Calories in energy drinks

Ever wondered how many calories are in energy drinks? Sure, they’re high in caffeine, but did you know that they’re also very high in sugar, and in some cases, calories?

Are energy drinks good for you?

Not exactly. They’re very high in caffeine and sugar, which can lead to dreaded energy crashes as the effects of so much caffeine wears off. 

Plenty of people buy energy drinks for a much-needed lift, but it’s generally thought that they’re best avoided, or at least limited in number.

The caffeine in energy drinks can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, cause anxiety, restlessness and insomnia, and it has even been linked to liver problems. The sugar content of energy drinks has also been linked to obesity, dental erosion, and abdominal pain.

If you want to read more about the effects of energy drinks, this is a good bit of research, along with this one that looks at the effects of energy drinks on young people.

Everything in moderation

We’re not here to judge if you drink a Monster every now and then. Are there better things you can drink? Probably, but we’re not here to label food and drink as ‘bad’ or ‘good’.

People who enjoy energy drinks (hello) like them for their effects – elevated mood, increased energy, higher levels of alertness. If you are going to drink them, save yourself some calories and cut back on sugar by switching to sugar-free varieties. Try and keep them to the occasional treat instead of relying on them to give you an energy boost every day.

You might think that it’s the sugar content in energy drinks that gives you the energy, but it’s the caffeine content that really puts a spring in your step (or, y’know, gives you wings) and as sugar-free varieties are still loaded with caffeine, so you should still get the same buzz.

Here are the calories in energy drinks, and details of how many calories you could save by switching to sugar-free varieties so you can make an informed decision.