Energy drinks claim “giving you wings” and other erroneous representations. Even though they may provide you with a brief burst of energy, they have little effect on your metabolic rate. While many sugar-free energy drinks are available, most of them are high in sugar and will do nothing to help your waistline.
Energy drinks are not a reliable strategy for losing weight — and excessive consumption can be hazardous to one’s overall health. A healthy diet and regular physical activity are far more effective.
Recognize the Different Types of Energy Drinks
Thanks to their vibrant colors and eye-catching logos, the cans lining the shelves of your local market are visually appealing. According to the National Institutes of Health, energy drinks are particularly appealing to teenagers, with one-third of them consuming them regularly.
But what exactly is in those cans with names like “Monster” and “Red Bull” on their side? It varies significantly from person to person. Caffeine is one ingredient that almost all of them have in common. One 16-ounce can of Red Bull contains 143 milligrams of caffeine. That’s a little less than the amount of caffeine found in two cups of freshly brewed espresso.
Some people may have significantly more. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested 53 products for caffeine content and discovered that half contained approximately the same amount of caffeine as one to two cups of coffee for a daily serving (8 ounces).
The caffeine content of eleven products per serving was equivalent to two to four cups of coffee. Another eleven products contained the same amount of caffeine as four to six cups of coffee. And four products had the same amount of caffeine as seven to eight cups of coffee per serving. Consumer Reports published findings similar to these in a study of energy drinks.
That caffeine comes from various sources, including the more common beverages of coffee and tea and botanical ingredients such as guarana, yerba mate, and kola nut, among others. The long-term effects of these substances are still being investigated. B vitamins and the amino acid taurine are also frequently found in energy drinks as additives.
Many energy drinks contain a lot of added sugar. Approximately 50 grams of sugar are included in one can of Red Bull. That’s 20 grams more sugar than you’d get from drinking the same amount of soda, which is a significant difference.
Drinking Energy Drinks Can Help You Lose Weight
Caffeine is an energy drink that may only have a marginal effect on metabolism, increasing it by less than 100 calories per day. Nonetheless, this is only sufficient for you to lose approximately 1 pound of fat in a month.
If you increase your caloric intake by two or three times, you could burn more calories. It has been discovered that the effect of caffeine on weight is dose-dependent, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition in October 2018. However, consuming multiple energy drinks throughout the day can negatively affect your health and well-being.
There are no metabolic benefits from drinking caffeinated beverages other than black coffee, tea, or unsweetened beverages. The amount of added sugars in many energy drinks cancels out even a modest increase in metabolism.
The average energy drink contains 200 calories per can, with nearly all of those calories from sugar. Sugar-sweetened beverages are strongly associated with being overweight or obese and are one of the most dangerous things you can do to your waistline if you drink them.
What about sugar-free energy drinks that are sweetened with artificial sweeteners? The jury is still out on whether sugar substitutes can help people lose weight by lowering their calorie intake and increasing their metabolism.
There were no significant differences in weight between study participants who drank sugar-sweetened beverages and those who drank beverages sweetened with non-caloric sweeteners, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ in January 2019. However, the number of studies conducted has been limited, and more research is required.
In addition to caffeine, what are the other ingredients in energy drinks? Taurine may be beneficial for weight loss, but most studies to date have been conducted on animals.
B vitamins are essential for metabolism, but they do not help you lose weight independently. An article published in the World Journal of Diabetes in February 2014 stated that an excessive intake of B vitamins had been linked to obesity and diabetes, which is not surprising.
It’s not worth taking the chance.
The potential benefits of energy drinks by the risks associated with excessive caffeine consumption can harm the heart and blood vessels, resulting in heart rhythm disturbances and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Excessive caffeine consumption has also been linked to anxiety, sleep problems, digestive issues, and dehydration, among other things. It is difficult to determine how much caffeine is in your favorite energy drink because manufacturers are not required to list this information on the label.
Taking excessive amounts of most B vitamins is not harmful; however, taking excessive amounts of vitamin B6 and niacin can be detrimental. Excessive B6 intake can result in sensory neuropathy, characterized by a loss of control over bodily movements. Skin flushing, burning, tingling, and itching can occur after consuming 30 to 50 milligrams of niacin, which is found in one Red Bull. These symptoms may be accompanied by more severe headaches, rash, dizziness, and decreased blood pressure.
The Best Energy Drinks to Help You Lose Weight
Is it possible for energy drinks to help you lose weight?
Most people start their day with a cup of coffee. It’s hard to start the day or work on something without a cup of coffee. But if you’re trying to lose weight, this can be a big deal to think about.
Why? It would help if you got rid of everything that can add extra calories to your daily calorie count. Because in the end, it will make you fat.
That is the question. Energy drinks aren’t good for you. Should you stop right away?
There is no need for that. You can drink energy drinks with no calories or sugar to lose weight. These energy drinks can help you lose weight because they only have caffeine.
That doesn’t mean that those energy drinks are all made of caffeine, but that doesn’t mean they’re all caffeine. But instead, they’re made with ingredients that help cut down on calories.
There are many essential things to think about when choosing an energy drink to lose weight. Let’s look at some of them.
Let’s start now.
Caffeine
People who drink energy drinks with a lot of caffeine can speed up their metabolism. In nature, caffeine is the most popular thing you can find. It’s practical, easy to eat, and helps you stay active physically and mentally, so it’s good.
Besides having a significant effect on the body and brain, it has been proven to help people lose weight. Caffeine makes us more active. Extra energy can help you work out for a long time.
Besides, caffeine also helps with:
- Improve your metabolism
- Break down the fat
- People should be more physically active all the time.
- Keep your mind and body focused and intense.
- Caffeine in energy drinks is vital for boosting energy and cutting down on extra weight, but having too much of it is not suitable for you.
There are a lot of energy drinks that are very high in caffeine. They can have up to 300mg of caffeine in each serving. Having more than one can of them at a time can significantly impact your health.
The following are some of them:
- Dehydration
- A heartbeat that doesn’t work right.
- Increased chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Severe head pain
- Breakdown of muscle
- The maximum amount of caffeine you should drink each day is 400mg. To avoid going over the set amount, it’s best not to.
Sugar
If you can quit having sugar, you have already won the weight loss battle.
You can consider sugar as the number one hindrance to weight loss. It’s said that sugar is harmful because it adversely affects every vital part of our body. Additionally, sugar adds loads of extra calories that end up as extra pounds in our bodies.
Energy drinks with high sugar content can drastically change your weight within months.
Excessive sugar releases glucose in the bloodstream. If this added glucose remains unused, they turn into adipose tissue, which is referred to as body fat.
Our body has many sources of energy. It turns all food particles into energy. So, it doesn’t need extra glucose from sugar at all.
If you want to cut off excess fat from your body, you have first to cut off extra sugar from your diet. You can do this by switching to zero-sugar energy drinks.
Calories
Calories are the second most important thing to consider when you’re trying to lose weight. A calorie is a unit of energy that we get when eating food.
An average adult requires 2000 to 2500kcal daily to keep himself healthy and active physically and mentally. However, this requirement can change as per physical condition, age, gender, and activity level.
If your energy drink contains extra calories which exceed your diet and daily calorie limit, it’ll affect your weight loss plan.
So, whenever you pick an energy drink, select one with low to zero calories. That way, you can avoid adding any unnecessary calories to your diet.
List of the Best Energy Drinks for Losing Weight
Generally, energy drinks rich in caffeine, vitamins, low calories, and no sugar are the best for weight loss.
Here’s a list of some of the most popular energy drinks which are low in calories, have no sugar in them, and contain a balanced amount of caffeine:
- Red Bull Zero
- Monster Zero Sugar
- Adrenaline Shoc
- 3D Energy Drink
- Celsius Energy Drink
- GFuel Energy Drink Mix
- C4 Energy Drink
- Bang Energy
- Raze Energy Drink
- Reign Total Body
Overview of the Best Energy Drinks for Losing Weight
For energy drinks to be effective at helping to lose weight, the first criteria should be that they are sugar-free. With that being said, here is my list of the best energy drinks for losing weight.
Red Bull Zero
Red Bull Zero is the most miniature energy drink on this list, as it comes in at only 8.46 fl. oz. With only 80mg of caffeine, it’s pretty light.
And with only 10 calories per serving, it’s not going to add too much to your daily calorie intake.
Monster Zero Sugar
Monster Zero Sugar is a very well-balanced energy drink. It contains 140mg of caffeine and 10 calories per 16 fl. oz., making it suitable for people looking to get a quick dose of caffeine without worrying about calories or sugar.
Adrenaline Shoc
If you’re looking for a high dose of caffeine, then Adrenaline Shoc has got you covered with its massive 300mg of caffeine per serving of 16 fl. oz. It’s healthy and gives you an enormous jolt of energy.
3D Energy Drink
Having a can of 3D Energy Drink can make you feel like you just had 2 cups of coffee at once.
That’s not too bad if you like having caffeine a lot. With 200mg of caffeine and 15 calories per 16 fl. oz., 3D Energy is an excellent option for caffeine lovers who want to stay healthy.
Celsius Energy Drink
When Celsius first entered the market, it started as a weight loss drink. Even though it didn’t work out, using their experience Celsius has created energy drinks that help you cut down extra body fat.
On average a can of Celsius Energy Drink contains 200mg of caffeine and 10 calories per 12 fl. oz. serving.
G Fuel Energy Drink Powder
G Fuel Powder is one of the most popular energy drinks available in the market. And their energy drink mix sachets are an excellent choice for health-conscious people as it has no sugar, 140mg of caffeine, and only 15 calories.
C4 Energy Drink
What makes C4 Energy Drink standout from the rest is that it has zero sugar and zero calories. And with 200mg of caffeine per 16 fl. oz., it’s no wonder why gym goers love this drink so much.
Bang Energy Drink
There’s a lot of hype behind Bang Energy Drink. And for a good reason, as it’s one of the most potent energy drinks you can get on the market without worrying about it negatively affecting your health.
It contains 300mg of caffeine with no additional sugar or calories, making it a fan favorite among caffeine enthusiasts.
Raze Energy Drink
Raze is another great option for people who like their energy drinks to be highly caffeinated. Its 300mg of caffeine and zero calories per 16 fl. oz. They are serving to make it a very potent competitor to Bang.
Reign Total Body Fuel
With 300mg of caffeine and zero sugar and calories, Reign has positioned itself as one of the best energy drinks for fitness enthusiasts.
So, if you’re looking for an effective energy drink to take to the gym, Reign might be your next best choice.
Can You Have an Energy Drink While on A Diet?
If your energy drink is sugar-free, then you can have them.
Energy drinks contain caffeine which is an enhancer for physical and mental performance. Caffeine is also sometimes favorable in weight loss.
But you have to be watchful about your favorite energy drink’s sugar content and calorie count.
Do Highly-Caffeinated Drinks Help with Weight Loss?
Caffeine has a positive impact on weight loss.
Energy drinks contain caffeine, improving our overall concentration, physical strength, and performance. When you have an energy drink, the caffeine gives us a boost of energy to exercise longer.
Caffeine has a proven effect on improving metabolism. It also helps to burn fat.
The truth is, only drinking energy drinks cannot help you to lose weight. You have to have a proper diet and maintain an exercise routine.
Do Energy Drinks Increase Metabolism?
Considering the effects of caffeine, you can say that energy drinks improve metabolism.
Although the amount of caffeine isn’t standard for every energy drink, caffeine is a well-known ingredient for its impact on metabolism. Caffeine also helps in the breakdown of food and releases energy.
Moreover, energy drinks contain different vitamin complexes. For example, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, etc.
These micronutrients also help to break down food and release energy. Some of them work as an antioxidant which helps in metabolism and other metabolic functions of the body.
Does Caffeine Suppress Appetite?
There are a few studies on the effect of caffeine on suppressing appetite.
These studies have shown that people who have had caffeine tend to lose their appetite over time. Caffeine breaks down the fats and releases energy by speeding up food digestion.
This phenomenon helps us feel energetic and gives us a full stomach sensation for a long time.
Things To Consider On A Weight Loss Journey
Proper exercise is the Number 1 way to lose weight. Weight loss is not an easy task. It takes time, effort, and patience if you want to cut excess fat successfully. Plus, you have to eat healthily and exercise regularly.
Energy drinks can contribute to your weight-loss journey. You have to make sure that your energy drink has minimal calories and optimum caffeine content.
So, feel free to have a can of energy drink. But don’t over-consume it or have more than a single can every day.
Here are a few guidelines for you to follow when choosing an energy drink:
- Always check the nutrition label of your energy drink to see if it has any ingredients that can negatively affect your weight.
- Switch to zero-sugar energy drinks. They will help in your weight loss journey.
- Try to have soft or zero-calorie energy drinks that don’t significantly affect your daily calorie intake.
- Limit yourself to one energy drink per day.
- Drink plenty of water
- Enhance your diet by having vegetables, lean proteins, and fiber.
- Exercise regularly and have your energy drink right before your workout.
Final Words
An energy drink with a balanced caffeine content, zero sugar, and low to zero-calorie is the best energy drink for weight loss. But do keep in mind that not all energy drinks are appropriate to have while trying to lose weight.
As long as you’re drinking energy drinks in moderation and limiting yourself to the recommended caffeine content per day, it can be beneficial to consume them.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/caffeine/faq-20058459
- https://properwild.com/blogs/blog/do-sugar-free-energy-drinks-cause-weight-gain
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/372206-how-to-lose-weight-with-energy-drinks/
- https://courtneymedicalgroupaz.com/2019/09/25/8206/
- https://reizeclub.com/best-energy-drink-losing-weight/
