What Are The Best Energy Drink Powders For A Workout? (Revamped lifestyle)
Whether you’re a person who goes to the gym daily, a motivated newbie, or someone with no experience, everyone has those days when the fatigue takes over and you lose all the energy to complete the whole set of crunches or any other exercise.
You need something to power you throughout the whole time you’re at the gym. What better beverage to beverage to buy than energy drinks powders which are tested and proven to improve your performance.
If you’re still looking for some brands to try during your visits to the gym, you can start or even see how compatible you are with powdered energy drinks since they are the better option in contrast to their canned counterparts since they allow you to have full control on how much are you going to take with you to your session. Brands like Zipfizz, Celsius On-The-Go, and G Fuel may also be the answer to your problems!
So what makes a good energy drink suitable for any kind of workout session? Which ingredients should look out for when reaching for a specific brand? If you’re that curious, I say get some pen and paper and let’s dive in!
Contents
How to choose the best energy drink for a workout?
There are more than a hundred brands in the market thus far. They are all saying the same things: that their products are nutritious, yummy, and affordable!
In order to know if a certain brand is compatible with your current health and budget as well as taste preferences, here are some of the things you should check before consuming any energy drink you may see in a shop or in an online store.
Caffeine content
Caffeine is an organic stimulant and is one of the primary sources of energy in energy drinks, aside from the macronutrients each brand carries. Studies also show that consuming caffeine can also help you with concentrating and can even enhance both your mental and physical performance, among other things.
Generally, you can choose a brand that contains a high amount of caffeine as it will give you better results as you do your exercises. However, the amount you should intake would largely on your caffeine tolerance.
Knowing how much caffeine your body can take on a daily basis enables you to have a better relationship with energy drinks and caffeine in general as it prevents you from experiencing caffeine dependence and even addiction. So while you may want to ingest high dosages for endurance and energy, it’s still better to check if your body can handle it in the process.
As per FDA, the recommended daily intake amount of caffeine for adults is 400 mg. However, there are studies that concluded that a beverage containing 100 mg of caffeine does the job just like the higher doses.
This table summarizes some of the key positive and negative effects you may get upon consuming caffeine:
| PROS | CONS |
| Heightened alertness | Anxiety |
| Improved reaction time | Dehydration |
| Enhances cognitive function | Insomnia |
| Decrease risks of cancers, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease | Jitters and abnormal heart rates |
Sugar content
Sugar counts as the secondary source of energy in many energy drinks even though it mainly exists to enhance its flavor and taste. However, consuming sugary drinks can lead to a sugar crash after two hours or so.
Scientifically speaking, sugar must be consumed in moderation. AHA says that the suitable amount of sugar for most men is 36 grams and for most women 24 grams.
Excessive sugar intake may lead to:
- Obesity
- Dental problems
- Heart disorders
- Heightened risk to certain types of cancers
- Increased threat of type II diabetes
- Skin problems
Personally, a sugary energy drink may not be a suitable beverage during a workout as it defeats the process of needing an energy booster for your exercises, to begin with. I highly suggest consuming sugar-free brands as an alternative.
On the other hand, energy drink developers use sugar substitutes to sport a better option for fitness individuals and other people who can’t ingest table sugar due to health complications. The most popular artificial sweeteners that are used by various brands in the food industry are Sucralose and Aspartame, while other corporations are more likely to use another replacement called sugar alcohols.
If you’re curious about sugar substitutes, you can check out this Youtube video for more information:
Calories
Calories are one of the macronutrients that most, if not all, energy drink companies tap on to ensure that you’ll get energy after consuming their product. Contrary to popular beliefs, calories are helpful to your body as it keeps you functioning.
On the other hand, I suggest staying away from beverages with high caloric content if you’re trying to lose weight as they will stand between you and your daily fitness goals. However, if you’re lifting weights or trying to gain weight, calories are much needed in your lifestyle, keeping in mind that you still must consume them in moderation.
But no matter the circumstance, I personally think that your caloric consumption is at 2,500 for men and 2,000 for women, or somewhere near these numbers. It’s also good to know that too many calories can result in the following negative side effects:
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Heart diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes type II
Price
Personally speaking, consuming an energy drink, especially on a regular basis, doesn’t have to burn out your wallet or disrupt your budget.
Going for cheaper brands doesn’t always mean that you’ll get a low-quality product. Sometimes, expensive energy drinks may not be a great choice for you due to loads of sugar and caffeine when compared to cheaper brands with a sensible quantity of caffeine and sugar.
If you’re a regular consumer then I’d recommend buying in bulk to save money. Sometimes the price also depends upon the store or website you buy the product from, so I highly suggest checking multiple shops before purchasing as you may find those who sell it for a low price.
Moreover, I personally think that a solitary energy drink shouldn’t cost more than $2 dollars for it to be affordable to just about anyone who may want to try it out or make it a go-to beverage before and after a workout.
What is the best time to drink energy drinks for a workout?
The best time to drink energy drinks for a workout is 40 to 45 minutes before your session begins.
The caffeine from energy drinks enters your bloodstream after 10 to 15 minutes of consumption. It’s fully consumed by your bloodstream within 45 minutes where your body will reach its peak performance and endurance.
It could take at least a day for the caffeine to leave your bloodstream. However, it could be a whole different scenario if you ingested a sugary energy drink as a sugar crash can occur within a few hours.
For most healthy people, it’s safe to consume energy drinks during the workout. However, the fizz in them is the reason why I’d not suggest consuming them during your exercises since it may cause side effects or uneasiness.
What should I drink for energy before a workout?
Naturally, water would be the best beverage to drink before a workout as it keeps you hydrated. It helps you combat a significant fall in your performance, most notably in your strength and power capabilities while ensuring that your body has replaced most of the water it has lost in the process.
However, modern technology has given us the chance to invent pre-workout drinks and supplements with all the necessary ingredients your body may use and store upon ingestion. These include:
- Amino Acids
- Creatine
- Caffeine
- Nitrates
- Carbohydrates
These elements are also responsible for your prolonged workout time and ability to keep up with the various physical activities that prevent you from having muscle tears, cramps, and even broken bones. Pre-workout drinks and supplements also give your body what it needs without having to make you feel full or bloated during your exercises.
What’s also essential is your body’s constant change of its stocked energy and use up the stored-up elements it has been keeping for this very moment. At this juncture, I also think that it’s a good idea to refrain from consuming any beverage with high sugar content in order to prevent a possible sugar crash from occurring.
Best energy drink powders for a workout
Now that you know what should you look out for in an energy drink, it’s time to introduce some of the well-known brands in the fitness alley!
Zipfizz
Zipfizz is more than every American household’s favorite, it can also be your best gym buddy!
It’s an energy drink powder that you can consume regularly for a boost of energy as it also improves your ability to focus and enhance your cognitive functions.
It contains 100 mg of caffeine per serving which is the perfect amount as you can add one or half more servings to your drink if you can tolerate high caffeine and still be within the limit. It’s also sugar-free, has only 20 calories, and 2g of carbs per serving that you can enjoy in all 10 flavors.
It’s also worth mentioning that 20 tubes pack of Zipfizz is available for $37.99 on their official site.
Its caffeine content and sugar-free nature can help you make the most out of your session as you’re energized without having to face a possible crash after a few hours.
Celsius On-The-Go
A rising energy drink brand by the name of Celsius On-The-Go may just be the boost you need before heading to the gym.
This energy powder holds 200 mg of caffeine which can provide you with a strong rise in your energy levels for an intense workout session. However, I’d only recommend this brand for people who can tolerate a high amount of caffeine.
Moreover, it carries zero sugar, 10 calories, and 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving. A total of 14 serving of these energy powder packets costs $16.63. From these alone, you can guarantee that there will never be a dull workout session with Celsius On-The-Go.
Start reading this article where I wrote a detailed review of Celsius-On-The-Go if you want to know more about this awesome product!
G Fuel
Let’s not forget the King and most popular energy drink powder thus far: G Fuel. In fact, its popularity even extends to the gaming community!
Aside from antioxidants and B Vitamins, this brand has no sugar and contains just 15 calories, 3g of carbs, as well as 150 mg of caffeine for each scoop. Another good news is that a canister with 40 servings of G Fuel can be bought for $35.99 from their official site and for $29.99 from Amazon.
You can’t go wrong with choosing the best-powdered energy drink in the market. You can start with this comprehensive and honest review if you want to integrate G Fuel into your lifestyle.
Conclusion
Energy drinks are renowned for their energy-boosting capabilities. They can be your best friend on days when you’re too lazy to work out or you need extra energy for an intense session.
To get the highest energy levels during the workout, it is preferred to drink the beverage 40 to 45 minutes before the beginning of your session.
I personally think that you should always choose a drink with a sensible amount of caffeine and sugar. It’s also wise to avoid sugary beverages to get crash-free raise in energy levels, while the amount of caffeine you consume largely depends on your tolerance.
