Initially launched under the Mountain Dew brand name then changed to AMP, the drink has seen a rise in popularity since its launch over a decade ago.
AMP has a lot to offer and its wide range of ingredients make the drink a great energy booster.
I decided to purchase a can and test it out to see if the drink is worth getting!
If you would prefer not to go through the article and are looking for a short answer, I would rate AMP a 7/10. Its taste isn’t bad, but the high quantity of sugar is a big no-no for me.
Read on for a deeper dive into the contents of AMP, taste test, and a final opinion about the drink.
Contents
Ingredients in AMP Energy
Each AMP drink comes with all of these ingredients:
- Carbonated water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Citric acid
- Concentrated orange juice
- Natural flavor
- Sodium benzoate
- Sodium polyphosphates
- Caffeine
- Guarana seed extract
- Gum Arabic
- Vitamin C or ascorbic acid
- Taurine
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
- Panax ginseng root extract
- Yellow 5
- Natural apple extract
- Blue 1
Nutritional Contents of AMP
Here is a detailed guide of the nutritional contents of AMP.
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Calories | 220 |
| Carbohydrates | 58g |
| Sodium | 140mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.7mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 4mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 2mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2mg |
What are the Energizers in AMP?
The primary energizer present in most energy drinks and recognized by consumers is caffeine. Each 16 fl oz can of AMP contains 142 mg of this.
Other less recognized energizers include Taurine, which has been tested and proven to improve athletic performance and concentration.
AMP also includes five of the eight essential B Vitamins required by humans. These are essential in making you get rid of fatigue.
All B Vitamins have the ability to turn carbohydrates within the body into glucose. Glucose then travels to muscles and makes you feel energized.
Is AMP Better Than Other Energy Drinks?
Here is a detailed comparison with other popular brands to give you a clear picture of where AMP stands against other energy drinks.
AMP Vs. Celsius
Celsius has 200mg of caffeine compared to AMP’s 140mg. More doesn’t necessarily mean good.
140mg of caffeine is more than enough to give you your desired boost and keep side effects at bay.
Celsius is a lot more health-friendly and contains only ten calories, on the other hand, AMP has 220.
The sugar content also varies a great deal. Celsius does not contain any sugar and instead uses artificial sweeteners, compared to the 54 grams of sugar in AMP, Celsius is considerably healthier.
Taste-wise, AMP gets the medal, Celsius has an appealing taste and a variety of flavors, but AMP has a special spot in my heart.
AMP Vs. Xyience
Xyience also contains a more significant amount of caffeine than AMP. At 170mg, it is sure to have you energized throughout the day.
However, I much prefer the caffeine amount in AMP. High doses don’t sit right with me, and instead of an energy boost, I get a headache instead.
Xyience uses Sucralose and Ace-K as sweeteners in its drinks. There have been health concerns regarding the health factors of Sucralose, but no solid proof has emerged as of yet.
I have to say though, that amount is healthier when compared to the high dose of sugar in AMP.
The taste of both drinks is great, with Xyience’s Frostberry Blast a particular standout, but yet again, I find AMP to taste better.
Can AMP Be Used as a Pre-Workout Energy Drink?
AMP has more than enough energizers to make it a suitable pre-workout drink.
Its 140mg of caffeine, Taurine, and B-Vitamins are enough to have you energized enough to carry out strenuous exercises.
However, I do not recommend it if you are working out to lose weight. The 220 calories and sugar present will only undo your progress and make your task even trickier.
Is AMP High in Sugar?
AMP is very high in sugar. Each 16-ounce drink contains 54 grams.
For reference, the recommended daily maximum sugar intake limit for women is 24g and 36 grams for men. The amount in AMP far exceeds this.
The video below details how much sugar you can consume in a single day.
Why did they discontinue AMP Energy Drink?
In 2017, Britvic decided to stop making the drink so that they could put more energy into the original formula. In 2019, PepsiCo combined its Mountain Dew and Amp Energy brands to become Mountain Dew Amp.
It’s unclear why they stopped making it, although customer preferences for other types of energy drinks might be to blame. There has been a movement in recent years away from highly caffeinated beverages like Amp Energy and toward drinks with more natural components. Fears about caffeine’s potential adverse effects on health may be to blame.
Who should avoid energy drinks?
Due to the high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other chemicals, energy drinks should not be consumed by minors.
Kids often compare energy drinks to more familiar beverages like pop or coffee. However, the high caffeine level might cause uncomfortable side effects such as rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, hypertension, tremors, disorientation, and numbness.
Are energy drinks worse than caffeine?
Coffee is preferable to energy drinks, which aren’t entirely without merit. Coffee’s potential health advantages and ability to limit chemicals make it preferable to energy drinks, which often contain just a few trace nutrients and leave you feeling sluggish after a sugar rush.
Drinking an energy drink instead of coffee might affect your heart rate and blood pressure differently than coffee alone. The effects of caffeine on blood pressure and cardiac function may be exaggerated by the use of a 32 oz. energy drink.
How Many Cans of AMP Can You Have in a Day?
The daily caffeine intake limit advised by the FDA is 400mg. While AMP doesn’t contain it to this amount, I would recommend not having more than one can in a day.
An important fact to note is that caffeine affects everyone differently. If you’re just getting into energy drinks and haven’t had large amounts of caffeine at a time, I advise starting with smaller doses.
See how caffeine affects you, and then choose whether you would like to have AMP.
The sugar amount in AMP is also a matter of concern as it is over 16% higher than the daily recommended limit.
Having high amounts of sugar can cause the following side effects:
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Feeling Dizzy
Does AMP Work?
AMP definitely works. Its caffeine and other energizers can improve your concentration and athletic performance.
You can have AMP after you wake up in the morning or get you completely alert after an afternoon nap.
However, I wouldn’t recommend drinking AMP near your bedtime. It will definitely keep you up!
What Does AMP Taste Like?
Despite the high sugar amount, AMP doesn’t taste nauseatingly sweet, contrary to what you would expect.
The taste is similar to that of regular Mountain Dew but milder. There are some sharp citrus notes and overall, it’s a pretty fresh flavor.
The pleasant taste is easy to get used to. However, since it’s pretty similar to Mountain Dew, you might forget that this is a caffeinated drink. Make sure you don’t go overboard, alright?
AMP Energy Drink Alternatives
Here are a few other alternatives you can consider if AMP doesn’t suit you.
Other Noteworthy Mentions:
Final Verdict
AMP tastes great and the only negative aspect is its high sugar and calorie. content.
If you do wanna make a habit of drinking AMP, make sure you consume it in moderation.
I rate it as a solid 7/10. I suggest that you start drinking it in small doses and see if it sits well, if not, you can look for other, less strong energy drinks.
The taste is great, and like it said, really resembles Mountain Dew. It is enjoyable to drink but you should not get too carried away.