If you’ve ever browsed through the energy drink aisle at your local grocery store, you may remember seeing row upon row of Mountain Dew AMP Energy drinks. each stamped with their own marketing tagline.
You may have bought one of these drinks on a whim, enticed by the many claims advertised on the product in big, bold letters. But while taglines and catchphrases may grab your attention, the devil’s in the details, and nutrition labels never lie.
Today, we will be looking at the cold, hard facts of AMP Energy Drink, Mountain Dew’s sister product.
For the sake of brevity, let’s first break down the basics of what you should know about AMP Energy Drink nutrition facts.
AMP Energy Drink has a total of 220 calories per serving, a safe amount of vitamins, and zero fat. However, what makes it a not-so-great option for weight watchers and athletes is that it also has an inordinate amount of added sugar.
Read on for a more in-depth run-through of AMP’s nutrition facts, including its total calories, total carbohydrate, sodium, vitamins and percent daily value.
This article will not be discussing the ingredients list, as I have already written an article on AMP Caffeine and Ingredients. Do read that as well as it will give you a better understanding of AMP as an energy drink.
Contents
AMP Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
Below you’ll find the contents of AMP Energy Drink’s nutrition label. I will break it down for you in more detail throughout this article.
| NUTRIENT | QUANTITY |
| Calories | 220 |
| Total Carbohydrate | 58g |
| Sodium | 140mg |
| Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin | 0.7mg |
| Vitamin B3 or Niacin (as niacinamide) | 4mg |
| Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid (as calcium pantothenate) | 2mg |
| Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) | 0.3mg |
| Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin (as cyanocobalamin) | 1.2mg |
Total Calories in AMP Energy Drink
There are 220 calories in a 16 fl.oz can of AMP.
The recommended daily calorie intake for men is 2500, and 2000 for women. One can of AMP would supply around 8-10% of the ideal daily amount.
If you are watching your sugar intake, don’t look at calories. Look at the Total Carbohydrates section, which will tell you the amount of digestible sugars in AMP.
However, if your lifestyle currently involves being at a caloric surplus or deficit, you need to take into account the 220 calories you’re consuming from a single can of AMP.
Total Carbohydrates in AMP Energy Drink
AMP Energy Drink has 58g of total carbohydrate per 16 fl.oz, which refers to the amount of carbohydrate that’s present in a single serving of food or beverage.
Sugars, starches and fibers are some examples of carbohydrates. They play an important role in dietary health (for better or for worse).
Complex carbs are essential for the body, but simple carbs like candies, processed white sugar and yes, high fructose corn syrup, which is abundant in AMP, can cause a variety of illnesses ranging from insulin resistance to diabetes.
Excess carbohydrates can also make you gain weight by increasing your glycemic index and raising the insulin in your blood.
Added Sugar in AMP Energy Drink
A single 16 fl oz. can of Mountain AMP a lot of sugar, a whopping 58 grams.
The product lists this amount as supplying only 21% of a person’s daily carbohydrate intake but if you look further, see how it says that the entire can supplies over 116% of your daily sugar needs.
That’s 16% more sugar than you need in a day.
Do you know where all that sugar goes? Straight into your body to be converted into and stored as fat cells.
To put it in perspective, the daily recommended sugar intake for adults is 24 grams for women and 36 grams for men.
More likely than not, your diet already carries a good amount of sugar. Even so, AMP continues to supply almost twice the amount of sugar you need in a day in just one can.
I like the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 10 grams of added sugar a day.
Healthline
Healthline lists the different standards according to different organizations, and the presenter points out that the WHO recommends only 10 grams a day. AMP has five times that amount.
High Fructose Corn Syrup in AMP Energy Drink
High fructose corn syrup (or HFCS) is a commonly used sweetener added to many processed foods. It has been known to be very bad for your health despite its widespread use.
I suspect this ingredient accounts for the whopping 58 grams of added sugar/total carbohydrate that is present in a single serving of AMP Energy Drink.
The FDA has recommended that everyone limit their intake of HFCS, citing ongoing research about its safety.
How much taurine is in AMP energy drink?
AMP energy drinks contain no set amount of taurine. The amount varies according to the recipe or manufacturing process. While the answer may vary depending on the recipe or manufacturing process, taurine is commonly found in AMP energy drinks.
It is an amino acid that is believed to boost mental and physical performance. Taurine is a common ingredient in energy drinks although some believe taurine has health benefits, while others believe it is not required for good health.
Total Sodium in AMP Energy Drink
There is 140mg of sodium A single serving of AMP Energy Drink contains only 140mg of sodium.
The maximum limit of sodium that you should be consuming on a daily basis should not exceed 1500mg. Thankfully there is only a fraction of that amount in a can of AMP.
If you’re watching your sodium levels you should take note of the amount you consume throughout the day in addition to the amount you get from drinking AMP.
Even if you’re healthy, too much sodium in your diet can cause various diseases like heart disease and high blood pressure.
It is worse if you actually have these underlying conditions because coupled with the sugar and caffeine, the sodium content is going to wreak havoc on your coronary system.
Ultimately, consult your physician to see if you should be drinking AMP.
Vitamins in AMP Energy Drink
AMP Energy Drink, does have B Vitamins present, although it’s definitely not a substantial amount to be writing home about.
Too often you see energy drinks these days with thousands of milligrams of a vitamin that you only need just a small amount of to keep your body functioning.
AMP contains 5 different vitamins. The following table explains their functions and benefits in more detail.
| VITAMINS | FUNCTION |
| Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin | Helps in the digestion and absorption of nutrients; maintains tissue health |
| Vitamin B3 or Niacin (as niacinamide) | Converts nutrients to energy; repairs DNA; supports system as antioxidant |
| Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid (as calcium pantothenate) | Breaks down fats, proteins and coenzyme A; promotes healthy skin |
| Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) | Supports the central nervous system; ensures smooth metabolism |
| Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin (as cyanocobalamin) | Generates red blood cells; maintains brain function and nerve tissue health |
| Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid | Acts as an antioxidant; maintains bones, skin, and blood vessels |
Percent Daily Values of AMP Energy Drink
Percent Daily Value (DV) refers to the percentage of nutrients that an ingredient supplies to your body in a single day.
For example, if the DV of vitamin C in a product is 20% that means the product will only give you 20% of the vitamin C required by your body in a single day.
If the percentage falls anywhere below 100%, it means you still need to consume alternative sources of the nutrient to fulfill your daily needs. If it falls above the standard 100%, it means there’s way too much of it in a single serving (more than you need in a single day).
The following lists down the DV of all the macronutrients (carbs, fat, protein) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are present in a single serving of AMP Energy Drink.
| NUTRIENT | PERCENT DAILY VALUE (DV%) |
| Total Fat | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 21% |
| Added Sugar | 116% |
| Protein | 0% |
| Sodium | 6% |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 50% |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 25% |
| Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid | 20% |
| Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine | 50% |
| Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin | 40% |
As you can see, all the vitamins are within safe and sufficient limits which means the risk of overdosing on any one vitamin is relatively low.
As for the added sugar, that’s a problem that I have already pointed out and one that will no doubt is a key downside of having AMP Energy Drink.
How Many Cans of AMP Energy Drink Can I Have A Day?
I’d recommend not to take more than 1 can of AMP a day, but even 1 can a day is too much- I’d recommend one AMP a week if I could, or none at all.
Based on the sugar content, one can will give you enough sugar for a few days, so I really do not recommend taking AMP on a daily basis.
A 16 fl.oz can of AMP also carries 142mg of caffeine.
While some other brands go up to 300mg, which is worrying, AMP Energy Drink is well within safety limits, as the daily maximum limit of caffeine recommended by the FDA for adults is 400mg.
Bear in mind that going over that limit, or having more caffeine than you can personally handle, can cause the following effects:
- Insomnia
- Shakiness
- Anxiousness, increased heart rate
- Stomachaches
- Nausea, headaches
- Dysphoria
Based on the caffeine content, I personally do not recommend drinking more than two cans a day, as the closer you come towards the 400mg limit, the more likely you are to overdose on caffeine.
Do also remember that doubling the amount of AMP Energy Drink you have not only doubles the caffeine content but the sugar content as well, which could wreak havoc on your system.
I wouldn’t recommend drinking AMP at all (read on to find out why), but if I had to set a limit, it would be 1 (or half) can a day.
Is AMP Energy Drink For Everyone?
Due to AMP’s high sugar content and moderate amount of caffeine present, it’s certainly not an energy drink for everyone.
Not recommended for children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine.
AMP’s warning label
The warning on the label is there because of the caffeine, but I would say that caffeine is not the only ingredient to watch out for.
With AMP’s sugar level, those who are watching their carb intake should avoid AMP, and anyone on insulin medication or having any sugar-related diseases definitely should not go near AMP.
Please consult your physician if you aren’t sure whether you can handle AMP.
Is AMP Energy Drink Healthy?
AMP is not a healthy drink, nor is it a healthy energy drink.
AMP isn’t exactly the poster boy for healthy energy drinks, especially with its high sugar content and use of high fructose corn syrup; it’s definitely not something you want to be having every day.
If you’re thinking of healthy drinks, go for plain water or natural fruit juices. Most energy drinks are definitely not high on healthy drink lists because of the numerous additives and sweeteners usually present in them.
Does AMP Energy Drink Work?
AMP probably works, but it may bring unwanted side effects too, some that may cause long-term damage to your health if consumed too frequently.
The caffeine in AMP, coupled with the sugar, is enough to provide the boost that you might be seeking in an energy drink.
However, most other energy drinks work just as well (if not better) than AMP, and they don’t carry as many controversial ingredients.
Do consider all options before opting for AMP.
Are AMP energy drinks being discontinued?
AMP energy drinks have not been discontinued. They are still sold in the markets of USA, UK, Canada and some parts of Europe and Asia.
However, AMP energy drinks are not sold in some countries because they have not been authorized by local regulatory bodies. Additionally, other countries may not be able to sell AMP energy drinks because the company lacks a distribution deal.
Personal Opinion
I say this with a heavy heart, but I absolutely do not recommend AMP Energy Drink, especially as your daily energy drink of choice.
The sugar content is enough of a reason to stay away from this energy drink.
I will say, though, that I like AMP’s Goldilocks caffeine amount. Not too much, not too little, just right. However, from the amount of sugar alone, the pros are simply not enough to outweigh the cons.
However, all is not lost. I know for a fact that there are many AMP Energy Drink fans out there who love the drink simply for its taste and nothing more.
If you can practice a little dietary restraint, pour half the can out in a glass to finish for the day and drink the other half another day.
You may not get much caffeine for a sustained energy boost, but you will probably avoid overdosing on that ridiculous amount of sugar, so that’s a win in my book.