Whether it’s to fuel you for your next work out, give you the energy to study, or help you power through a lazy afternoon, NOS Energy is a popular choice for an energy booster.
If you want an energy drink that will help you stay alert and give you extra energy, NOS Energy has very high levels of caffeine that will surely keep you up and moving through a certain amount of time.
Now despite its benefits, you may be wondering just how good is NOS Energy for your overall health?
NOS Energy contains 160mg of caffeine and 54g of sugar which is quite a hefty amount and can be harmful to your health if taken excessively. But if you control your intake to only one can per day, then you should be fine.
If you wish to find out more, I’ll discuss the ingredients of NOS energy drink and their effects below. So, dive in.
Contents
NOS Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
Have a look at the nutritional value of a 16fl.oz can of NOS Energy Drink in the table below:
| Typical Values | NOS Energy Drink (16fl.oz) |
| Energy | 210 calories |
| Protein | 0g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 54g (54g) |
| Caffeine | 160mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 3.4mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 4.8μg |
How Many Calories Are In NOS Energy?
A standard 16fl.oz can of NOS Energy drink contains 210 calories.
If you’re someone who has an active lifestyle and or visits the gym often, the 210 calories in NOS will provide you with the energy to burn off those calories.
While it makes a great energy booster, there’s no denying that it’s a pretty high amount of calorie for an energy drink. So if you aren’t burning calories through regular exercise, a can of NOS may significantly impact your weight.
For reference, the recommended daily calorie intake ranges between 1,600 – 2,400 calories for women and 2,000 – 3,000 calories for men.
But if you’re still interested in trying out NOS Energy, you should always remember to control your intake to avoid going over the daily limit and not use it as a meal replacement.
NOS Energy Drink Ingredients
The ingredients of NOS Energy drink per 16fl.oz can are as below:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Hexametaphosphate (Preservative)
- Taurine
- Caffeine
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Caramel Color
- Sucralose
- Inositol
- Calcium Disodium Edta (Preservative)
- Red 40
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Guarana Extract
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
How Much Caffeine Is In NOS Energy Drink?
A 16 fl. oz can of NOS Energy drink contains 160 mg of caffeine, just the average amount of caffeine for energy drinks out in the market.
Caffeine is a great energy-boosting stimulant which explains why it’s the main ingredient used in energy drinks.
In 2005, the Radiological Society of North America shared that caffeine can improve short term memory, decrease fatigue, improve mental functioning by keeping you awake and alert.
The 160mg of caffeine in NOS will surely keep you up and pumped for your workout. It’s also a great perk me up for whenever you’re up all night catching deadlines.
But of course, it also depends on your own caffeine metabolism, so if you have a high caffeine tolerance, you may find that only one can of NOS Energy isn’t enough to give you the right energy boost.
In my opinion, you should experience an ample energy boost with just 160mg of caffeine. It’s also important to note the FDA‘s recommended maximum daily caffeine intake of 400mg per day for healthy adults before reaching out for multiple cans of NOS in a day.
Any more than that in a day may lead to some notable side effects, such as:
- Insomnia
- Shakiness and restlessness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
That said, I highly advise you to stick to just one can of NOS per day. And if you feel like you still need a little extra energy to keep you going throughout the day, you can have other caffeinated beverages like green tea or a regular cup of coffee.
If you’re interested to know more about caffeine, here’s a video explaining its benefits and side effects:
How Much Sugar Is There In NOS Energy Drink?
There’s 54g of sugar in a single 16fl.oz can of NOS Energy which is quite a heaping amount for an energy drink its size.
Many believe that higher sugar content plays a role in boosting energy. However, this study found that highly sugary drinks that are low in caffeine actually decrease energy levels which may cause you to feel sleepy or tired.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that an average American consumes 71g of sugar, which goes beyond the recommended limit, according to research. That said, almost everyone goes over the recommended daily sugar intake, knowingly or unknowingly, because most of the food we consume contains some source of added sugar.
Thus, it’s best to follow the American Heart Association (AHA) recommendation that states the daily sugar consumption shouldn’t exceed 24g of sugar for women and 36g for men.
Plus, it’s clear that regularly consuming NOS Energy can add a relatively high amount of sugar to your overall diet, and excessively consuming sugar will lead to serious health risks such as:
- Acne
- Cavities
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
To add on, consuming sugary energy drinks like NOS Energy will increase your risk of feeling sluggish once the effects wear off, and this is commonly known as the sugar crash.
Considering the high sugar content in NOS Energy, I recommend switching to energy drinks that are low in sugar or even sugar-free to avoid risking your health in the long run, especially if you have a medical condition like diabetes.
Are There Artificial Sweeteners In NOS Energy Drink?
Aside from regular sugar, NOS Energy also contains artificial sweetener, namely Sucralose, which won’t affect your diet as it has zero calories.
Sucralose is commonly used to replace regular sugar as it’s about 200 – 600 times sweeter but without the guilt that comes with consuming regular sugar. That said, I think NOS Energy contains both of these ingredients to enhance the flavor of the energy drink.
Although Sucralose is approved by the FDA for use in foods and drinks, there are still some things we don’t fully know about it, such as its long term effects. So I suggest keeping your consumption to a minimum to be safe.
Other Ingredients In NOS Energy Drink
Taurine
Taurine is a natural part of our metabolic system as it’s considered an amino acid or building block of protein. It promotes a healthy metabolism, increases physical performance as well as protecting their muscles.
Taurine also plays the most crucial function in the heart and brain to support nerve growth.
Besides energy drinks, you can get taurine from other types of food such as meat, fish, dairy products, and human milk (breast milk).
Although Taurine is known to be good for the body, there’s a study that overconsumption of taurine mixed with caffeine poses a risk of cardiac arrest. So that’s certainly something to keep in mind.
Guarana
Grown in the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Guarana is another popular ingredient found in most energy drinks as it’s full of natural stimulants and antioxidants.
Its benefits include enhancing your ability to learn and focus by lessening the feeling of tiredness in your body.
These are berries that contain a high concentration of caffeine, and they have four times the amount of caffeine compared to the caffeine in coffee beans.
Thus, the mix of other natural chemicals amplifies the stimulant effects of guarana that will keep you more alert than regular caffeine from coffee beans alone.
So, Is NOS Energy Drink Bad for You?
Drinking NOS Energy isn’t bad for your health as long as you be mindful of your daily intake. Overconsumption of energy drinks, in general, poses a risk because of the ingredients like caffeine and sugar.
As I shared previously, NOS Energy contains 160mg of caffeine which is more than enough to give you a quick increase in energy levels and mental focus.
Provided you practice an active lifestyle with a properly balanced diet, you’ll be sure to reap the benefits of this energy drink.
However, if you find yourself reaching for multiple cans of NOS in a day, you’ll definitely go over the daily consumption limit, and this will lead to serious health issues.
This study says that large amounts of caffeine may cause heart and blood vessel problems. Plus, caffeine also brings about anxiety, sleep problems, and dehydration.
In terms of its sugar content, it’s clear that the sugar in NOS Energy goes beyond the average daily limit of sugar consumption.
Not only is it bad for your health but, according to this study, regularly consuming an excessive amount of sugar can drain your energy. Even if these snacks are cheaper and tastier, they can spike blood sugar and reduce orexin activity.
Another study also shows that crashing on empty calories found in food and different drinks can cause us to feel tired and sad instead. In my opinion, all these beats the purpose of drinking an energy drink.
For reference, I’ve included the table below to see how NOS Energy compares to Red Bull and Monster.
| Ingredients | NOS Energy (16 fl. oz) | Monster (16 fl. oz) | Red Bull (8.4 fl. oz) |
| Energy | 210 calories | 210 calories | 110 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | Less than 1g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrates (Of which Sugars) | 54g (54g) | 54g (54) | 28g (27g) |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 160mg | 80mg |
Looking at the table above, NOS Energy isn’t the unhealthiest energy drink to get but, it’s still best to drink it moderately and lead a healthy lifestyle to avoid risking your health.
If you’re still unsure of the effects of NOS Energy, it’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor before including a highly caffeinated and sugar energy drink into your diet, especially if you’re diagnosed with a medical condition.
How Many Cans Of NOS Energy Should I Drink In A Day?
| NOS Energy Drink (16fl.oz) | Daily Max Limit (Female/Male) | |
| Calories | 210 calories | 2400 calories / 3000 calories |
| Sugar | 54g | 25g / 36g |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 400mg |
I personally recommend having just one can of NOS energy drink a day to avoid overconsumption of sugar and calories.
With 160mg of caffeine, you’re sure to wake up and stay alert for any activity you need – gaming, work out, or power through in the middle of the day. One can of NOS Energy drink is enough for that caffeine kick.
But if you aren’t a regular caffeine drinker, your body may not respond well to a high amount of caffeine, so it’s best to opt for energy drinks with lower doses of caffeine.
Another reason to keep your daily NOS energy drink consumption to only one can is that it already contains a high amount of sugar that exceeds the daily maximum sugar limit, so why risk having two cans? As for your weekly schedule, you may want to stick to just 2 -3 cans in a week.
All in all, it’s best to have NOS energy drink only when you really need a strong power kick. Remember to drink your energy drinks responsibly.
Does NOS Energy actually work?
NOS is effective as an energy drink since it contains 160 mg of caffeine, which is enough to keep you up and alert for around four hours. Although it tastes great, it may not be the ideal option if you’re watching your sugar and calorie intake.
As little as 30 minutes after ingesting NOS, you’ll notice a significant improvement in concentration that should continue for at least a few hours. The effects of NOS on maintaining alertness and combating the afternoon lull are satisfactory.
How much NOS energy drink is too much?
One can of NOS probably won’t do any damage to your health, but if you make it a habit or drink more than two cans in a day, you might be putting yourself in danger of a caffeine overdose and diabetes.
Extremely high caffeine intake is harmful to the body since it causes the body to lose water and may raise blood pressure. Symptoms include a racing heart, jitters, trouble sleeping, and tummy aches.
Personal Opinion
I give NOS Energy Drink an 8/10. There’s no denying that it does a pretty good job for an energy drink, but I find its high caffeine and sugar content to be a downside.
NOS Energy drink guarantees that you will stay alert and get the job done with 160mg of caffeine. It’s a great addition to your daily routine especially, to kickstart your workouts.
However, I think you’ll benefit more from energy drinks that have lower caffeine and sugar content. Your health will thank you too.
But of course, that’s just my personal take on the drink. If you’re still interested in trying NOS Energy out, as long as you don’t consume more than one can per day, this energy drink is a recommended must-try.