Healthiest Energy Drink Powders (Pick the Best)
In any consumption, your priority should always include how that affects your body. It’ll be the things we drink and eat that’ll contribute to our daily performance.
If you’re an athlete, a student, or someone who simply needs the boost from time to time then energy drinks are definitely something you’d reach for.
But in consideration of your health, which of these will help nitrify you while also giving you the sustenance you need for your work? Which are the healthiest energy drink powders?
Amongst what I’ve reviewed, the healthiest energy drink powders are Rogue Energy, Zipfizz Energy, and Mixt Energy.
These have just the right ingredients to help with your daily needs so let’s dive right in to what makes these work!
Contents
Are energy drink powders safe?
Yes! Products such as energy drinks contain products that are FDA approved. This means that its ingredients have also gone into review before these were approved for selling
Its consumption, however, is often only limited to a daily serving. Which means it’ll remain safe as long as it’s consumed within these limitations. Any further than this will likely lead to health complications especially with the ingredients in energy drinks such as caffeine or sugar.
However, it isn’t for everyone. Energy drink powders are formulated for healthy adults. therefore the following are discouraged from consuming them:
- children or adolescents
- people that are pregnant
- people that are nursing
- people that are trying to conceive
- people with medical conditions
Besides these, and within recommendations, energy drink powders are safe.
What to Look For in a Healthy Energy Drink
Every energy drink on the market contains certain ingredients such as caffeine, sugar, and vitamins. These are all core ingredients and are important inclusions you should look for when taking your pick of energy drinks.
Let’s dive into the details!
Caffeine
Caffeine is often found in tea leaves, cocoa, or their derivative ingredient the cacao.
It is an ingredient that stimulates the brain and central nervous system. works by blocking off the effects of adenosine receptors that make you feel sluggish. In place, it gives you energy and better focus which is why it is a core ingredient in energy drinks.
Beyond that, caffeine is a natural antioxidant that helps the body process glucose better and lowers the risk of cancer. But it shouldn’t be consuming so hastily.
According to the FDA, the maximum daily limit of caffeine intake of a healthy adult should be no more than 400 mg.
With that, it’s better to keep a tab on your limits to avoid overconsumption of caffeine and avoid side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, and headaches.
Therefore, despite its innate health benefits, overconsumption can so easily change this.
Sugar
Sugar is another core ingredient in energy drinks. Although the ingredient itself is fine, it can often lead to excess sugar consumption that can lead to health complications.
Sugar gives you a quick boost but if consumed in excess it can lead to a sugar crash, which is as bad as it sounds
The AHA, has recommended the daily intake for men is 36g, for women, its 25g, and for children is 19g.
So some brands have taken the extra step to produce zero-sugar energy drink powders. For a healthier option, it’s best to choose an energy drink that doesn’t have sugar. This will be relatively healthier than risking the chances of a sugar-induced health problem.
Therefore, it is advised to stay within the limits given by the authorities, just to be cautious of the side effects that sugar has when overdosed.
Some long-term side effects of a sugar overdose are the ff.:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Aging
- Weight Gain
- Acne
Therefore, it’s a better option to cut down sugar if you’re a diabetic or simply health-conscious to save you from a sugar crash.
Which is healthier: sugar or artificial sweeteners?
With the discussion on sugar above, artificial sweeteners are definitely healthier.
Some drinks have artificial sweeteners instead of sugar to keep the drink sweet and enjoyable. Artificial sweeteners are neither healthy nor unhealthy. They can be beneficial in weight loss, controlling blood sugar levels, and even dental care.
Artificial sweeteners are 200 to 600 times sweeter than sugar which means you don’t have to add so much to get a sweet drink. Some commonly used in drinks are Sucralose and Acesulfame K.
They are considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration FDA as long as they’re consumed in appropriate amounts.
However, they can leave you feeling hungry which can lead to weight gain. It can also alter your taste perception, therefore, increasing your cravings.
Some side effects of artificial sugars can be:
- Brain tumor
- Bladder cancer
- Seizure
- Depression
The acceptable daily intake of artificial sugars is 50 mg per kilogram of the body. That means if you are around 150 pounds, 3,409 milligrams a day would be on the safer side.
Between the two, artificial sweeteners aren’t known to induce health complications making it the healthier option.
Here’s a helpful video discussing the two ingredients:
Vitamins
Vitamins are micronutrients and are often used as supplements to provide proper functioning. This is an effort to not only sustain you but provide you with the nutrition you may need.
When looking for a healthy energy drink, try to look for the inclusion of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids such as Taurine, Biotin, or Riboflavin.
Taurine is an amino acid that has antioxidant properties and is essential in regulating the body’s functions. It is naturally found in meat, milk, or fish so if you’re avoiding any of these items, having it in energy drinks is sure a plus for you.
B-vitamins like biotin and riboflavin work well with caffeine. They help in converting the food in your body into energy by cell metabolism. These also improve brain function and nerve functions.
Is it okay to drink energy drinks daily?
Yes, it’s okay to drink energy drinks daily as long as you consume them in moderation.
Your consumption is heavily reliant on your responsibility to watch out for your intake. However, opting for a drink that has a moderate amount of both caffeine and sugar can be helpful in regulating consumption.
Therefore, always keep in mind that the daily limit given by FDA is not more than 400mg.
Benefits of Energy Drinks
Energy drinks have benefits if consumed in moderation but on the contrary, it has their downfalls too. Let’s look at both of these.
The upside
- Energy drinks give you an extra boost, it has ingredients such as caffeine and sugar which provides with boost making you more energized and focused. Talking about healthy, choose the ones with no sugar to avoid sugar crashes and those extra calories too.
- Convenience. Energy drink powders are very convenient to carry around, they come in sachets and are more friendly than roaming around with a cup of coffee.
- Affordability is the main concern. These sachets are affordable than any of those Starbucks coffee that costs $5. These drinks are about $1 or $2 per sachet, sometimes even less than $1. If you are a student or an athlete with a budget these powdered energy drinks are your go-to drinks.
- A variety of flavors. Powdered energy drinks come in with a lot of flavors choice. You can even mix them with your favorite drinks or juices to make them more tasty and refreshing.
The downside
- Weight gain. Having energy drinks with too much sugar content can lead to weight gain because of the calories in them. It is advised to read out the nutritional label, just to be wary of your intake.
- Heart diseases. It can lead to heart disease due to rapid heart rate because of calories, sugar, and caffeine.
- Caffeine addiction. Relying too much on energy drinks for energy-boosting can lead to caffeine addiction. There are many other ways you can boost up your energy such as increasing water intake, a quick nap, exercise session, or yoga.
- Potential side effects. It causes side effects such as insomnia, restlessness, headache, and anxiety.
You can keep your energy drinks intake in moderation and avoid the downsides as it mostly occurs due to overdosing.
What can you drink instead of energy drinks for a healthier version?
If you want to be totally on the healthier version and avoid crashes totally understandable, Here are quite a few drinks that can be proved healthy when consumed.
Water
Water is a necessity. About 60% of our body is made up of water and it is recommended that you drink at least six or eight glasses of water per day.
Not having enough water for the day can leave you feeling fatigued and sluggish. According to physicians, water plays an important part in keeping you energized.
Hence why it’s also a good thing to stay hydrated. You can simply check the color of your urine. If it’s colorless or with a yellowish hue then you are hydrated but if it’s darker than usual, it’s likely you are dehydrated and in dire need of water.
Green Tea
Green tea is the most common antioxidant drink used around the world. If you’re avoiding calories then this is your pick. It has nutrients that are beneficial to your body, it improves the body’s metabolism and physical performance.
It also contains caffeine, but in a more considerate amount than the energy drinks, enough to keep you awake if needed. Due to such less amount of caffeine, you won’t even feel any withdrawals or jitters effects.
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is another herbal tea made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It is rich in antioxidants and nutrients. It contains caffeine enough to boost your mental performance and improve mental focus.
It may be useful in protecting against infections. Its studies on animals show that it reduces appetite and boosts metabolism, which can be helpful for weight loss.
Coconut Water
If you are an athlete then this drink is for you. It contains minerals like Potassium that is beneficial for muscle and nerve health.
It’s the perfect sports drink to rehydrate and replenish the electrolytes that you lost during a game or a workout.
Healthiest Energy Drink Powders
If you are a fan of energy drink powders and want to stay healthy, keeping all the above-mentioned facts in mind, I have picked the healthiest energy drink powders for you. Let’s take a look:
| Brands | Sugar-Free | Artificial Sweetener |
| Rogue Energy | Yes | Sucralose |
| Zipfizz Energy | Yes | Xylitol & Sucralose |
| Mixt Energy | Yes | Sucralose |
Rogue Energy
Rogue is an energy drink with zero calories and about 175mg of caffeine per serving. This is a good amount to stay within the limit and keep you sufficiently boosted.
It has 13 different flavors to choose from.
It has also replaced sugar with artificial sweetener namely Sucralose which is calorie-free, so if you’re an athlete or working on a diet trip, you can opt for this drink. Its caffeine content is enough to provide you with the boost you need to improve physical performance but is small enough to remain healthy.
Rogue energy is widely available in tubs and sachets, the tub of 30 servings costs $32.99 and sachets are a little over $1.
If you want more information on Rogue Energy, check out this article.
Zipfizz Energy
Zipfizz is another great energy drink powder with over 14 different flavors to opt for. It has a fruity theme, each with 100mg of caffeine per serving. This amount of caffeine is a good catch if you’re looking to have another drink later on so you can add to it if you feel the need.
It is sugar-free just like Rogue Energy but it has 20 calories, which you might have to take into consideration before consuming this drink.
It uses artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol and Sucralose. It comes in tubes ranging from $37.99, which is $2 per serving, making this drink the most expensive on this list.
Here’s a handy article for more on Zipfizz.
Mixt Energy
Mixt energy is an energy drink with 165mg of caffeine per serving. This amount of caffeine is enough for a gym enthusiast to boost upon their workout.
It is also zero-calorie just like Rogue Energy and uses Sucralose instead of sugar.
The con is that it only has 9 flavors so if you’re picky, this might cause a problem.
It is available in tubs and sachets. With tubs starting at a price of $29.99.
Wanna know more about Mixt Energy? Here’s the perfect article for you.
Summary
A healthy energy drink can be one with a considerate amount of caffeine so as to not touch on the daily limit to close. And preferably uses artificial sweeteners in place of sugar. In addition, a selection of vitamins is helpful too.
Here Rogue Energy, Zipfizz Energy, and Mixt Energy fall in the categories of healthy drinks to choose from as they have a good amount of caffeine and are sugar-free, with FDA-approved sweeteners.
Beyond all the goodness, it is still important to keep a tab of your intake and read the nutritional label before consuming any drink.
With this, I hope you are able to pick the healthiest energy drink powder for yourself!
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