The C4 Energy drink is a product of the established health and fitness company, Nutrabolt. Since its release in 2018, this energy drink brand has successfully grown a following, mainly consisting of fitness enthusiasts.
In my opinion, C4 Energy drink makes a good choice for people who are looking for an energy drink that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Its calorie and sugar-free and contains beneficial ingredients for a healthy energy boost. However, I have to rate it 8 out of 10, mainly due to its high caffeine content.
Read on to find out my full review of C4 Energy.
Contents
Ingredients of C4 Energy Drink
There’s 6.73g of Explosive Performance Energy Blend in each 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy drink:
- Caffeine anhydrous (200mg)
- CarnoSyn Beta-alanine
- Beta Power Betaine Anhydrous
- N-acetyl-l-tyrosine
- Citrulline malate
Also some quantities of these ingredients:
- Carbonated water
- Citric Acid
- Natural flavors
- Artificial flavors
- Potassium sorbate
- Sucralose
- Acesulfame potassium
Nutrition Facts of C4 Energy Drink
Here’s a quick overview of the nutritional values of a 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy drink:
| Standard Values | C4 “Original” Carbonated (16 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 0 calories |
| Protein | 0g |
| Fat (Of Which Saturated) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 0g (0g) |
| Sodium | Unspecified |
| Caffeine | 200mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 30mg |
| Vitamin B6 | – |
| Vitamin B9 | – |
| Vitamin B12 | 6μg |
| Potassium | 85mg |
Pros of C4 Energy Drink
Calorie-Free
C4 Energy Drinks are completely calorie-free.
Did you know that the ideal amount of calories an average adult can consume is around 2,000 – 2,500 calories a day? Though, this still depends on your age, gender, height, and weight, of course.
But with a calorie-free energy drink like C4 Energy, you’ll have more room for healthier calorie sources.
Overall, including a 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy in your diet is a healthy choice as it won’t affect your daily calorific intake. That also means that the energy boost you’ll get mostly comes from its caffeine content.
Sugar-Free
Not only is the C4 Energy drink contains zero calories, but a 16 fl.oz can of this drink is also sugar-free. I think it’s definitely a better choice than other energy drinks that contain high levels of sugar.
As you know, regularly consuming an excessive amount of sugar will damage your health in the long run. In fact, the AHA strongly advises that women should take only 25g of sugar a day and 36g for men.
Going over the recommended daily limit will eventually lead to a high sugar diet, and this will cause health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
It’s also important to note that almost all of the food and beverage we consume throughout the day contains sugar, so it’s easy to overconsume, especially if you have no self-control.
Thus, I highly recommend having the C4 Energy drink instead of sugary energy drinks as its sugar-free nature will be good for your physical and mental wellbeing.
Explosive Performance Energy Blend
What’s unique about C4 Energy drink is its explosive performance energy blend, which consists of a combination of beneficial ingredients such as Citrulline Malate, CamoSyn® Beta-Alanine, BetaPower® Betaine Anhydrous, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, and Caffeine Anhydrous.
Citrulline Malate and Beta-Alanine are non-essential amino acids your body can produce naturally.
Their benefits include improving exercise performance and the promotion of blood vessels. They can also help lower blood pressure, which is beneficial, especially if you have a heart problem.
On the other hand, Beta-Alanine works as a buffer to delay the onset of lactic acid and muscle fatigue that speeds the recovery of your muscles.
Beta Anhydrous is a known compound in charge of breaking down harmful substances in your body to keep your liver healthy. It’s an ingredient that most bodybuilders watch out for since it improves hydration and power.
The Tyrosine in the C4 Energy drink is an amino acid that promotes cognitive functions and mental alertness. It’s good for stress regulation and even beneficial for those with ADHD.
Lastly, Caffeine Anhydrous is a dehydrated form of coffee plant leaves, which is beneficial for weight loss. Also, it’s more potent and concentrated than coffee beans since the caffeine goes through a dehydration process.
It’s clear why most fitness enthusiasts love C4 Energy drinks, as this unique blend of ingredients is proven to be beneficial for physical performance. It’s definitely a drink you should consider, especially if you’re looking for a pre-workout energy drink.
Cons of C4 Energy Drink
High Caffeine Content
A 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy drink contains around 200mg of caffeine. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, this amount may not be suitable for you as it can lead to some nasty side effects.
Caffeine is indeed a great ingredient that can boost your energy levels and improve your overall mood. However, consuming more than your body can handle will actually cause more harm than good.
My caffeine preference is around 100mg of caffeine per drink, as going over that limit will often cause my heart to palpitate and make me feel jittery.
Plus, the FDA states that healthy adults should only consume a maximum of 400mg of caffeine a day.
So even if you have a high caffeine metabolism, I strongly advise you to avoid having multiple cans of C4 Energy drink in a single day as you’ll end up exceeding the daily limit.
That said, making a habit out of regularly consuming highly caffeinated energy drinks will cause health risks such as:
- Restlessness
- Jittery feeling
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Rapid
- Palpitations
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Dependency
As you can see, caffeine can become unhealthy for you, especially if you have a low caffeine tolerance.
While the caffeine content in C4 Energy drink is still below the recommended daily limit, it’s always a good idea to not go overboard and keep your consumption to a maximum of 2 cans a day. I think having more than that is just asking for trouble.
Are There Any Artificial Sweeteners in C4 Energy Drink?
While a 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy drink is sugar-free, there’s still artificial sweeteners such as Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) present in this drink. That said, both of these sweeteners are calorie-free, so consuming them won’t affect your overall diet.
Not only do they contain zero calories, but they’re also around 200 – 600 times sweeter than regular sugar. That’s why artificial sweeteners are a popular ingredient in sugar and calorie-free products.
That said, the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) approves of sucralose as an effective ingredient to regulate sugar levels in your body. So, it’s definitely a great sugar alternative if you have a pre-existing medical condition like diabetes.
However, health experts have found that overconsuming these ingredients can cause health issues such as nausea, depression, and even serious health problems like cancer.
It’s also important to note that they’re actually approved as safe to consume by the FDA. So, as long as you control your intake and keep your health in check, you shouldn’t worry about the artificial sweeteners in the C4 Energy drink.
For a more in-depth explanation on Sucralose, check out the video below:
C4 Energy Vs. Red Bull
I’ve compiled the nutrition facts of C4 Energy and Red Bull in the comparison table below:
| Red Bull (8.4 fl.oz) | C4 Energy (16 fl.oz) | |
| Caffeine | 80mg | 200mg |
| Calories | 110 calories | 0 calories |
| Sugar | 27g | 0g |
| Price | Around $2 | Around $3 |
Caffeine Content
An 8.4 fl.oz can of Red Bull contains 80mg, while C4 Energy has over 200mg of caffeine in each 16 fl.oz can. I think in terms of caffeine, it’s clear that a can of Red Bull is healthier due to its relatively lower caffeine content.
Even if you drink two cans of Red Bull, you’ll only be consuming around 160mg of caffeine which is still lesser than a single can of C4 Energy drink.
Most importantly, Red Bull’s caffeine content falls well below the FDA’s recommendation. Unlike with C4 Energy, you’ll wipe out your entire caffeine limit for the day if you have two cans.
Ultimately, you can still consume C4 Energy drink as long as you’re sure your body can handle that amount of caffeine and you control your overall caffeine consumption for the day.
Remember, over-consuming caffeine will be detrimental to your health.
Calorie and Sugar Content
While C4 Energy drink is calorie and sugar-free, a can of Red Bull contains 110 calories and a whopping 27g of sugar per 8.4 fl.oz can. Although its calorie content is below the recommended daily limit, 27g of sugar goes beyond the recommended daily sugar limit if you’re a woman.
I have no issue with Red Bull’s calorie content, as I think it’s a reasonable amount if you’re looking for some extra calories to burn off during your workout session. But, its sugar content is highly concerning and regularly consuming that much sugar will put your health at risk.
As you’re aware, sugar is highly associated with health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Thus, I would highly recommend going for the C4 Energy drink due to its zero-calorie and sugar content.
Price
A 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy drink cost around $3, whereas you can get Red Bull (8.4 fl.oz) for around $2. However, keep in mind that both energy drink brands have different sizes, which explains why C4 Energy is slightly pricier.
Personally, paying around $3 for a 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy is worth it as besides quality, I also look out for the quantity of the drink. Considering the nutrition values and ingredients that are present in this drink, the price is definitely reasonable.
C4 Energy Vs. Monster
The comparison between C4 Energy and Monster below is according to the values of their 16 fl.oz cans:
| Monster (16 fl.oz) | C4 Energy (16 fl.oz) | |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 200mg |
| Calories | 210 calories | 0 calories |
| Sugar | 54g | 0g |
| Price | Around $3 | Around $3 |
Caffeine Content
As you can see, the C4 Energy drink contains more caffeine than Monster Energy, with 200mg of caffeine in each 16 fl.oz can. However, in my opinion, I still think the 160mg of caffeine in Monster can be harmful, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
Personally, the caffeine content in both energy drinks goes beyond my limit. But if you have a high caffeine metabolism, I would suggest going for Monster Energy because 160mg of caffeine is still safer than regularly consuming 200mg of caffeine.
However, the biggest downside of Monster Energy is its high calorie and sugar content, which will make you want to reconsider your decision.
Calorie and Sugar Content
Like I mentioned, a 16 fl.oz can of Monster Energy contains 210 calories and an insane amount of 54g of sugar per serving. That said, I highly suggest you go for the C4 Energy drink as it’s calorie and sugar-free.
While Monster Energy’s calorie content is below the recommended daily calorie limit, the 54g of sugar in this drink definitely exceeds AHA’s daily sugar limit recommendation.
It’s best to keep in mind that the calories in sweet beverages usually don’t give your body any nutritional values, which is why they’re called empty calories.
I also think that the sugar content in Monster is just unhealthy. For reference, 50g of sugar is equivalent to 12 teaspoons of table sugar.
Thus, the zero-calorie and sugar content in C4 Energy is obviously the healthier choice. Regularly consuming Monster Energy will leave you with the health consequences of consuming an excessive amount of sugar.
Price
Each 16 fl.oz can of C4 Energy and Monster has more or less the same price, so it all boils down to your preference on which energy drink brand suits your lifestyle more.
Although, I highly recommend getting the C4 Energy drink as Monster’s sugar content can damage your health in the long run. Not to mention the nasty sugar crash you’ll experience when the effects of Monster wears off.
Final Thoughts
Based on the review, C4 Energy is a good energy drink to include in your regular diet because it’s packed with beneficial energy-boosting ingredients while also being completely calorie and sugar-free.
When compared to leading energy drink brands such as Red Bull and Monster, it’s clear that C4 Energy wins in the calorie and sugar department. However, the 200mg of caffeine in a 16 fl.oz can of this drink is its biggest downside for me.
Personally, I would avoid making C4 Energy my go-to energy drink, specifically for its high caffeine content. I’ll only have this drink occasionally and keep my intake to only one can a day.
That said, if your body can handle 200mg of caffeine well, I’m sure you’ll benefit more from the C4 Energy drink. But it’s still best to not have more than two cans of this drink in a day to avoid having too much caffeine.
Also, it’s a good idea to space out your C4 Energy drink consumption by sticking to one can first. If you still need a caffeine kick, you can always go for other caffeinated beverages with lower caffeine content, such as herbal tea and regular coffee.
If you have any questions, you can always consult your health specialist for a more conclusive answer on how the C4 Energy drink will fit in your diet.
All in all, there’s no denying that the C4 Energy drink does a pretty good job for an energy drink, especially since it leans more towards the healthier spectrum of energy drinks. Plus, I think paying $3 for it is worth it, given its beneficial ingredients.
As long as you drink it in moderation, you’ll definitely enjoy C4 Energy drink!