Short Answer: After observing the ingredients and the functionality of the drink as per reviews on its effectiveness.
Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink is a mild energy drink that aims to support the performance of the body and give it better endurance.
This tasty drink is the brainchild of Optimum Nutrition (ON) which has been one of the most favored brands for professional athletes and gym enthusiasts.
In this article, I’ll be reviewing the ingredients and nutrition facts present in a can of Amino Energy Drink. We’ll also talk about its overall effectiveness in terms of giving an energy boost.
If you’re excited to find out more, proceed to the other sections as it contains further details.
Let’s get started.
Contents
What Are The Ingredients Of The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink?
The ingredients in the Amino Energy Drink vary from flavor to flavor.
Generally, the ingredients present in a 12 fl. oz. can of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink include:
- Carbonated Water
- Amino Blend (L- Threonine, L- Leucine, L-Citruline, L-Theanine, Sustamine, L- Alanyl-L-Glutamine, Micronized Taurine, L-Lysine Hydrochloride)
- Natural and Artificial Flavour
- Citric Acid
- Malic Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate
- Potassium Benzoate
- Caffeine
- Sucralose
- Potassium chloride
- Magnesium Phosphate
- Tartaric Acid (In Strawberry and Grape flavors only)
- Acesulfame Potassium (Only in Grape flavor)
The following table contains the ‘Nutrition Facts’ in a serving size of 1 can (12 fl oz):
| Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value* | |
| Calories | 5 | |
| Caffeine | 100mg | |
| Amino Acid | 5g | |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Sodium | 100mg | 4% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 0g | 0% |
The % Daily Value refers to how much of a nutrient contributes to the drinker’s daily diet.
How Much Caffeine Does The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink Have?
A single can of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink contains 100mg of caffeine.
One of the main assets of this energy drink is that its caffeine came from natural ingredients. To be specific, it came from plant-based sources. This guarantees healthier caffeine effects.
Amino Energy Drink contains a moderate amount of caffeine. This won’t make you prone to caffeine overdose with one drink.
It’s almost the same dosage as a regular cup of 8 fl. oz coffee that contains 95mg of caffeine on average.
Most of the time, a single energy drink can keep you up for a longer time compared to coffee. This is due to the usual high caffeine content.
With this beverage’s caffeine content, it’s considered to be at the lower side of the strength measuring scale of energy drinks.
My opinion on this product is that Optimum Nutrition wanted to produce an energy drink that has just enough effects for energy drinkers. This is in contrast to brands that focused on making extra powerful ones.
How Much Sugar Does The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink Have?
The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink is sugar-free.
This beverage being sugar-free is a good thing for those who are tired of experiencing a sugar crash.
Instead of sugar, artificial sweeteners were added to the energy drink to still be able to provide a sweet sensation.
Two of the most widely used sugar substitutes, namely sucralose and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), are present in Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink.
All the flavors of the drink contain sucralose as a calorie-free sweetener. Only the grape flavor, however, contains Ace-K.
How Many Calories Does The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink Have?
A 12 fl. oz. can of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink contains 5 calories.
The exact amount of calories in the drink can’t be determined. The can states that there is no calorie from fats. The 5 calories, however, come from the amino acids, and the other ingredients of the drink.
Overall, the calorie content is a decent amount for an energy drink. Considering that the daily calorie intake is limited to 2,000 for women, and 2,500 for men, Amino Energy’s calorie count is considered low.
Does The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink Actually Work?
The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink works best for those who want a quick energy boost. The exact effects, though, will depend on the drinker’s caffeine tolerance.
For someone like me who reacts well with even a small caffeine intake, this drink is already the perfect source of energy fix. The boost level is also the perfect fit for my body’s needs.
However, if you’re someone with a high caffeine tolerance, the caffeine kick may not be enough. The drink will still affect you but expect a weaker response.
The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink can provide you with:
- Energy Boost
- Hydration
- Joint Support
- Muscle Recovery
- Better Focus
From the several reviews found on different websites, the drink will give you only a mild energy boost. This is in contrast to other brands that promise a powerful boost. As a result, this might not be the best in providing sufficient energy in terms of heavy exercise.
On the brighter side, Amino Energy is sugar-free. You don’t have to worry about unwanted dental cavities, unlike other sugar-laden drinks. The calorie count is pretty low, as well.
The customers have also stated that it made their muscles more relaxed. They also guaranteed that this gives adequate hydration.
The only thing that may displease you is the lack of nutritious supplements like Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Niacinamide, Riboflavin, Ginseng extract, etc. This makes it lackluster competition in the market.
Simply put, Amino Energy is a pretty good source of daily energy fix with moderately balanced ingredients. The supplements present in the drink are enough for an active lifestyle, assuming that a light dose of caffeine is enough for the drinker’s needs.
Again, this energy drink works. The only issue lies in the intensity of energy boost that it can give.
Who Can Drink The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink?
Any healthy individual can drink the Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink.
As per the recommended caffeine limit suggested by food regulators, one can have 1-2 cans a day for maintaining a healthy boost.
However, the intake quantity may vary depending on your health conditions. Caffeine alters the histamine level in your body. Thus, if you’re caffeine sensitive, then the drink may trigger allergic reactions in your body.
People with heart disease or related medical conditions should avoid caffeine while taking the supplements prescribed by their doctors.
In the case of children and pregnant women, you should consider consulting a health professional.
Teens aged 12-18 are recommended to keep their caffeine intake within 100 mg. A large dose of caffeine may have an impact on their normal brain and physiological functions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has suggested that children who are younger than 12 years shouldn’t have caffeine.
This means Amino energy isn’t suitable for children below 12 years old. For teens, on the other hand, a can per day should be enough.
For pregnant and breastfeeding women, the recommended limit is 200 mg of caffeine. Still, I’d suggest talking to their obstetrician before drinking any type of energy drink.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink?
The major benefits of drinking Amino Energy are the combination of its zero sugar, low-calorie count, and low caffeine content.
Too much of these can harm an individual’s health. Therefore, you should look for an energy drink that can give you just enough amount. This is what you can find in Amino Energy.
This study claims that energy drinks enhance aerobic endurance and performance along with improving concentration and memory.
If you’re taking a moderate amount of Amino Energy Drink, then you can expect several health benefits. For instance, you won’t feel tired easily, and you can form better alertness.
The low-calorie content and zero-sugar also play important roles in controlling the weight and sugar level of the body.
Because the drink is becoming popular day by day, it’s appreciable that the company didn’t go for overambitious marketing or non-scientific claims regarding the product.
The product might lack certain nutritious elements, but the overall functionality of Amino Energy is commendable since it provides a modest potency.
What Are The Side Effects Of The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink?
The side effects that you might encounter for having too much Amino Energy may include:
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Weight Gain
- Restlessness
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Chest Pains
- Fatigue
- Sugar crashes
- Addiction
Since Amino Energy is sugar-free, there are no cases of sugar crashes and weight gain. Its artificial sweeteners, though, can be a concern for some.
The Acceptable Daily Intake for sucralose is 9mg/kg body weight per day. Meaning, if you weigh 60kg, you can have a maximum of 540mg of sucralose per day.
For ace-k, the daily recommended limit is 15mg/kg.
Take note of the said recommended daily intake to avoid going overboard. Consuming huge amounts of artificial sweeteners may further result in headaches, depression, increased risk of cancer, and obesity.
Amino Energy Drink also lacks certain health supplements.
Despite the drawbacks, I personally recommend everyone to try this drink at least once because of its hydrating capabilities. If you stick to a moderate level of consumption, you shouldn’t worry about the side effects mentioned.
How Many Cans Of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink Can You Drink In A Day?
My personal suggestion is to drink a maximum of 1 can per day. You can better avoid side effects if you drink it every other day instead.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends keeping the daily intake of caffeine within 400 milligrams.
I’ll suggest keeping the intake to 1 can since this is definitely not the only caffeine source in your diet.
Over-dosage of the stimulant, caffeine, may lead to unwanted effects on health such as:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Muscle Breakdown
- Digestive Issues
- Addiction
- Irregular Heartbeat
- High Blood Pressure
- Frequent Urination
For people with health conditions or special needs, I recommend consulting with a doctor before drinking Amino Energy. This will help you avoid unwanted caffeine and ingredients from invading your daily intake.
Where Can You Buy The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink?
The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink is mainly produced by Optimum Nutrition, a US-based brand. It’s widely marketed and distributed in the US. You can easily buy a can from local grocery shops, markets, fitness centers, or even drug stores.
You can also directly purchase from their official website.
For those living outside of the US, you can purchase it from retailer websites such as Amazon, Dolphin Fitness, etc.
How Much Is A Can Of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink?
From the official website of Optimum Nutrition, a 12-can set of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy drink costs around $25.
For retail buys, each can cost about $2.
The price varies on the retailer’s website. Amazon, for example, sells different flavors for different prices. The price ranges from around $24 to $32. The variety pack, on the other hand, is more expensive. This retails for about $35 or even more.
Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink Flavors
Currently, Amino Energy drink is available in 9 different flavors. See the list below:
- Blueberry Lemonade
- Grape
- Green Apple
- Juicy Cherry
- Juicy Strawberry
- Peach Bellini
- Mango Pineapple Limeade
- Mixed Berry Sangria
- Watermelon
The flavors mostly revolved around fruit-based tastes.
Taste Review Of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink
From several reviews, I have observed that the taste of the Amino Energy drink is highly appreciated. For that, I give it a rating of 8/10.
Juicy Strawberry and Watermelon are two of the most popular flavors. These have a unique aftertaste. You can also expect a fruity kick throughout the drink.
Many have also compared the drink with a Jolly Rancher because of the similarity in flavors.
The Grape Flavor also gained a high rating from the consumers.
All the flavors are mildly sweetened, so the factor will be the least of your worries. Each of them has its own unique tastes.
Will amino acids keep me awake?
Amino acids like 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and tryptophan (tryptophan) raise serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn improves mood and sleep. L-tryptophan has been found in studies to reduce sleep latency and increase subjective drowsiness.
L-arginine, taurine, tyrosine, and L-carnitine are some more well-liked amino acid-based stimulants that may be found in foods including meat, fish, dairy, and some types of soy.
Does amino energy affect sleep?
In addition to helping people get a better night’s rest, amino acids are good for their health and development. In order to ensure your body has access to the protein building blocks it needs, taking BCAAs before night is a good idea.
Supplements consisting only of BCAAs fall under this category. Taking a supplement with additional chemicals, such as caffeine, before night might cause sleeplessness.
Can essential amino acids raise blood pressure?
Research suggests that a diet high in branched-chain, aromatic, and alcoholic amino acids, as well as proline, may raise blood pressure.
In animal models of hypertension, taurine, the most common semiessential sulfur-containing amino acid, is known to reduce BP.”
What Are Some Alternative Energy Drinks That You Should Consider?
Here’s a list of some other energy drinks that you might try along with the Amino Energy Drink:
Conclusion: Is The Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink A Good Energy Drink?
In conclusion, the Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink is commendable, considering that it has balanced ingredients with moderate stimulants.
My rating for Amino Energy comes up to a whole 7 out of 10. Its main advantage lies in its sugar-free content. This instantly eliminates countless sugar-based health risks from the equation.
The ingredients aren’t that unique compared to other energy drinks. The good this is that Amino Energy doesn’t contain unhealthy ones.
The caffeine is in a moderate amount. This means that this is tolerable for healthy drinkers.
Even so, this should be able to provide a nice energy boost to get through the day. The calorie intake will also be under control since a single can contains only 5 calories.
What makes the drink’s caffeine even better is its plant-based source.
People with high caffeine tolerance may not get their desired boost from just a single can. They may need another serving to gain stronger effects.
Please remember to keep the track of daily caffeine consumption and don’t overdo it.
Personally, I’m delighted with Amino Energy as they have kept certain ingredients in moderate quantities. It would have been better if there were other vitamins and important supplements as well.
Overall, this will be the most refreshing choice for those who are looking for a mild energy-boosting drink.