Intermittent fasting is one of the new trends of weight loss programs that focuses on a period of time where you avoid eating anything and limit yourself to low-calorie beverages.
Bang Energy is known for having zero calories and sugar, plus an impressive array of ingredients. But the question is, does drinking Bang Energy break a fast?
Short answer: Technically, Bang Energy does break a fast due to its Sucralose and Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) contents. However, it’s still alright to drink Bang Energy while fasting, depending on your reasons for fasting and how strict you plan to be with fasting.
For a more detailed discussion, read on for all the info on Bang, from its ingredients to whether drinking Bang kicks you out of ketosis.
Let’s start!
Contents
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is an eating arrangement that switches between eating and fasting on a consistent schedule.
Unlike many diets, intermittent fasting isn’t about what you eat, but when you eat. A few of the methods for intermittent fasting include daily 16-hour fasts and 24-hour fasts that are done twice a week. There are many different fasting schedules depending on your goals and needs.
Intermittent fasting provides us with many health benefits, though one of the common reasons for fasting is weight loss. Studies have proven that intermittent fasting can decrease body fat and help you lose weight without entirely restricting your calorie intake.
Other benefits of intermittent fasting include:
- Boosts working memory
- Improves heart health
- Enhances physical performance
- Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation
- Decreases the risk of Type 2 diabetes
Fundamentally, fasting means restraining yourself from eating any food. But there are certain foods and drinks you can have while you’re fasting and still maintain ketosis:
Water: You should always keep yourself hydrated even when you’re not eating. Since water has zero calories, sugar and carbs, it’s the healthiest beverage you can get.
Coffee: The best type of coffee to have while fasting is black coffee without sugar, milk or cream. Black coffee is packed with antioxidants and helps curb your appetite temporarily, which prevents you from getting hungry quickly during a fast.
Tea: Plain teas without sugar or other sweeteners are beneficial in reducing cholesterol levels, lowering blood sugar levels and promoting healthy blood pressure levels. Several types of teas you can have while fasting includes green tea, black tea, oolong tea and herbal teas.
Diluted apple cider vinegar: Diluted apple cider vinegar has been proven to reduce blood sugar levels and even helps in weight loss by making you feel full faster. To keep yourself hydrated and minimise cravings, you can add 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water.
That said, there are specific individuals that should steer clear of intermittent fasting as they need proper and suitable nutrients:
- Children and teens under age 18
- People with diabetes or blood sugar problems
- Individuals with a history of eating disorders
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Is it OK to Consume Bang Energy Drink When Fasting?
It’s perfectly OK to have zero-calorie energy drinks such as Bang when you’re fasting.
According to this article, the general rule of thumb during intermittent fasting is to drink less than 50 calories to remain in a fasted state. This is why most people practice a healthy habit of drinking water when they’re fasting.
But if you need an extra boost, there’s no harm in having a can of zero-calorie energy drink like Bang.
Bang Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
| Standard Values | Bang (16fl.oz) |
| Energy | 0 calories |
| Fat (Of which saturated) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrates (of which sugars) | 0g (0g) |
| Caffeine | 300mg |
| Sodium | 40mg |
| Protein | 0g |
| Calcium | 5mg |
| Magnesium | 5mg |
| Vitamin C | 27mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 5mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.5mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.5μg |
Going through the nutrition facts of Bang Energy, it’s clear that it complies with the requirements during intermittent fasting since it doesn’t contain calories, sugar or carbs.
For a more in-depth look at what a can of Bang will get you nutrition-wise, have a look at the article I’ve written on Bang Energy Drink Nutrition Facts, which you’ll definitely find useful.
Bang Energy Drink Ingredients
A 16 fl.oz can of Bang Energy contains the following ingredients:
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid Anhydrous
- Natural Flavors
- Malic Acid
- Caffeine Anhydrous
- EAAs (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-lysine, L-threonine, L-phenylalanine, L-histidine, L-methionine, L-tryptophan)
- Sodium Benzoate
- Potassium Citrate Monohydrate
- Sucralose
- Potassium Phosphate Dibasic
- Potassium Sorbate
- Magnesium Chloride
- Vitamin C
- SUPER CREATINE® (Creatyl-L-Leucine)
- Calcium Chloride
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
- vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
- CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)
Can You Have Caffeine During Intermittent Fasting?
It’s perfectly fine for you to drink caffeine while you are on an intermittent fast.
Aside from water, there’s plenty of beverages that are suitable when fasting such as coffee and tea.
Since both coffee and tea contain caffeine, therefore it’s okay if you drink anything caffeinated while fasting provided the drink is free of sugar, carbs and calories, which makes Bang Energy Drink a really good candidate.
There aren’t exact guidelines on how much caffeine you can consume while fasting, but it’s important that you limit your caffeine intake because too much caffeine could cause shakiness, headaches and other awful adverse effects.
For reference, the recommended daily caffeine intake for healthy adults is up to 400mg as stated by the FDA. If you aren’t careful with your consumption of caffeine, you’ll experience health problems like:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues
- Muscle breakdown
- Addiction
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
Energy drinks typically contain a lot of caffeine depending on the brand, so make sure to check the labels on the back of the can before making your purchase. Besides, you should also be aware of your limits and keep in line with the recommended daily caffeine intake to lower the risk of experiencing side effects.
With that being said, one should not consume more than a can of Bang Energy Drink because it contains 300mg of caffeine in each of its 16 oz fl. can.
Can You Have Sugar While Intermittent Fasting?
You shouldn’t have sugar while intermittent fasting because it breaks your fast by causing a sudden increase in your blood sugar levels.
Of course, when I mentioned sugar, I meant added sugars – which are processed sugars or syrups. Natural sugars that are found in natural foods like fruits and vegetables are acceptable if consumed in moderation.
Generally, whether you’re on a diet or not, consuming high amounts of sugar without consistent exercise isn’t healthy for you. Eventually, all that unused energy will turn into fat and contributes to health-related issues like obesity and cardiovascular diseases in the future.
In fact, sugar isn’t entirely bad as it’s made out to be. Glucose, a by-product of sugar once broken down by our digestive system, is useful as energy for our brains and helps increase our mental performance. Furthermore, foods with natural sugars come with plenty of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are healthy for your body.
However, having too much sugar can lead to sugar crashes later on, which leaves you feeling lethargic and sleepy. Hence, you should avoid scarfing down on tons of sugar when you get the chance to eat after your fasting ends.
In terms of sugar content, Bang Energy is completely sugar-free. Thus, if you were to judge Bang based on the presence of sugar in it or not, Bang wouldn’t break a fast due to containing zero-added sugars.
Does bang energy drink spike insulin?
The effect of Bang energy drink on insulin levels has not been studied extensively. However, given its high sugar content, some experts believe that Bang energy drink may induce a significant increase in insulin levels.
Having said that, Bang energy drink is not created specifically for diabetes patients, and its high sugar content may cause problems for some diabetics. However, because the drink contains no artificial sweeteners, it may be a better choice than some other energy drinks.
Is Bang good for weight loss?
Bang has 0% calories nevertheless, bang energy drink does not market itself as a weight loss supplement. The energy drink is not formulated with weight loss agents.
If you are looking for a drink that can help with weight loss, it is still best to consult a physician. Different health conditions and body types must be considered to be fit and well overall.
Does Sucralose In Bang Energy Break A Fast?
Sucralose does break a fast depending on your reasons for fasting. If you’re fasting for metabolic health or weight loss purposes, consuming food and drinks with Sucralose, such as Bang Energy drink, will break your fast.
Sucralose is a zero-calorie sweetener that was designed to improve the taste of food and drinks without adding on calorie and carbohydrates. It’s processed from regular sugar but it isn’t sugar.
Approved by the FDA, Sucralose is safe for consumption and used in many of our food products.
Though it’s calorie-free, Sucralose seems to have negative effects on fat loss and metabolism, as it can alter gut microbiota, which eventually affects gut metabolism in the long run.
Moreover, Sucralose also activates hormone secretion in the gut after ingestion, thus disallowing your gut from resting.
Even though Bang Energy drink has zero sugar, it does contain Sucralose. Thus, if you’re fasting for gut rest, metabolic health or to lose weight, drinking Bang breaks your fast.
But if you’re fasting for longevity, you’ll still be in a fasted window even after having Bang Energy drinks.
For more info about Sucralose and fasting, take a look at the video below:
Can You Have Any Calories While Intermittent Fasting?
You generally can have a maximum of 50 calories while intermittent fasting. But ideally, you should avoid consuming any calories at all while fasting.
Based on this article, any calories, no matter how little, break a fast. The benefits of intermittent fasting become inactive when calories are consumed. The best way to maximise the benefits of fasting is by consuming only water.
That said, an intake of calories less than 50 shouldn’t completely reduce the benefits of fasting. The zero-calorie content in a can of Bang Energy tells us that drinking it during intermittent fasting will not break a fast.
Does Creatine Break A Fast?
Technically, Creatine doesn’t break a fast because it has no calories and sugar, and doesn’t affect your blood sugar levels.
Creatine is a popular sports supplement that’s regularly taken to increase strength, enhance muscle gain and aid faster muscle recovery.
Creatine supplementation is usually taken in doses of 3g to 5g daily, and sometimes alongside carb- or protein-based meals to improve absorption into the body. It’s also confirmed that Creatine doesn’t cause any side effects.
However, according to this writer, if you want to remain a 100% in a fasting window, it’s better to stick to having only water. It really depends on how strict you plan on being with your fasting schedule to decide if it is alright to drink Bang Energy because it contains Creatine.
For more information on the Creatine content (or lack thereof) in Bang, the article I’ve written on the Creatine Content In Bang should prove to be very informative.
Do The BCAAs In Bang Break A Fast?
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) do break a fast, but not so much that it diminishes the health benefits of fasting.
BCAAs consist of three essential amino acids that can only be obtained through your diet. The benefits of BCAAs include increasing exercise performance, improving lean muscle mass and reducing muscle damage during strenuous physical activity.
Despite BCAAs not triggering a spike in blood sugar levels, they do activate a slight insulin response, which automatically breaks a fast.
The good news is that if you consume any drink that contains BCAAs while fasting, you don’t have to worry that you’ve broken your fast entirely.
The amount of BCAAs in energy drinks like Bang are typically very small so it won’t prevent you from enjoying the health benefits of fasting.
Of course, if you want to stick to a stricter fasting protocol to get maximum benefits and avoid any content of BCAAs, that’s up to you.
Bang Energy Drink And Ketosis
Ketosis is a metabolic process whereby your body burns fat for energy due to a lack of carbohydrates. A state of ketosis creates ketones. You can achieve ketosis through keto diets.
With that, let’s take a look at whether drinking Bang could kick you out of ketosis.
Bang Energy doesn’t have calories, sugar and carbs, thus it doesn’t contribute to calorie intake and triggers a spike in blood sugar levels. Plus, the caffeine in Bang can help increase your metabolism and boost the fat-burning process in your body.
Furthermore, Bang’s high caffeine content provides you with lots of energy to go through your day or do your workouts.
Therefore, drinking Bang does not kick you out of ketosis, instead it increases your metabolism and helps your body to burn fat.
What happens if you drink Bang energy drinks everyday for a week?
Drinking Bang energy drinks every day can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as headaches, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. Furthermore, drinking it excessively on a daily basis can cause dehydration.
Because Bang energy drinks are low in nutritional value, consuming too many of them will cause more harm than good.
Alternatives To Bang While Fasting
Aside from Bang, there are other sugar-free energy drinks out there for you to choose from. Here’s a quick list to get you started:
- Reign
- Red Bull Sugarfree
- Monster Energy Zero Ultra
- Celsius Energy
- G Fuel
- Zipfizz
Final Thoughts
From what we’ve learnt so far, Bang Energy can break a fast, but it depends on your reasons for fasting and how strict you are in following your fasting plans.
I believe that drinking Bang Energy does provide you with benefits such as an ample supply of energy during fasting and improvements in your performance.
Nonetheless, if you want the maximum benefits of fasting, Bang might not be the energy drink for you due to its Sucralose and BCAA content.