Energy drinks are designed to provide a quick boost, but they are not always the healthiest choice. Many energy drinks contain excessive amounts of sugar, which can have negative effects on your overall health. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that sugar should only make up 10% of your daily diet. However, energy drinks often contain much more sugar than this limit.
If you’re concerned about your sugar intake, it’s important to read product labels and nutritional information to make informed decisions. Registered dietitian Mary Sabat suggests considering lower-sugar alternatives if you want to reduce your sugar consumption.
Here are some popular energy drinks ranked from least to most sugar:
- Starbucks Baya Energy Mango Guava: This 12-ounce drink contains 23 grams of sugar and is not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women or those sensitive to caffeine.
- Red Bull Energy Drink: Though not the highest in sugar content, Red Bull still contains 27 grams of sugar per 12-ounce can. Consider alternatives if you’re concerned about sugar intake.
- Cool Runnings Energy Drink: This 16-ounce drink contains 28 grams of sugar, which doubles if you consume two cans.
- Mt. Dew Amp Cherry Blast: With 31 grams of sugar, this drink from the popular soda brand offers little else to boast about in terms of nutrition.
- Coca-Cola Energy: Coming in a 21-ounce can, this drink packs a whopping 39 grams of sugar. However, Coca-Cola has announced that it will be discontinuing this beverage soon.
- Liquid Rage Aggretsuko: With 40 grams of sugar, this energy drink invites you to taste the “liquid rage” of a young red panda. It is a 12-ounce beverage filled with sweetness.
- Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Energy Drink: This 12-ounce energy drink contains 40 grams of sugar and has been recalled in Canada due to non-compliance with caffeine content labeling requirements.
It’s important to be mindful of your sugar intake and make informed decisions about the energy drinks you consume. While they may provide a temporary boost, excessive sugar consumption can have negative effects on your health.
Sources: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, registered dietitian Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD