NOS Energy Drink is certainly an energy drink that’s advertised to rev up your engines and boost your energy for your everyday needs.
But what exactly is inside a can of NOS Energy? And how much caffeine does it really give you?
For the brief, each 16 fl.oz can of NOS Energy Drink contains 210 calories, 54g of sugar, 160mg of caffeine, and their renowned complex 6 that includes beneficial ingredients like B vitamins, Taurine and Guarana Extract.
If you want to know the nitty-gritty details though, read further to get your fix of what’s actually inside a can of NOS Energy.
Contents
NOS Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
Before we dive in deeper, let’s have a look at the nutritional values of NOS Energy Drink per 16 fl.oz can:
| Nutrition | NOS Energy Drink (per 16 fl.oz can) |
| Energy | 210 calories |
| Protein | 0g |
| Sodium | 410mg |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrates (Of which Sugars) | 54g (54) |
| Caffeine | 160mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 3.4mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 4.8μg |
How Many Calories is in NOS Energy Drink?
A 16 fl.oz can of NOS Energy has around 210 – 220 calories, depending on the flavors. That’s quite a high-calorie content for an energy drink its size.
According to WebMD, the average daily recommended calories for males is between 1,800 – 3,000 calories and 1,600 – 2,400 calories for females.
The roughly 210 calories in NOS Energy Drink will use up to 10% of your daily recommended calorific intake. So, this may be a deal-breaker if you’re on a low-carb diet.
While NOS Energy gives you 10% of your daily caloric needs, these may be considered empty calories and won’t provide you with the nutrients you need in the long run.
That said, I highly recommend you to always have a proper meal before drinking NOS Energy Drink as shouldn’t be treated as a meal replacement.
Although this amount of calories is positive if you need that quick fix of energy, having a consistent high-calorie intake can make way to health issues.
Especially if you have a more sedentary lifestyle and the cause of your excess calories is due to empty calories.
A regular high calorie-intake could lead health issues like:
- Excess Body Fat
- Disrupted Hunger Regulation
- Increase Risk for Diseases
- Impaired Brain Function
- Nausea
- Gas and Bloating
- Drowsiness
Bottom line, NOS Energy will definitely give you that energy you need. Although, it shouldn’t replace a healthy meal. An energy drink doesn’t have enough or the same nutrients that a balanced meal has.
Thus, I recommend drinking NOS Energy Drink in moderation.
NOS Energy Drink Ingredients List
The ingredients list of a 16 fl.oz can of NOS Energy Drink include:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Sodium Hexametaphosphate (Preservative)
- Taurine
- Caffeine
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Sucralose
- Red 40
- Inositol
- Calcium Disodium EDTA (Preservative)
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Blue 1
- Guarana Extract
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
What Are The Complex 6 Ingredients In NOS Energy Drink?
The Complex 6 ingredients in NOS Energy Drink are Taurine, Caffeine, Guarana Extract, Inositol, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6.
For a quick overview, here’s a table showing the ingredients and the properties they offer. I also discuss these more in detail below.
| Ingredient | Properties |
| Caffeine | Boost focus and energy |
| Taurine | Boost energy and physical performance |
| Guarana Extract | Boost energy and mental and physical performance |
| Inositol | Vitamin-like substance Used for metabolic syndrome Might help insulin work better |
| Vitamin B12 | Help keep nerves and blood cells healthy Helps with metabolism |
| Vitamin B6 | Supports the immune system and brain health |
However, it’s unclear how many of these benefits can you get from consuming NOS Energy Drink as there isn’t any indication of the exact amount of these ingredients in the drink.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that acts as the key ingredient to energy drinks. It’s often derived from tea leaves, coffee beans and cacao plants.
If consumed moderately, caffeine functions include enhancing your brain and central nervous system. It makes a great option for when you need that extra boost of energy to finish a deadline.
Aside from keeping you awake, caffeine can also help improve your cognition by increasing your good moods.
If you’re interested to know more of the benefits of caffeine, check out the video below:
The caffeine content in energy drinks ranges from as low as 50mg to 300mg of caffeine per drink. So, if you’re sensitive to caffeine but need it occasionally for stressful situations, you can always opt for energy drinks that have low caffeine content.
Taurine
Taurine is a type of amino acid that naturally occurs in the body. It’s mostly concentrated in the brain, eyes, heart, and muscles.
Taurine helps support nerve growth, lowering blood pressure, and improves exercise performance. In addition to that, it also helps with inflammation.
There are also early studies that suggest a positive effect of taurine on physical performance, notably in their endurance. Although, this claim does lack sufficient evidence still.
That said, these benefits and suggestions from having sufficient taurine may be the reason why taurine has become a staple in energy drinks.
Guarana Extract
Guarana extract comes from the Brazilian Guarana plant itself and contains stimulant like caffeine and antioxidants.
Guarana also includes benefits that can improve your memory and mental concentration, making you more alert throughout the day.
While the caffeine from guarana can help increase focus and concentration, you should still be wary of your intake as having caffeinated energy drinks can lead to side effects.
Thus, it’s best to take care since you might consume more caffeine than you thought at first.
Inositol
Inositol is a vitamin-like substance found in many plants and animals, including the human body.
Some studies suggest that it may help with insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and weight loss, especially to groups that are affected with ailments that result in insulin resistance.
However, NOS Energy Drinks does contain a relatively high amount of sugar which may cancel out the benefits of inositol itself.
If you’re conscious about your insulin, I suggest sticking to healthier options such as sugar-free energy drinks. Also, always consult your doctor concerning your health and decisions that may affect it.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps with the nerve system and keeps your blood cells healthy. It also helps with making DNA (a genetic material within our cells).
Vitamin B12 can’t be naturally produced by the body, so you have to get it through your diet.
That said, some reviews suggest that Vitamin B12 affects your fat metabolism. It was seen that a deficiency in the vitamin could be linked to higher fat accumulation and obesity.
Although there are studies and reviews, it’s still insufficient to conclude if this link is reliably true or not.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that can be found in many foods and supplements.
Just like Vitamin B12, the body doesn’t naturally produce Vitamin B6, so in my opinion, NOS Energy Drink is a good source if you want to increase your vitamin intake.
Especially since a deficiency in vitamin B6 (and other B vitamins) can result in the following symptoms:
- Microcytic Anemia
- Skin Conditions
- Depression
- Confusion
- Lowered immunity
Aside from these, some studies suggest that Vitamin B6 also plays a role in improving brain health and preventing Alzheimer’s. Although, the research in this field is conflicting.
How Much Caffeine is in NOS Energy Drink?
There is 160mg of caffeine in one 16 fl.oz can of NOS Energy Drink. This amount of caffeine is average when it comes to energy drinks.
For a quick comparison, a 16 fl.oz can of Rockstar and Monster Energy also has 160mg of caffeine. So you can consider the caffeine in NOS Energy Drink as a typical amount.
Although the effects of caffeine are great, especially when you need to focus on your work, it’s best to limit your caffeine intake.
The daily recommended caffeine intake for healthy adults is 400mg, according to the FDA.
While the 160mg of caffeine in NOS Energy Drink is below this recommendation, you’ll definitely go over the daily caffeine limit if you have multiple cans in a day.
That said, going overboard on caffeine could lead to notable side effects such as:
- Insomnia
- Jitters
- Anxiousness
- Fast Heart Rate
- Upset Stomach
- Nausea
- Headache
In the end, if you need the caffeine, take care to consume it in moderation and only have one can of NOS Energy Drink a day.
How Much Sugar is in NOS Energy Drink?
One 16 fl.oz can of NOS Energy Drink has 54g of sugar, which is quite a high amount of sugar for an energy drink.
For comparison, the recommended daily added sugar intake according to the AHA is 37.5g for men and 25g for women. Looking at it, the amount of sugar in NOS Energy Drink is way above the daily recommendation.
That said, long-term high sugar intake can lead to various health issues, some of them being:
- Toothache
- Acne
- Weight Gain
- Higher Risk of Heart Disease
- Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
- Increased Risk of Cancer
- Increased Risk of Depression
- Accelerated Skin Aging
- Cellular Aging
- Fatty Liver
Thus, I highly recommend you keep your NOS Energy Drink intake to a minimum, and control your daily sugary foods and drink intake for the sake of your health.
But of course, if you’re still unsure of the sugar content in NOS Energy Drink, you can always consult your doctor first or go for energy drinks that have a lower sugar amount.
Does NOS Energy Drink have Artificial Sweeteners?
NOS Energy Drink contains a zero-calorie artificial sweetener called Sucralose.
While sucralose has zero calories and carbs, it’s said to be about 600 times sweeter than sugar itself. So you can enjoy the sweetness without worrying about the added calories.
Although sucralose is approved by the FDA, you should still consume NOS Energy in moderation as there are studies concerning its possible effects.
You can also consult with your doctor concerning your health and possible reactions to sucralose.
Who is NOS Energy Drink For?
NOS Energy Drink is preferably for young adults and older and those who can handle their caffeine.
As stated in the warning labels of NOS Energy Drink and considering the effects of energy drinks, I don’t recommend this drink if you’re:
- A Child
- Pregnant
- Nursing
- Have a Low Caffeine Tolerance
- Have a Hard Time Sleeping
NOS Energy Drink Flavors
NOS Energy Drink has 6 flavors:
- Original
- GT Grape
- Nitro Mango
- Sonic Sour
- Power Punch
- Turbo
What are the side effects of NOS energy drinks?
The NOS energy drink has a moderate amount of caffeine, however consuming more than one serving in a day might lead to unpleasant consequences including anxiety, sleeplessness, and hypertension.
In addition, NOS contains a lot of sugar and calories, which might have some unpleasant consequences on your body. My main concern is the high sugar content, which is particularly problematic if you are diabetic. If you’re worried about the possible side effects of the high levels of caffeine and sugar in NOS, you should probably talk to your doctor before adding it to your diet.
What does NOS do to you long term?
The use of NOS energy drinks has been linked to serious changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term use of energy drinks, which are sugar and caffeine-laced beverages, may have an effect on the user’s metabolism and, by extension, their cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and BMI.
Given this, you should consume no more than one can NOS per day. Overindulgence in these drinks may lead to negative health effects like a drop in blood sugar levels and increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
Personal Opinion
All in all, NOS Energy Drink is a good choice if you want an energy drink that has some added ingredients that may be good for you, such as taurine and B vitamins.
It also has a fairly average calorie and caffeine content compared to other energy drinks in the market.
That said, I recommend that you generally drink a maximum of two cans of NOS Energy Drink per day. But of course, it’s still best to gauge your own caffeine tolerance and to check with your doctor before consuming anything that may impact your health.