Finding an energy drink that provides a significant energy boost and fits a vegan individuals’ diet can be difficult.
Relentless is packed with 160mg of caffeine in a 540mL can, and it is perfect for people looking for an energy boost. Additionally, its ingredients are also vegan-friendly.
But what makes a drink vegan? Let’s look at Relentless’ ingredients!
Contents
Ingredients in Relentless
Below is the complete list of ingredients added in Relentless.
| Content-Type | Ingredient |
| Energizers | Caffeine, Guarana Seed Extract |
| Water | Carbonated Water |
| Preservatives | Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate |
| Acid | Citric Acid |
| Vitamins | Taurine, Niacinamide, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine Cobalamin |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose, Sucrose |
| Flavour Enhancer | Erythritol |
| Colour | Caramel E150d |
Is there such a thing as vegan taurine?
Taurine is an amino acid found in many energy drinks because it has been shown to boost energy and alertness. It can also help with fatigue and physical performance. Unfortunately, there is no vegan taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that is naturally found in animal-based foods like fish, seafood, and dairy products. It is absent from all plant-based foods.
As a result, because taurine is not found in plant-based foods, vegans cannot consume it directly. On the other hand, some vegan-friendly supplements may contain synthetic taurine, which can be used as an alternative to animal-based taurine.
Where do vegans get their taurine?
Taurine can be found in trace amounts in some plant foods, including seaweed, mushrooms, and certain algae. Most vegans, however, get their taurine from vegan supplements. It’s also in energy drinks, fortified foods, and other fortified drinks.
In today’s markets, energy drinks now include vegan-friendly taurine. Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar are some well-known brands that are among it. Other brands, such as Gatorade and Powerade, also have vegan taurine options.
What depletes taurine from the body?
Taurine is an amino acid found in the cells of the body. It is eliminated through urine and not broken down by the body. As a result, it is rarely depleted from the body unless it is removed due to decreased dietary intake or increased bodily demands.
Taurine is essential for various bodily functions, including normal brain development and function, heart and eye health, and muscle contraction. It is also necessary for electrolyte balance, oxidative stress prevention, and cholesterol regulation.
Is Relentless Energy Drink Vegan?
So, is Relentless suitable for people who follow a vegan diet? Yes, it seems to be the case.
Out of all the ingredients claimed to be added in Relentless, there are no products that originate from animals or dairy products.
I’ve scoured the internet for the origins of all ingredients. Below is a table that shows the sources of each ingredient present in Relentless.
One of my primary sources was the PETA website, have a look yourself for a more detailed analysis.
| Ingredient | Source | Vegan-Friendly? |
| Niacinamide | Vegetables & Beans | YES |
| Pantothenic Acid | Vegetables | YES |
| Cobalamin | Fruits | YES |
| Sucrose | Vegetables | YES |
| Citric Acid | Citrus Fruits | YES |
| Erythritol | Plant-Derived | YES |
| Taurine | Synthetically Developed | YES |
| Sodium Citrate | Citric Acid Fermentation | YES |
| Potassium Sorbate | Sorbic Acid & Potassium Hydroxide | YES |
| Sodium Benzoate | Sourced From Plants | YES |
| Caramel E150d | Vegetables | YES |
| Sucralose | Sucrose | YES |
The final verdict after reviewing the ingredients would be, Relentless is safe to consume for vegans.
Is Taurine in Relentless Vegan?
Taurine is one of the more controversial ingredients present in Relentless. Its sources are rumored to be extracted from bulls’ urine, and this is entirely false.
Taurine is usually made synthetically and not derived from animals.
This makes Taurine completely vegan and alright to consume for people on a vegan diet.
Does Taurine Help You Lose Weight?
Taurine has a vital role to play in metabolism and digestion. This particular trait makes it an excellent ingredient to have for people looking to lose weight.
Taurine has also been linked with improving exercise capacity and positively affects mental and athletic performance.
Taurine might also help you lose weight by increasing the body’s use of fat as an energetic fuel. This makes Taurine an excellent supplement to have if you are looking to lose weight.
Is Relentless Good For You?
Relentless can be beneficial for you if taken in moderate amounts. However, having more than two cans per day can cause some side effects.
As I mentioned earlier, the Taurine present in Relentless can help you burn more calories by jumpstarting your metabolism.
However, like all energy drinks, drinking excessive amounts can cause side effects like headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.
Are There Artificial Sweeteners in Relentless?
Relentless contains a blend of natural sugar and Sucralose, an artificial sweetener widely used in most sugar-free energy drinks.
While Relentless contains Sucralose, it is by no means sugar-free. It has 24g of sugar in a 500mL can.
The blend of both sugar and Sucralose, along with other ingredients, provides Relentless its unique flavor. However, if you’d prefer a sugar-free version, Relentless has one too.
Caffeine Amount in Relentless
Relentless contains a notable 160mg of caffeine in a 550mL can.
Even though this is well under the FDA regulations of a maximum of 400mg per day, it would be wise not to have more than one can in a day.
Caffeine affects us all differently, and if you’re caffeine-sensitive, it might be better to start with a drink that has lower caffeine.
Relentless is also not recommended for minors, pregnant, or nursing women.
Calories in Relentless
Relentless has 108 calories in its regular 550mL can.
If you are on a diet and looking to lose weight, you are better off excluding Relentless from your diet.
The reason is that Relentless can add extra calories that you would need to burn off. It can also interfere with your meal plans if you’re on a calorie-restricted diet.
In that case, you can always check out some calorie-free energy drink brands.
Is Relentless a Pre-Workout Drink?
Relentless can cause both good and harm in your workout, depending on what your activity is for.
If you are exercising to lose weight, relentless is not the right option.
While it will certainly give you an energy boost, its amount of calories will only increase the effort you have to bring down your weight.
On the contrary, if you’re working to build muscle and rid yourself of your dad-bod, Relentless is the perfect energy drink!
Building muscle requires the intake of large quantities of calories. It would be best if you have more calories than you burn to make a significant amount of muscles.
Relentless will not only give you a much-required elevation to your energy levels, but it will also aid you in meeting the daily calorie amount.
Is Relentless Safe to Drink?
Relentless is safe to drink if you monitor your consumption.
As I mentioned earlier, the maximum daily limit for an adult is 400mg of caffeine, since one can of Relentless contains 160mg, it is advised not to have more than two cans per day.
Note that the above-mentioned condition is for healthy adults only. People with health conditions should consult with a doctor before drinking Relentless or other energy drinks.
A caffeine overdose can result in some nasty side effects. Some of these are listed below.
- Vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Irregular or Fast Heartbeat
- Uncontrollable Muscle Movements
- Convulsions
If you have overdosed on caffeine, immediately inform a doctor and have proper medications prescribed.
Pregnant and nursing women should also avoid drinking Relentless or any other caffeinated beverages. Doing so can result in miscarriage or low birth weight.
Is Relentless Safe for Teenagers and Children?
Children and teenagers should not have more than 100mg of caffeine per day.
Since Relentless contains 160mg of caffeine per can, it is not safe for adolescents and teenagers to drink.
It’s important to remember that food and drinks that we consume daily like chocolate or tea contain caffeine too, so if you’re drinking a particularly high-caffeine energy drink, it can quickly add up and surpass the recommended daily limit.
Relentless Energy Drink Alternatives
Apart from Relentless Energy, there are other energy drinks in the market that you can choose from, so if you like the benefits of Relentless but it’s not the right fit for you, here are some similar brands!
Bing Energy
Bing is a good alternative to Relentless. Bing also contains several beneficial B Vitamins and comes with 120mg of caffeine in a 12 fl oz drink.
While this amount is on the top of the list, it should be enough to give you the mental boost you need.
Bing has four different flavors, try all and see which you like best!
Moose Juice
Moose Juice is another famous energy drink brand in the UK.
It offers 200mg of caffeine in a 500mL drink. Just slightly higher than Relentless.
Moose Juice comes in five unique flavors, and even if you don’t like one, you’re bound to find an alternative that fits your taste.
Celsius Energy Drink
Celsius Energy highly advertises the lack of sugar and preservatives in their drinks.
This makes the drink suitable for people looking for an ideal energy drink while losing weight and following specific diet plans.
An ideal 12 fl oz can have 200mg of caffeine, more than enough to energize.
Other Notable Mentions:
Final Thoughts
If you have recently embraced the vegan diet and are looking for an ideal energy drink that fits your lifestyle, Relentless may be the best option for you.
Most energy drinks aren’t as vegan-friendly as Relentless has proven to be. It contains completely synthetic ingredients, all of which are either naturally sourced or artificial.
These ingredients are just exactly what vegans are looking for, so Relentless Energy stands on the good side of those who live the vegan lifestyle.
The downsides I see are Relentless’ sugar, caffeine, and calorie content, which are a bit high and can cause some side effects if consumed excessively.
In choosing the right vegan-friendly energy drink for you, it’s important to consider not just the origin of the ingredients but also how they can affect your body if consumed daily.