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What Are The Best Energy Drinks?

Reviewed and fact-checked by certified nutritionists.

Discover the top 5 best energy drinks on the market today to boost your energy levels (without the crash)

In this guide:

  • What makes a good energy drink?
  • Why mainstream energy drinks can actually wreck your energy levels
  • The top 5 best energy drinks on the market today, according to nutritionists
What’s A Good Energy Drink
Myths About Energy Drinks
The Top 5 Energy Drinks

What Are The Best Energy Drinks?

Reviewed and fact-checked by certified nutritionists.

Discover the top 5 best energy drinks on the market today to boost your energy levels (without the crash)

In this guide:

  • What makes a good energy drink?
  • Why mainstream energy drinks can actually wreck your energy levels
  • The top 5 best energy drinks on the market today, according to nutritionists
What’s A Good Energy Drink
Myths About Energy Drinks
The Top 5 Energy Drinks
For many people, sipping an energy drink is almost an essential ritual. They drink a can, and feel an instant boost of energy that makes them “ready for action” – whether they need a boost for a workout, a meeting, or an important exam.
Energy drinks have indeed been proven to improve mental alertness, boost focus, and enhance physical performance.
The problem is: most energy drinks come with unpleasant side effects, such as energy crashes, jitters, or even irregular heartbeats. After all, what’s the point of taking an energy drink if you feel even worse after drinking it?
Most importantly, are there any drinks that can boost your energy without causing bad side effects? Fortunately, there is, but there are so many options on the market today that it can be hard to know which one to choose…
In this guide, we will help you choose an energy drink that not only gives you a strong boost of energy for several hours, but also makes you feel good afterwards instead of draining your energy. Our guide has been carefully reviewed by professional nutritionists and dieticians, to ensure high-quality and accurate information.

What makes a good energy drink?

Energy drink brands are all claiming to be “the best” on the market.

In that context, it can be difficult to know how to trust. The question is: what makes an energy drink “good” exactly? Here are the top things to have in mind when buying an energy drink, according to nutritionists.

That said, there are several kinds of energy:
  • The quick boost of energy, followed by a sudden crash (usually 3-4 hours after consuming the drink)
  • The strong, sustained boost of energy, which keeps you energized for hours, before declining slowly instead of crashing fast
Ideally, you should look for energy drinks that are fast-acting (you feel the boost within 20 minutes) and that gives you a sustained boost of energy for a long time, without crashes.
What kinds of drinks can give you this strong, sustained boost of energy?

Typically, drinks that contain a moderate amount of caffeine (under 80 mg) along with other stimulants like ginseng, green tea, or ginger. Drinks should also be low on sugar (less than 10 grams), to avoid sudden crashes.

What kinds of drinks can give you this strong, sustained boost of energy? Typically, drinks that contain a moderate amount of caffeine (under 80 mg) along with other stimulants like ginseng, green tea, or ginger. Drinks should also be low on sugar (less than 10 grams), to avoid sudden crashes.

Makes you feel good in your body

It’s one thing to give you energy, but if you feel like trash 30 minutes after sipping a Red Bull, you may as well not drink anything!
Many consumers report feeling bad after taking energy drinks, like something is not “right” within their body.
Typically, these bad, unpleasant sensations are due to an excessive dose of caffeine, too much sugar, or unhealthy chemicals contained in these drinks such as aspartame, ace-K, or artificial colors like Yellow No.5.
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 bad artificial sweeteners, 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.

Ingredients that make you feel bad:

  • Aspartame
  • Ace-K
  • Artificial colors (ex: Yellow No. 5)

Ingredients that make you feel good (examples):

  • Green tea
  • Vitamin B
  • Ginger

Doesn’t destroy your health

Fact: one can of monster contains 63 grams of added sugar, or 16 teaspoons of sugar. According to the World Health Organization, that’s 152% higher than the daily recommended amount, in one single drink. 

ONE CAN OF ROCKSTAR = 16 TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR

High consumption of sugar can have serious health consequences. It has been shown to increase your risk of cardiovascular problems, diabetes, dementia, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer. 
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: artificial sweeteners, like Ace-K and aspartame. 
These sweeteners are highly-processed chemicals that make the drink sweeter to your palate. But numerous clinical studies have found that Ace-K and aspartame can cause long-term health damage.

How Ace-K And Aspartame Are Killing You

Aspartame

  • Synthetic chemical obtained from genetically modified bacteria
  • May cause headaches, anxiety, insomnia
  • May increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer
  • May increase appetite and promote weight gain
  • In the list of substances to avoid, according to weight loss recommendations from the World Health Organization

Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)

  • Chemical compound 200 times sweeter than table sugar
  • May increase risk of obesity and gut chronic inflammation
  • May worse diabetes
  • May improve the risk of cognitive dysfunction, due to altering neuro-metabolic activity

8 out of 10 most popular energy drinks on the market contain artificial sweeteners like ace-K or aspartame. In other words, when buying an energy drink, you have an 80% risk of suffering from the damaging long-term effects of these chemicals.

Tastes good

Last but not least, a good energy drink has to taste great! No one wants to drink something that tastes like “sparkling chemicals”…
To refresh your palate and satisfy your buds, nutritionists recommend looking for drinks that are made with fresh juice, that use natural sweeteners (stevia is one), and that use high-quality ingredients free of additives and preservatives.
We’ll share a selection of energy drinks that respect all the criteria above (strong energy boost, makes you feel good, healthy, and great-tasting) in a minute.

How mainstream energy drinks are actually wrecking your energy levels

Have you ever wondered why you sometimes feel even more tired after drinking a can of Red Bull or Monster?

How come that after taking an energy drink, you end up with LESS energy than before after a few hours?

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!

Why is it the case?

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.

The Science Of Energy Crashes: How Sugar Is Destroying Your Energy

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:

Sugar kills your “orexin” hormone, draining your energy day after day

Orexin is a brain neurotransmitter that is responsible for making you feel “awake”, energized, and “peppy”. When you have high levels of orexin, you feel ready to tackle challenges: to get better grades, to work out more, to make more money – to get more out of life in general.
But when your orexin levels are low, you feel fatigue, exhaustion, low motivation, and, if low enough, narcolepsy…
Studies show that large amounts of sugar in the bloodstream are enough to cause a drastic decrease in orexin hormone. The more sugar you take, the less orexin you have, and the more drained of energy you feel.
That’s why it’s important to favor energy drinks that contain low amounts of sugar – so that you can keep high energy levels.

3 Myths About Energy Drinks

Myth #1: Energy drinks are harmless

Not true. Many energy drinks, including the most popular brands, can cause serious long-term health damages. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 20,000 emergency room visits in the United States in 2011 involved energy drinks (according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). An increase of 106% compared to 2007.
There were also 5,126 poisonings related to energy drinks reported to U.S. poison control centers between 2010 and 2013. More than 40% of these cases were children.
Only a few energy drinks can be considered relatively healthy, or at least not as unhealthy as mainstream drinks. So it’s important to be very careful when choosing a product that we intend to drink frequently.

Myth #2: All energy drinks are unhealthy

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 artificial sweeteners.

Myth #3: The more caffeine you take, the more energy you get

This is another big misconception! Some people think that if you take a drink with 300 milligrams of caffeine, you’ll get more energy than a drink with 50 milligrams of caffeine. In truth, the boost of energy that you’d get from both of these drinks may be exactly the same!
Why? Because our metabolism has a limited capacity to absorb and make use of caffeine, as shown by several studies. In fact, anything above 50 mg is enough to give you a very strong energy boost, and you probably won’t see any difference between 50 mg or 300 mg
For an optimal boost, doctors recommend to consume between 60 mg and 100 mg of caffeine. Anything above that is counterproductive and is likely to create unpleasant jitters and energy crashes. 

To achieve an optimal energy zone, you generally need to consume between 60 mg and 100 mg of caffeine. Plus, your overall ability to concentrate and perform is more ideal when you can remain in this sweet spot over a steady period of time. To put that into perspective, one cup of coffee generally contains about 100 mg of caffeine, a shot of espresso is 85 mg of caffeine, and a cup of green tea is 40 mg of caffeine.

Marvin Singh, M.D
Integrative Gastroenterologist in San Diego, California, and Member of the Board and Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Medicine

3 Facts About Energy Drinks

Fact #1 A moderate dose of caffeine can be more effective than a high dose to boost your energy

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. 

Fact #2 “Sugar-free” energy drinks are not necessarily healthier for you

By now, you should know about the devastating effects of sugar on your health. But what about “sugar-free” energy drinks? Since they don’t contain any sugar, they must be better for you right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Many brands are using “sugar-free” labels as a marketing argument to sell more cans.   

But in 99% of the cases, they contain a strong dose of unhealthy artificial sweeteners to make the taste drink sweet. So yes, they are technically free of sugar, but if they are filled with Ace-K or aspartame, the long-term impact on your health could be even worse…
 
As a rule of thumb, nutritionists recommend choosing energy drinks that contain a low amount of sugar from natural sources (fruits for example) or natural sweeteners such as stevia. 

Fact #3 Some energy drinks may give you some health benefits

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. 

What to look for in an energy drink:

Orexin is a brain neurotransmitter that is responsible for making you feel “awake”, energized, and “peppy”. When you have high levels of orexin, you feel ready to tackle challenges: to get better grades, to work out more, to make more money – to get more out of life in general.
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.

Natural sugar from real fruits is healthier than added sugar. Note that a drink with 5 grams of natural sugar is better than a sugar-free drink full of artificial sweeteners.

No aspartame or ace-K.

These artificial 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 safest sweeteners is stevia: a natural sweetener derived from leaves of the stevia plant.

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.

Look for pure, natural ingredients.

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, organic coffee beans, and high-quality water from a pure source (water being one of the most important ingredients, as c.90% of the drink is water).

Moderate to low amounts of caffeine.

These artificial 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 safest sweeteners is stevia: a natural sweetener derived from leaves of the stevia plant.

Low in calories.

To deliver any potential weight loss benefits, drinks should be low on calories. Anything below 20 calories per can is reasonable.

Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Vitamins can not only improve your energy levels, but also boost your metabolism and immune system.

What to avoid:

High in calories

High in calories

Excessive dose of caffeine (over 200 mg)

Contains artificial sweeteners such as ace-K or aspartame

The Top 5 Best Energy Drinks On The Market Today,
According To Nutritionists

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. 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.
(1)

Alpine Bliss Dopamine Energy Booster

PROS:

  • Provides a strong, sustained boost of energy without crashes
  • Improves mood and well-being thanks to a natural blend of dopamine boosters
  • Optimal dose of caffeine
  • Low on calories and sugar
  • Contains a strong dose of vitamins and antioxidants
  • No ace-K or aspartame 
  • Great taste, according to users
  • Uses pure Alpine water with high-quality plant-based ingredients
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CONS

  • Expensive
  • Frequently out of stock due to limited production

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 Dopamine 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 70 mg of caffeine from natural source, 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, 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 dopamine levels – the “happy hormone” responsible for making us feel good and happy.
From a nutrition standpoint, the drink is also scoring pretty well. The formula contains zero added sugar, just 10 calories per can, and only 4 grams of natural sugar from wild berries. It doesn’t contain any harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame or ace-K. The drink is also a rich source of vitamin B6 and B12 – two vitamins that promote a healthy metabolism.
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 Dopamine Energy booster in our #1 spot.

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(2)

Celsius Stevia

PROS:

  • Established beverage brand
  • Low calorie, low sugar
  • Strong boost in energy levels thanks to a high dose of caffeine, guarana and green tea extract
  • Wide range of tastes and flavors
  • Rich in vitamins
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CONS

  • Caffeine dose may be too high (200 mg)
  • Contains erythritol – an artificial sweeteners which may have negative effects on cardiovascular health, but more research is needed

THE BOTTOM LINE

Celsius Stevia is an energy drink that aims to provide a powerful boost of energy while offering several nutritional benefits.
One of the key features of Celsius is its low-calorie content. This makes it an attractive option for those watching their calorie intake while still seeking an energy boost.
The energy-enhancing effects of Celsius can be attributed to its high dose of caffeine and guarana seed. These ingredients provide a potent and immediate surge of energy. Another positive aspect of Celsius is its inclusion of green tea extracts, which are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are known for their health benefits, supporting overall well-being.
One of the advantages of Celsius is its wide range of tastes and flavors. This allows consumers to choose the option that best suits their preferences and keeps things interesting.
However, there are a couple of considerations to keep in mind. The caffeine dose in Celsius Stevia is relatively high at 200 mg. For individuals sensitive to caffeine or looking to limit their intake, this may be a drawback. Such a high dose of caffeine may cause unpleasant crashes in some people, which would defeat the purpose of drinking healthier energy drinks.
Additionally, while this drink uses Stevia as a sweetener (which is safe), it also contains the artificial sweetener erythritol. While more research is needed, there are some concerns that erythritol may have negative effects on cardiovascular health. Although Celsius is a very good healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks, It’s important to be aware of this potential downside and consider your individual health needs.
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(3)

Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink

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
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CONS

  • Dose of caffeine may be too high for some consumers (160 mg)
  • Excessive amount of sodium (200 mg per can)
  • Contains traces of sucralose, albeit in very low quantities

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 (although it does contain some sweeteners which may be less healthy).
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.
While Zoa Zero Sugar Energy Drink is free from added sugars, it does contain traces of sucralose, although in very low quantities. It’s worth noting this for individuals who may have concerns or sensitivities to sucralose.
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(4)

Focusaid Clean Energy

PROS:

  • May improve energy, attention and focus
  • Strong dose of caffeine
  • Contains several natural proven energy boosters, including rhodiola and panax ginseng
  • Positive consumer reviews
  • Use safe artificial sweeteners, including stevia
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CONS

  • Relatively high in calories (40 calories per can)
  • Sugar content could be lower (around 7 grams)

THE BOTTOM LINE

Focusaid Clean Energy is an energy drink that aims to improve your energy levels, thinking and focus. The company has a strong, established reputation in the emerging fields of better-for-you energy drinks.
The formula contains a good amount of caffeine (100 mg), which gives you a quick burst of energy. It also has other natural ingredients like GABA for stress relief, rhodiola for better focus, and Panax Ginseng for learning and memory. These ingredients work together to give you a cognitive boost.
All the active ingredients in this drink have proven benefits, and consumer reviews are very positive overall.
Another green flag about Focusaid Clean Energy is that it doesn’t use unhealthy artificial sweeteners. Instead, it uses organic agave nectar and stevia to add a sweet taste that makes the drink palatable and enjoyable (which is not always the case for healthier energy drinks, which often have to sacrifice sweetness for health).
When it comes to sugar, Focusaid Clean Energy has about 7 grams, which is not excessively high but there are other drinks with less sugar. However, it’s important to know that this is added sugar, so if you’re watching your sugar intake, it’s something to keep in mind.
On the downside, Focusaid Clean Energy has more calories compared to other healthy energy drinks (around 40 calories). So if you’re trying to watch your calorie intake, this might not be the best choice for you.
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(5)

Bang Energy Drink

PROS:

  • Strong boost of energy thanks to high dose of caffeine, CoQ10 and creatine
  • Rich in vitamins, promoting energy production
  • Zero sugar
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CONS

  • Excessive amount of caffeine that may lead to unpleasant side effects
  • Contains traces of sucralose, which can be unhealthy

THE BOTTOM LINE

BANG Energy Drink offers a potent blend of ingredients designed to provide a strong boost of energy. It is rich in essential vitamins such as B6, B12, and C, which can support energy production and healthy metabolism.
Compared to mainstream energy drink brands, BANG Energy Drink stands out with its significantly lower sugar content, making it a relatively healthier option in that aspect. With zero sugar and zero fat, it caters to individuals seeking a low-calorie energy boost.
One of the key features of BANG Energy Drink is its powerful energy-enhancing formula. With 300 mg of caffeine, CoQ10, and creatine, it aims to deliver a robust pre-workout experience for those looking to fuel their fitness routines.
However, it’s important to note that the high caffeine content of 300 mg may be excessive for some individuals, potentially leading to jitters and other unwanted side effects. Moderate consumption and sensitivity to caffeine should be considered to avoid discomfort.
Additionally, while BANG Energy Drink contains traces of sucralose in small quantities, it’s worth noting that sucralose has been associated with potential negative health effects. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of sucralose consumption.
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* 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.

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