Aside from being filled to the brim with vitamins while packing a hefty caffeine kick, energy drinks have one other edge over other beverages – their pleasant taste. While some lean towards cherry flavors, others choose to appeal using sweet, tangy variants. Full Throttle energy drinks are no exception to this fun rule.
With the sweet taste of Full Throttle along with the temptation of a caffeinated buzz that lasts quite a while, it’s no wonder some people think that they can consume this product regularly. However, drinking Full Throttle (or any energy drink!) every day may yield some serious health implications you will reap in the future.
Join me as I discuss Full Throttle energy drinks in this article and why they’re not suitable as an everyday thirst quencher.
Contents
Full Throttle Overview
Originally formulated in 2004 by the prominent Coca-Cola Company, Full Throttle energy drink is a rising superstar in the industry. In fact, the energy drink brand secured the sponsorship of the National Hot Rod Association competitions from 2008 to 2012. This is by no means an easy feat considering the sea of competition in the market.
However, Coca-Cola decided to surrender most of their energy drink businesses when they entered an exchange agreement with fellow behemoth Monster Beverage last 2015. The two giants agreed to trade smaller companies under their name.
Coca-Cola gave the reins of Full Throttle, Mother, NOS, Relentless, and Burn to Monster Beverage’s control. In exchange, they got the firm hold of Peace Tea, Hansen’s Natural Sodas, and Hubert’s Lemonade.
Under a new wind, Full Throttle steadily gained a foothold and even managed to amass 22.92 million US dollars in the last thirteen weeks of 2020. While not as prominent as its sister brands, Full Throttle managed to catch the hearts of people, even those not belonging to their target demographics.
Ingredients of Full Throttle Energy Drink
Ingredients are what make up the entirety of energy drinks. The formula itself shows the pros and cons of every product if you dive deep enough. Here is the list of Full Throttle components:
- Carbonated water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Natural & artificial flavors
- Citric acid
- Sugar
- Sodium citrate
- Sodium benzoate (preservative)
- D-Ribose
- Caffeine
- Niacinamide
- Calcium D-Pantothenate
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Blue #1
- Red #40
- Cyanocobalamin
Curious about each of the elements making up a can of Full Throttle energy drink? Check them out in an in-depth ingredient review I’ve recently made.
Nutritional Label of Full Throttle Energy Drinks
Just like any good old energy drink, Full Throttle also offers a variety of nutrition aside from its caffeine content. Here is the list of vitamins you can find in every serving of this particular beverage:
| Vitamins | Amount per 16 fl. oz. of Full Throttle | Recommended Daily Intake | Benefits |
| Niacin | 40mg | Male-16mg Female-14mg | Turns food into the necessary energy. Also contributes to skin and digestive health. |
| Pantothenic Acid | 6mg | 5mg | A vital component in coenzymes responsible for breaking down fatty acids. |
| Pyridoxine | 4.08g | 1.3 – 1.7mg | Mainly used for red blood cell production and nerve functioning. |
| Cyanocobalamin | 12mcg | 2.4mcg | Essential for making protein and stimulates fat and carbohydrate digestion. |
Aside from its vitamins, Full Throttle also offers one particular mineral – a 16 fl. oz. of this energy drink contains 160mg of sodium which makes it a great drink for hydration. Well, what exactly is sodium’s effect on the body?
Sodium is a mineral that doubles as an electrolyte, which means it helps you gain the fluids you lose when you sweat. It balances the amount of water in the body and even conducts nerve impulses.
Full Throttle contains just the right serving of sodium that won’t overdose or do you harm in the slightest bit. A healthy human has a recommended ideal sodium intake of about 1500mg daily, any more than that and you risk having high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
Here are other beverages that are a great help for sweat-inducing activities such as working out.
Sugar in Full Throttle
Some energy drinks contain zero sugar and rely on calorie-free sweeteners such as sucralose. However, Full Throttle begs to differ. The formula for each 16 fl. Oz. of Full Throttle energy drinks contains 55mg of sugar which I find quite high.
The sweeteners in this particular beverage are Sugar, Fructose Corn Syrup, and D-Ribose. This particular combination is one of the main reasons why dieticians consider Full Throttle as one of the occupants in their list of dangerous energy drinks.
Let me help you visualize just how much is too much when it comes to its sugar content. In the table below is the daily sugar limit both for healthy men and women:
| Recommended Daily Sugar Limit | Equivalent | |
| Men | 36 grams | 9 teaspoons |
| Women | 24 grams | 6 teaspoons |
One can of Full Throttle has a whopping thirteen and one-fourth teaspoons of sugar! This is more than twice the recommended serving size for women and still exceeds the limit for men.
The dangers of sugar overconsumption include:
- Weight gain
- Heart disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Mood disorder
- Skin aging
- Tooth decay
- Sugar crash
Looking for an energy drink that won’t give you the sugar crash? Well, look no more for I have compiled a few of them for you in this article.
Caffeine Content of Full Throttle
Caffeine is the main ingredient of most energy drinks. In fact, this is the primary reason why people resort to this beverage – they just give the strong kick that could make a person last for days without needing any sleep (although that’s really unhealthy!).
Full Throttle contains roughly 160mg of caffeine. While it generally lies on the upper-middle tier when it comes to caffeine level, I still think reductions are necessary. Personally, 50 to 100mg of caffeine is plenty enough for you not to feel sleepy.
For better visualization, I’ve compared the caffeine content of several energy drinks in the market:
| Beverages | Caffeine Content per 16 fl. oz. |
| Red Bull | 160mg |
| NOS | 160mg |
| Rockstar Punched | 240mg |
| Bang | 300mg |
| Hype | 80mg |
| Reign | 300mg |
| Bing | 120mg |
Caffeine works by temporarily blocking off adenosine receptors in the body, which in turn will stop you from feeling tired or sleepy. While this is acceptable and won’t do you harm, a constant caffeine fix will surely elevate your tolerance to a particular degree.
A regular adult should limit their intake to about 400mg of caffeine daily. While Full Throttle itself does not occupy half of this recommendation, it’s still risky especially if you splurge on food that contains hidden caffeine such as ice tea, ice cream, cookies, and yup, even yogurt.
What will happen if you steadily increase your caffeine? Well, you just availed yourself of a slot in the caffeine junkies section, and let me tell you: caffeine overdose is no simple thing. Here are some of the more extreme sides of it:
- Osteoporosis
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Highblood pressure
- Bleeding Disorders
- Diarrhea
- Digestive issues
Since caffeine is known to boost adrenaline levels, it is a given that it has certain side effects. However, not all energy drinks rely on it; there are some which can give you your wanted boost without the jitters.
Calories in Full Throttle
Each 16 fl. oz. can of Full Throttle energy drink contains 230 calories. I prefer my energy drinks to have minimal calories, and Full Throttle is definitely off the mark when it comes to this.
The daily calorie limit for women is no more than 2000 calories, while men should consume about 2500 kcal. This limit fluctuates according to a person’s weight, height, age, and health status.
Still, you can’t deny the fact that Full Throttle is indeed very high in calories especially if you compare it with other famous brands in the industry. It easily consumes 10% of the daily calorie intake.
While this is not so bad within itself, just remember that the 55g of sugar in each Full Throttle can is responsible for about 213 kcal. Surprising? Well, you shouldn’t be because this solidifies the fact that the calories in each serving mainly provide you with empty calories.
You can easily calculate that out of 230 kcal in Full Throttle, only 17 calories are healthy and supply you with the necessary vitamins in one drink. I don’t know about you but I’d prefer something better than that.
For healthier energy drink alternatives, check out the list of beverages I find quite nutritious.
Can You Drink Full Throttle Every Day?
Drinking Full Throttle daily is acceptable and won’t be an issue – that is if you don’t count the high amount of sugar. The caffeine content is not even a problem as it is well within the everyday limits, but the sweetness in their 16 fl. oz. is just something that can bring more harm than good.
If you drink one can of Full Throttle daily, you risk damaging your health due to excessive sugar intake. The peril is higher if you don’t control your diet and even eat sugary foods on top of that.
The combination of caffeine and sugar is enough for me to consider Full Throttle a real menace if not taken on a moderate level. Why? Because sugar alone is enough to wake you up, and the amount contained in each can of Full Throttle is no joke. Couple that with moderately high caffeine level and you get too many energy-boosting effects: and when they wear off you may experience severe drawbacks.
If that’s not enough for you, Full Throttle also contains plenty of calories. If you’re on a diet or prefer spending their daily calorie allowance on more meaningful products, then I’d suggest not drinking Full Throttle daily or even on a regular basis.
Take a look at this video below if you’re keen on knowing what will happen if you consume energy drinks every day:
How Long Does Full Throttle Effects Last?
Full Throttle effects wear off after about five hours, but the entirety of the energy drink formula leaves your body only after a minimum of 12 hours have passed.
Energy drinks in general have this particular grace period. The effects can last depending on your caffeine tolerance, or how quickly your body burns the caffeine in your bloodstream.
In my experience, Full Throttle works for quite a few hours more. This may be because of its high amount of sugar which has a kick of its own. One particular thing that I find positive about this energy drink is that even though it has a high amount of sugar, I don’t feel any different after the effects wear off.
For more detailed information about energy drink consumption, visit this article right here.
Is Full Throttle Made for You?
Full Throttle is advertised mainly for young adults within the 20 to 30-year-old age range. However, you can definitely drink this beverage as long as you’re not an adolescent or someone suffering from dangerous health conditions.
Currently, Full Throttle only sells two of their flavors in the form of Original Citrus and Blue Agave. If you’re into sweet and fruity beverages, then their formula is definitely something you could try.
Is it Diet-Friendly?
Since Full Throttle energy drinks have a certain amount of sugar that equates to a considerable amount of calories, it’s not diet-friendly. If you’re watching your weight, then I think you should limit yourself when it comes to this beverage even more.
This applies to both parts of the population who is involved in the ketogenic and vegetarian lifestyle. Those who are on a ketogenic diet should not think of consuming Full Throttle because of its sky-high amount of carbohydrates.
Vegans to some extent can enjoy a can of Full Throttle as long as they’re not under the category of ethical veganism. This is because additives and the sugar refinement process of Full Throttle are not entirely explained and have the possibility of being tested on animals.
If you’re on the hunt for calorie-free beverages that are definitely diet-friendly, you should check out this article I’ve made.
Full Throttle Disclaimer
Full Throttle or any other energy drinks in the market contains chemicals that are not good for pregnant women or for those children that have not yet reached the end of their puberty period.
This is mainly because of caffeine which should not be taken in any amount by lactating women. There are other artificial chemicals and preservatives in a can of energy drinks that can hurt you or your baby, so I would advise you to stay away from caffeine or energy drinks until you get the go signal from your physician.
This also applies to children. In fact, since they are still in their growing years, taking a considerable amount of caffeine can give them a few health problems including:
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Seizures
- Fatigue
- Concentration difficulties
- Jumpiness
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
If you’re curious about more of the reasons why energy drinks and pregnancy just won’t jive, take a look at this particular article I’ve done my research about.
Is Full Throttle a strong energy drink?
Full Throttle is a standard energy drink, with a caffeine content that is just enough for a boost in focus and stamina. One can include 160mg of caffeine, 230kcal, and 55g of sugar, making it a medium-strength energy drink.
It’s quite effective for how much caffeine it contains. However, some people may be concerned about the high sugar content.
How long does full throttle last?
Adults in good health may maintain Full Throttle for around 5 hours at a time. When it comes to the actual duration of an energy drink’s effects, it is typically more a matter of personal preference and biology than of scientific truth.
Full Throttle has a reasonable amount of caffeine, but I still wouldn’t advocate drinking it too close to night since it’s hard to determine how long it takes for the effects to wear off without doing some self-testing or serious arithmetic.
What does Full Throttle taste like?
Full Throttle tastes more like a chamomile tea than a viscous, sticky liquid, hence it receives the “most likely to originate from the herbalist’s store” prize.
For the most part, I enjoyed Full Throttle and would rate it an 8 out of 10. I’ve tried a lot of other energy drinks, and this one is by far the best in terms of flavor and how much energy it gives you.”
Alternatives to Full Throttle
Other Notable Mentions
Final Insight
Full Throttle energy drinks are admittedly a sweet temptation among the plethora of caffeinated beverages in the market. Although they only have two flavors, it is enough to get a lot of people hooked!
However, as this energy drink has soaring amounts of sugar combined with a relatively high caffeine level, I don’t think it’s smart to drink them on a daily basis. Personally, I think of energy drinks as supplements, and supplements have intake limits too right?
If you’re still keen on drinking Full Throttle every day, you could limit your intake to about half a can. This keeps the caffeine and sugar level to an acceptable degree. I think there are a lot of better energy drinks in the industry that packs a heavier punch of vitamins and an adequate amount of caffeine, but people have their own preferences.
It’s better to live life in moderation, and what I would advise is to consider Full Throttle as a sweet after-meal dessert rather than a regular daily thirst quencher.