Produced and manufactured by one of the largest multinational food and beverage corporations worldwide, PepsiCo, Mountain Dew Kickstart is an enhanced soda filled with caffeine, vitamins, and delicious tangy fruit flavors.
It’s no wonder many would say that Mountain Dew Kickstart is the drink you need to quench your thirst and give you a boost of energy.
Personally, I’d give it a 7 out of 10. Not only does it maintains the classic taste of the original soda, but it also contains 90mg of caffeine. It’s a good amount of caffeine, especially for those with a relatively low caffeine tolerance.
If you want to know more about it, read on for my full review of Mountain Dew Kickstart.
Contents
Mountain Dew Kickstart Nutrition Facts
If you’re wondering how Mountain Dew Kickstart compares to other energy drink brands, here’s an overview:
| Typical Value (Standard Serving) | Mountain Dew Kickstart (16 fl.oz) | Monster (16 fl.oz) | Red Bull (12 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 80 calories | 240 calories | 160 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 2.28g | <1g |
| Carbohydrates (Of which Sugars) | 21g (20g) | 60g (55g) | 40g (39g) |
| Sodium | 170mg | 370mg | 150mg |
| Caffeine | 90mg | 160mg | 114mg |
For more information on Mountain Dew Kickstart and what exactly you’re getting out of one, hand on over to the article I’ve written on Mountain Dew Kickstart Nutrition Facts for a more in-depth look.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Ingredients
Below is the complete list of ingredients present in a 16 fl.oz can of Mountain Dew Kickstart:
- Carbonated Water
- High fructose corn syrup
- White grape juice concentrate
- Citric acid
- Sodium polyphosphates (Preservative)
- Natural flavour
- Potassium sorbate (Preservative)
- Caffeine (90mg)
- Potassium citrate
- Potassium chloride
- Gum Arabic
- Acesulfame potassium (Artificial Sweetener)
- Sucralose (Artificial Sweetener)
- Red 40 (Coloring)
- Calcium disodium EDTA
- Sucrose acetate isobutyrate
- Salt
- Blue 1 (Coloring)
Calories in Mountain Dew Kickstart
Mountain Dew Kickstart contains an average amount of 80 calories per 16 fl.oz can.
I think the 80 calories in Mountain Dew Kickstart isn’t that bad, considering that other energy drinks have twice the amount of calories.
For reference, healthy adults are recommended to have around 1,600 calories – 2,400 calories each day for women and 2,000 calories – 3,000 calories per day for men.
As you can see, the calories in Mountain Dew Kickstart won’t affect much of your overall diet. I think it’ll make a good pre-workout drink if you’re looking for extra calories to burn off during exercise.
However, you need to be careful of its sugar content as it has 20g of sugar in a single can. It’s definitely not a healthy amount to have regularly, especially if you’re someone who has a more sedentary lifestyle.
Thus, I would suggest you opt for energy drinks that are low in calories or calorie-free.
Caffeine Content In Mountain Dew Kickstart
Mountain Dew Kickstart contains only 90mg of caffeine which is a fair amount, in my opinion.
Caffeine is an amazing ingredient that keeps us up and running. There’s a reason why this ingredient is popular worldwide and often the first drink we consume the moment we wake up.
In my opinion, the 90mg of caffeine in Mountain Dew Kickstart is just the right amount to have, as it’s unlikely that it’ll leave you with any unnecessary side effects after.
Personally, I try to drink only 50mg to 100mg of caffeine because too much caffeine gives me jitters and the feeling of heart palpitations.
However, if your caffeine tolerance is higher, Mountain Dew Kickstart might not work best for you.
It’s also important to note that the FDA only recommends a maximum of 400mg of caffeine per day for healthy adults.
Though you won’t be exceeding this limit with just one can of Mountain Dew Kickstart, it’ll be just as easy to overconsume if you have no self-control. In return, this will bring about health problems such as:
- Anxiety
- Jitters
- Inability to focus
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Heart palpitations
Taking all the above in mind, you should always control your overall caffeine intake. I would also suggest you stick to just one can of Mountain Dew Kickstart a day.
Sugar Content In Mountain Dew Kickstart
A 16 fl.oz can of Mountain Dew Kickstart contains 20g of sugar. Although it’s a lot less than the sugar content in Monster and Red Bull, it’s still an unhealthy amount of sugar to be consumed regularly.
Considering that the AHA recommends a daily sugar limit of 25g for women and 36g for men, a single can of Mountain Dew Kickstart will take up more than half of your daily limit.
It’s safe to say that including a sugary energy drink like this one in your everyday diet will eventually lead to health issues such as:
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Insulin Resistance
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
My advice is to have Mountain Dew Kickstart occasionally and monitor your overall sugar intake throughout the day to avoid damaging your health in the long run.
If you’re interested to learn about the symptoms of overconsumption of sugar, check out the video below:
Does Mountain Dew Contain Artificial Sweeteners?
Mountain Dew Kickstart contains several artificial sweeteners such as High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), Sucralose, and Acesulfame Potassium.
These artificial sweeteners are all FDA approved, which explains why many processed foods contain them.
Although sweeteners such as Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium are calorie-free, overconsuming can lead to metabolic syndrome. You’ll have a higher risk of being a victim if you already have a pre-existing medical condition like obesity.
As for High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), it’s actually derived from corn syrup and is the main source of sugar for Mountain Dew Kickstart. This ingredient, too, can be dangerous for your health if not taken in moderation.
All in all, as long as you control your limit and not have more than one can of this drink every day, you should be safe.
Does Mountain Dew Kickstart Give You Energy?
The 90mg of caffeine in a 16 fl.oz can of Mountain Dew Kickstart is enough to boost your energy. However, it also depends on how well your body responds to it.
If you’re a regular Starbucks customer and your usual order is a tall drink (175mg – 260mg of caffeine) or a grande (330mg of caffeine), you may find yourself reaching out for more than one can of Mountain Dew Kickstart to feel its full effects.
But if you have a lower caffeine metabolism, the caffeine content in this drink is enough to enhance your physical performance and increase your cognition.
However, I personally don’t encourage you to drink multiple cans of Mountain Dew Kickstart regularly as its sugar content is alarming. Due to the 20g of sugar present in this drink, it’s best to only have it when you really need that extra boost of energy.
Besides potentially exposing yourself to long-term health issues, you’ll most likely experience a nasty sugar crash once the effect wears off.
It’s what happens when your body’s blood glucose level drops because of too much sugar. Then, you’ll feel tired and slow after, and I’m sure that’s the last thing you want to be feeling during a busy day.
Remember, moderation is key.
How Bad Is Mountain Dew Kickstart?
If you consume Mountain Dew Kickstart excessively, it can lead to a high sugar diet, which will affect your health in the long run.
| Mountain Dew Kickstart (16 fl.oz) | Daily Max Limit (Female / Male) | |
| Calories | 80 calories | 2,400 calories / 3,000 calories |
| Caffeine | 90mg | 400mg |
| Sugar | 20g | 25g / 36g |
I have no problem with the caffeine content in Mountain Dew Kickstart, as I think 90mg of caffeine is a relatively healthy amount for an energy drink in its size.
My biggest problem with this drink is that it contains way too much sugar. A single can already has 20g of sugar, including high levels of Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).
I’m also aware that we unconsciously exceed the daily sugar limit all the time. According to this research, an average American adult consumes 71g of sugar daily.
It still isn’t a free pass for you to neglect your health and go crazy on the sugar!
So for the sake of your health, keep your Mountain Dew Kickstart consumption to a minimum, or you can opt for other energy drinks that are low in sugar or sugar-free instead. It’s also a good idea to consult with your doctor first for a more conclusive answer.
How Long Does Mountain Dew Kickstart Last?
Based on my experience, Mountain Kickstart will give you a kick of energy and help you stay alert and awake for at least 40-45 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that caffeine has a half-life of about 5 hours. So, even after 5 hours, you’ll still have about 45mg of caffeine left, and it’ll take around 12 hours for it to get rid of your system.
However, the amount of sugar in Mountain Dew Kickstart can affect its energy boost. If you consume too much sugar for the day, your body might not regulate your sugar levels properly then you’ll feel more tired instead.
So that’s definitely something to keep in mind.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Flavors
You can try out up to 9 assorted flavours under the Mountain Dew Kickstart energy drink brand:
- Original Dew
- Orange Citrus
- Black Cherry
- Midnight Grape
- Fruit Punch
- Mango Lime
- Pineapple Orange Mango
- Blueberry Pomegranate
- Raspberry Citrus
Where Can I Buy Mountain Dew Kickstart?
Here’s a quick list of where you can buy Mountain Dew Kickstart:
- Walmart
- Costco
- Target
But if you wish to get them delivered straight to your door, you can check out popular online sites like Amazon or eBay that also offer cheaper deals.
I found a seller on Amazon that sells Mountain Dew Kickstart for around $27 (12 packs of 16 fl.oz cans). That’s around $2 per can.
I’ve also included more details in my article about where to buy Mountain Dew Kickstart, which you may find helpful.
Conclusion
In all honesty, I would rate Mountain Dew Kickstart a 7/10 mainly due to its caffeine content and overall flavour.
Mountain Dew Kickstart definitely won me over with its caffeine content of only 90mg per serving. I think that’s just the right amount to keep me awake and I also don’t have to worry about any nasty side effects.
Flavour-wise, I love that this drink still maintains the classic taste of the original Mountain Dew soda. Plus, the brand offers a wide range of delicious tangy fruit flavors.
The only downside is that there’s just too much sugar in Mountain Dew Kickstart, as 20g of sugar is more than half the daily limit.
To add on, I feel that the price of Mountain Dew Kickstart is a bit expensive, especially since it doesn’t have any special ingredients.
But of course, if it’s still within your budget, no harm in trying it out. After all, there’s no denying that this thirst-quenching drink does a pretty good job as an energy booster.
I just don’t recommend Mountain Dew Kickstart as a regular energy drink to be included in anyone’s diet, especially if you already have a medical condition. Having it once in a while is fine, but constantly having this drink will do you more harm than good.
Thus, I hope you find this article helpful, and remember, energy drinks are meant to give you energy, not harm your health.