The Truth About Red Bull

Is Red Bull healthy or unhealthy?

Here’s what dietitians have to say

Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, along with Monster. Millions of people love Red Bull for its sweet taste and fast-acting energy boost. That being said, more and more people are worried about the long-term side effects this drink can cause.

Several recent studies have shown that drinking Red Bull on a frequent basis can significantly increase heart rate and cause abnormal heart rhythm, as measured by cardiac electrocardiograms. In some extreme cases, regular consumption could even lead to cardiac failures, although these instances remain rare. So what should we really think of Red Bull? Is it safe to consume in the long-term? Or should you stay away from this beverage if you care about your health?

We’ll answer all these questions in this article. We’ll discuss why Red Bull may cause unwanted side effects such as irregular heartbeat due to its ingredient composition and what health consequences it can have on you if you drink it every day. We will also present a selection of three healthier Red Bull alternatives for a strong energy boost, without the negative side effects.

Our article has been carefully reviewed by a professional nutritionist to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information. If you like Red Bull but are still on the fence when it comes to drinking it on a regular basis, this article is for you.

The Red Bull Controversy

Red Bull has always been a controversial brand and still receives a lot of bad publicity.

For example, the drink was banned in France from 1996 to 2008 due to health authorities’ concerns over taurine, a key ingredient in the beverage.

In 2000, the death of 18-year-old Ross Cooney after drinking four cans of Red Bull before a basketball match raised major concerns about the safety of the drink, both among consumers and health authorities.

But despite continuous popular backlash, the brand continues to be very successful all around the world, with over 12 billion cans sold in 2023 alone. While the public image of Red Bull may be tainted due to a series of past scandals, this drink is not as bad as people may think, at least compared to other mainstream energy drinks.

The drink is also a rich source of vitamins B6 and B12 – two powerful vitamins that positively contribute to a healthy metabolism.

“When people say Red Bull is not that bad, they’re right: it’s not so bad COMPARED to other energy drinks. But if you ask me: is it healthy to drink Red Bull every day? Certainly not. The drink is objectively unhealthy if you look at the ingredient composition and dosage. Several studies have found some worrying side effects linked to the long-term consumption of Red Bull. These side effects should definitely be taken seriously by consumers and health authorities alike,”

- says Dr. Kinzel

What are the long-term side effects of Red Bull?

Recent data shows worrying health consequences

According to several clinical studies on adult energy drink consumers, Red Bull could cause the following side effects:

Abnormally high heart rate
Irregular heartbeat
Heart palpitations
High blood pressure
Reduced cerebral blood flow (which plays a key role in cognitive performance)

A series of studies in healthy adults has shown that drinking one can of Red Bull significantly increased blood pressure and heart levels within 90 minutes of consumption. Heart rate levels were still abnormally high even 24 hours after drinking.

These findings suggest that people who drink Red Bull every day are artificially increasing their heart rate to a level significantly above baseline.

In one study evaluating the effects of the drink on heart rate after 7 days of regular consumption, adult volonteers showed a 11% increase in heart rate compared to the beginning of the study.

Another clinical study led by Swiss researchers found that drinking one 355-ml can of Red Bull was enough to increase heart rate by 20 beats/min and decreased cerebral blood flow velocity by -7cm/s (a reduced blood flow can decrease cognitive performance).

An increased heart rate can be dangerous, as it increases the risk of major cardiovascular complications such as heart failure and stroke.

Aside from increasing heart rate, Red Bull consumption has been shown to cause irregular heartbeats. A recent study in 34 healthy adults found that drinking Red Bull heavily for 3 days caused significant changes to the interval between heartbeats. In other words, the hearts of volunteers started beating in an irregular manner.

“These findings are very alarming. A small change in heartbeat rhythm can lead to several types of arrhythmias that may result in sudden death, especially for those with high blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases, which are not always diagnosed,”

explains Dr. Kinzel

“Some energy drinks lobbyists have argued that Red Bull is unlikely to cause death below 40 cans per day. But evidence suggest otherwise. In many of the heart attack and sudden death cases involving energy drinks, people drank only 3-8 cans in one day”.

Researchers claim that these changes in heart rhythm can’t be solely explained by the amout of caffeine, but were likely caused by the combination of ingredients in Red Bull…

Taurine + Caffeine + Glucuronolactone : A dangerous combination?

Let’s take a brief look at Red Bull main ingredients (non-exhaustive list):

Caffeine
Taurine
B-group Vitamins (including niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12)
Sucrose
Glucose
Glucuronolactone
Carbonated Water
Sodium Bicarbonate
Magnesium Carbonate
Citric Acid

According to dieticians, there are several things in this list of ingredients that may pose a problem to our health if we consume too much Red Bull.

Red Bull contains stimulating ingredients that should NOT be mixed together

Taurine, a key active ingredient in Red Bull, may pose cardiovascular risks to adolescents when combined with caffeine. A 2017 clinical review suggests that the combination of taurine and caffeine can be dangerous for our brain and body:

The other problematic ingredient is “glucuronolactone”, another stimulatory ingredient that could allegedly improve attention.

However, studies have shown that when combined with caffeine and taurine, glucuronolactone can cause negative changes to blood pressure and insulin sensitivity.

In other words, the combined effect of caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone may be detrimental to your cardiovascular health. Something to keep in mind before consuming Red Bull drinks.

Researchers argue that this specific combination of ingredients could explain why many Red Bull consumers have developed irregular heartbeats and abnormally high heart rates

Key criteria to choose a healthy energy drink:

To help you choose an energy drink that is genuinely good for you (both effective and healthy), we prepared a list of key “green flags” – following the latest recommendations from leading nutritionists.

Must be sugar-free or low on sugar. Note that a drink with 5 grams of sugar is better than a sugar-free drink full of aspartame or modified stevia.
No aspartame, ace-K, modified stevia, or erythritol. 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.
Provides a sustained boost of energy, without crashes. 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. Some natural ingredients like saffron can also act as “caffeine smoothers” – they can reduce the side effects caused by caffeine, reducing energy crashes.
No taurine or glucuronolactone. These substances have been found to increase the risk of cardiovascular problems if combined with caffeine. It’s better to stay away from these substances if you can.
Moderate to low amounts of caffeine. 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 (e.g., green coffee beans, black tea leaves)
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamins can not only improve your energy levels, but also boost your metabolism and immune system.

3 Healthier Alternatives To Red Bull Energy Drinks

To help you find an energy drink that is just as effective as Red Bull to give you an energy boost, but better for your health, our team of health specialists compiled a list of top 3 healthier alternatives to Red Bull.

This list was carefully curated in partnership with certified nutritionists, and takes several factors into consideration, including: ingredients quality, health impact, taste, value for money, and verified customer reviews.

Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster

Final Grade

9.5 /10

Energy Boost

9.5/10

Taste

9.7/10

Value for Money

9.0/10

Ingredient Quality

9.5/10

Scientific Evidence

9.2/10

PROS:

Provides a strong, sustained energy boost without crashes
Improves mood and well-being thanks to a natural blend of cognitive boosters
Safe and healthy for heart health and blood pressure
No taurine or glucuronolactone
Low on calories and sugar
No ace-K, aspartame, modified stevia or erythritol
Great taste, according to users
Uses pure Alpine water with high-quality plant-based ingredients
30-day money-back guarantee

CONS

Frequently out of stock due to limited production
Only available online

THE BOTTOM LINE

Alpine Bliss is a premium, fast-growing Swiss brand of flavored sparkling water offering functional health benefits, using clinically studied ingredients. The Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster is a powerful, fruity energy drink that combines pure alpine water sourced from the European Alps with natural energy-boosting ingredients.

One of the standout features of this Alpine Bliss is its ability to provide a strong, sustained boost of energy for several hours, without causing unpleasant energy crashes often associated with traditional energy drinks. This is achieved through a unique blend of high-quality plant-based ingredients, including an optimal dose of 70 mg of caffeine from natural sources, L-tyrosine, panax ginseng, and high-purity ginger root extract.

Consumers report experiencing a powerful and clean boost of energy, comparable to that of regular energy drinks like Celsius, without jitters or crashes.

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 cognitive 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 quite expensive ($3.95 per can) – which can be explained by the “fancy” ingredients that it contains, including extracts of saffron and ginger roots (some of the most expensive spices in the world). We also note that the drink is frequently out of stock, because it’s produced in limited batches as of now.

Taking all of this into consideration puts Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy booster in our #1 spot.

Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink

Final Grade

8.2 /10

Energy Boost

8.5/10

Taste

7.8/10

Value for Money

8.2/10

Ingredient Quality

8.3/10

Scientific Evidence

8.1/10

PROS:

Strong boost of energy enabled by heavy dose of caffeine
May enhance mental energy and focus
Rich in vitamins
Zero added sugar
Good taste

CONS

Dose of caffeine may be too high for some consumers (160 mg)
Excessive amount of sodium (200 mg per can)

THE BOTTOM LINE

Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink provides a strong and energizing boost supported by a potent dose of natural caffeine. The high caffeine content delivers a noticeable surge of energy, which may help you stay alert and focused.

Thanks to the inclusion of vitamin B, Zoa Energy Drink may also enhance mental energy and focus, giving you an extra edge when you need it. Additionally, the presence of vitamin C in the drink may contribute to boosting immunity, supporting overall health and well-being.

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.

Users have reported that Zoa Energy Drink has a great taste, making it enjoyable to consume.

However, it’s important to note that Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink contains a relatively high amount of sodium, with 200 mg per can. This sodium content may be considered unjustified, as excessive sodium intake can have negative effects on health. It’s advisable to be mindful of your overall sodium intake and consider alternative options if you have specific dietary restrictions.

Zevia Energy Drink

Final Grade

8.8 /10

Energy Boost

8.5/10

Taste

9.0/10

Value for Money

9.0/10

Ingredient Quality

8.5/10

Scientific Evidence

9.0/10

PROS:

Strong energy boost
Healthier option than mainstream energy drinks
No sugar, carbs, or fat
Sweetened with stevia leaf extract

CONS

Caffeine content may be slightly too high for some people (120 mg). May cause jitters
Mixed reviews on the taste. Some find it overly sweet and chemical-tasting

THE BOTTOM LINE

Zevia Zero Calorie Energy Drink, with flavours including Raspberry Lime and Pineapple Coconut, is a good option for people looking for a healthier energy boost.

The drink contains no sugar, no carbs, no sodium, no fat, and it is suitable for a variety of diets including vegan, kosher, Paleo, and Keto. Sweetened with stevia leaf extract, this makes it an appropriate option for those who are on a diet but who still want to drink energy beverages for the energy kick they provide.

The primary source of energy is 120 milligrammes of caffeine per can, which comes from green tea leaves.

While this provides a large energy boost, moderation is essential due to the potential negative consequences of excessive caffeine consumption. We note that this dose of caffeine is slightly more than what is needed to provide a sustainable energy boost without side effects.

Such doses of caffeine may cause jitters and crashes for certain people who are sensitive to caffeine.

While most users appear to be satisfied with this drink, the taste of Zevia is not for everyone. The drink obtained mixed reviews on its taste, with some consumers finding it overly sweet and a bit too chemical in taste.

It does remain a strong option in the field of healthier, better-for-you energy drinks.