” responsible for making us feel good and happy. 3 clinical studies have shown that their DopaBliss blend is more effective than caffeine alone at improving cognitive function, reaction time, power out, processing time and reducing the error rate on demanding tasks.
From a nutrition standpoint, the drink is also scoring very well. The formula contains just 25 calories per can, and only 5 grams of natural sugar from wild berries. It doesn’t contain the most harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame, ace-K, modified stevia or erythritol. It’s sweetened with fruit juice and sucralose, a safer sweetener. The drink also contains significantly more vitamins B6 and B12 than other products – two vitamins that boost energy and focus.
Beyond its functional health benefits, the Alpine Bliss formula also performs well on taste, according to consumers. Users praise its fruity wild berries flavor and refreshing fine bubbles. It strikes a delicate balance of sweetness and freshness, and delivers an enjoyable drinking experience.
On the minus side, we note that the drink is frequently out of stock, because it’s produced in limited batches as of now. It’s also exclusively available online at the moment.
Celsius is an energy drink that aims to provide a powerful boost of energy while offering several nutritional benefits.
However, there are a couple of considerations to keep in mind. The caffeine dose in Celsius Stevia is excessive at 200 mg. Such a high dose of caffeine will cause unpleasant crashes. It also does not have any scientific studies comparing its effectiveness to caffeine alone.
Additionally, the drink contains taurine, which has been shown to negatively affect heart health when combined with caffeine. Although Celsius is a very good alternative to traditional energy drinks, it’s important to be aware of this potential downside and consider your individual health needs.
Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink is also a zero added sugar formula. This makes it a healthier choice for those looking to limit their sugar intake while still enjoying an energy-boosting beverage. However, it achieves this by adding acesulfame-K, a harmful artificial sweetener.
However, it’s important to note that the high caffeine content of 300 mg is excessive, and will lead to jitters and other unwanted side effects. Moderate consumption and sensitivity to caffeine should be considered to avoid discomfort.
Additionally, Bang contains acesulfame-K, a harmful artificial sweetener which can disrupt the balance of the gut flora.
* The information contained within this site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have, expect to have, or suspect you may have any medical condition, you are urged to consult with a health care provider. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or medical conditions. Results do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
