Q&A

Best Sugar-Free Energy Drink Powders (No Sugar Coating)

If you’re a fan of energy drink powders, or simply have a sweet tooth, then you’ve probably been told to cut down your sugar.

Understandably so as sugar, despite its enjoyable taste, can have some negative effects on your health. Of course, the solution isn’t to tap out of energy powders in general but to seek out ones that are sugar-free!

From what I’ve found, the best sugar-free powdered drinks are Zipfizz Energy, Rogue Energy, G-Fuel Energy, and Ghost Gamer.

And if you’ve got a lot of questions about this, you’re at the right place. I’ll be covering everything you need to know about sugar-free energy drink powders.

Should you drink sugar-free energy drink powders?

Definitely! Opting for sugar-free energy drinks is not a bad idea. They can save you from a sugar crash and certain health problems that are caused due to sugar.

They can be a beneficial option in place of sugar-packed drinks that can lead to excessive sugar consumption.

According to the AHA, the maximum daily limit of sugar for man is 37g, for women, is 25g, and for children under six years is 19g.

Note that this limit is concerned with not only what you drink but what you eat for an entire day too, making it a little difficult to keep a tab on your intake.

If you are thinking of cutting down your sugar to maintain your weight and calorie intake, or to avoid any health complications, these sugar-free energy drink powders are the best catch. They won’t raise your blood sugar levels, won’t give you any sugar crashes, and are still enjoyable in taste.

Are sugar-free energy drinks really sugar-free?

Mostly, yes!

You might have read words like ‘sugar-free’, ‘no sugar added,’ and ‘unsweetened’ on any nutritional label. Oftentimes what sugar-free means is that it contains less than 0.5g of natural or added sugar.

This is due to what the FDA regulation counts as sugar-free. Anything less than 0.5g is labeled this way. However, an amount such as this is still declared on nutritional labels so you can check if they’re actually zero sugar or not.

There’s no need to worry since this amount of sugar won’t really give you any notable effects like a sugar crash, nor will it contribute to any health risks as long as you’re not consuming sugar excessively elsewhere.

So rest assured it’s safe to trust labels when they say they’re sugar-free.

Can you drink sugar-free drinks if you’re a diabetic?

Yes! You can definitely get ahold of sugar-free drinks if you are a diabetic. In fact, it’s preferred if you do.

In place of sugar, they usually contain artificial sweeteners that contain sweetness without raising your blood sugar levels.

According to this post, sugar-free drinks are safe for people with diabetes, to reduce both calories and sugar intake. These sugar substitutes can also help you cut out those extra cravings of sugar you get.

It is important to consume these drinks in moderation and always check up on your doctor beforehand to avoid any health risks if you’re a diabetic.

You can have some insight on the best energy drink powders for diabetics here.

What are artificial sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners can come in sachets too.

Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are 300 to 600 times sweeter and are used instead of table sugar. Some of these may contain a small number of calories, but they won’t typically disturb your calorie intake.

Known sweeteners are Sucralose, Acesulfame K, and Erythritol. These are FDA-approved to be safe for human consumption and are common inclusions in sugar-free energy drinks.

The most common substitute used in powdered energy drinks is sucralose, said to have no effects on blood levels of insulin. The rest are calorie-free and non-nutritive so their inclusions won’t bother any diet in place.

NOTE: Products that contain artificial sweeteners are often marked as sugar-free.

But don’t be too lax on your intake. This is still a sweetener and consumption should be kept within the limit. Too many artificial sweeteners have their health risks associated with the adverse effects of depression.

It may also have negative effects on your gut health, as they can hinder the growth of good bacteria which in turn can lead to imbalanced gut causing gases and bloating.

Which is a safer choice?

Between the two, artificial sweeteners are preferable.

Both sugar and artificial sugar have negative side effects when overconsumed. But sugar has a history of being the root of most health complications.

In extension, artificial sweeteners are calorie-free and are a lot sweeter hence there won’t be a need to add a lot to reach a satisfying taste.

Between the two, sugar is one known to have sugar-crash effects leaving you fatigued and with side effects such as:

  • Dizziness
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty concentrating

If you have a sweet tooth and you worry about your caloric intake, then artificial sweeteners are the best pick to satisfy your cravings.

You can check this video out to know how safe the artificial sweeteners are:

All you need to know about artificial sweeteners’ safety.

Overall, it’s best to consume both within limitations. Too much of anything can possibly lead to health risks.

Do sugar free energy drinks raise cholesterol?

Cholesterol should be maintained to avoid health risks

No, it’s actually quite the opposite.

According to the Centers For Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), nearly one-third of U.S adults have high cholesterol due to excess sugar consumption. This means that its actually the presence of sugar that can raise cholesterol levels

Avoiding cholesterol is preferable as too much of it can put you at risk of heart attack or stroke,

Without sugar, cholesterol levels are unlikely to rise as there’s no sugar to contribute to it. This means sugar-free energy drinks are still a good option if you’re avoiding high cholesterol.

Do sugar-free drinks help you lose weight?

Losing or gaining weight is all a game of calories.

It’s possible! Since sugar is replaced with artificial sweeteners that contain zero calories, they surely won’t contribute to any weight gain.

Sugar often contains calories and carbohydrates that, despite fuelling, are both known culprits of weight gain.

On the contrary, artificial sweeteners can contribute to weight gain. The lack of sugar can change the way you metabolize sugar. This makes your body store more calories as fats and use fewer as energy making you feel hungry and wanting more, hence the weight gain.

Either way, weight loss is reliant on a balanced diet and consistent physical activity, not something you leave to be for sugar-free drinks to do the work for.

Best Sugar-Free Energy Drink Powders

The best drink powders are the ones with a considerate amount of caffeine, calories and of course, should be sugar-free. The alternative for sugar-free can be artificial sweeteners if you can not opt for diet drinks at all.

Powdered energy drinks are very convenient to carry around, they are mostly available in sachet and some in tubs too. The drinks have a variety of flavors that you can choose from and are mostly sugar-free so you don’t have to worry about the calories.

In terms of pricing, these powdered drinks start from $1 per sachet to $39.99 per tub.

Check out my best picks below:

BrandsSugar-FreeArtificial Sweeteners
Rogue EnergyYesSucralose
Zipfizz EnergyYesXylitol & Sucralose
G-Fuel EnergyYesAcesulfame K & Sucralose
Ghost GamerYesSucralose
A list of sugar-free powdered energy drinks with artificial sweeteners.

Rogue Energy

Rogue energy is available in sachets

Rogue Energy is the first pick on this list. It is, of course, sugar-free. In place, they have sucralose so you still have that sweetness you might be craving.

It has 175mg of caffeine which is a good boost in place of what sugar might offer. It has 13 flavors to choose from and is available in sachets and tubs too.

In terms of availability, Rogue ranges from $32.99 for a tub to less than $1 for a single sachet.

Hop on to this article for more info about rogue energy

Zipfizz Energy

Zipfizz in Citrus flavor

Zipfizz is another great energy drink powder that is sugar-free. It uses artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol and Sucralose instead of sugar.

Just like its peers, it has 100mg of caffeine per serving which is a good amount if you’re looking to have another serving later on. It comes in tubes and has a fruity theme with about 14 different flavors.

This drink does already have 20 calories per serving which is not a lot but if you’re consuming calories in your meals, you might want to reconsider your decision.

Zipfizz Energy comes in a pack of tubes ranging from $37.99, which is about $2 per serving, the most costly on this list.

If you want to know more about its effects, I have got just the right article for you.

G-Fuel Powder

G-Fuel powder available in tubs in many flavor options

G-Fuel is a great powder energy drink with 150mg of caffeine per serving. It is, of course, sugar-free and calorie-free!

The brand uses Sucralose and Acesulfame K as artificial sweeteners to still give you that sweetness.

It is available in 40 different flavors and comes in tubs and sachets. This is a lot of flavor options with an enjoyable taste. Its price ranges from $35.99 for a tub to $2 for a sachet which is a little over $1.

Here is an article for more on G-Fuel.

Ghost Gamer

Ghost Gamer comes in tubs

Ghost Gamer is yet another sugar-free energy drink that uses Sucralose in place of sugar.

It’s a powerful energy drink with 150mg of caffeine content. At the moment there are only 7 flavors of Ghost Gamer which can be a problem if you’re picky.

As for availability and pricing, it comes in sachets and tubs, ranging from $1 to $39.99 respectively.

Check this out for more information on Ghost Gamer.

Summary

With this discussion, powdered energy drinks are available for you to choose from if you’re looking for sugar-free options, and there are a lot of good ones out there.

The best sugar-free energy drink powders are Rogue Energy, Zipfizz Energy, G-Fuel Energy, and Ghost Gamer.

These energy drinks are packed with caffeine, calories, and artificial sweeteners, so you’re fully energized, boosted, and with an enjoyable drink in hand.

Beyond all this goodness, it’s still important to read the nutritional label before picking up energy drinks just to be cautious of what you’re drinking. Moderation is always recommended.

With this, I hope I have answered all your queries and you can choose an energy drink for yourself.

Related Articles:

Is Ghost Gamer Bad For You?

Does G-Fuel Actually Work?

Can You Drink Zipfizz Every Day?

Is Rogue Energy Bad For You?