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Rockstar: Caffeine And Ingredients (And Other FAQs)

Rockstar Energy is the energy drink said to be “for those who live active lifestyles, from athletes to rockstars”.

And it might just be true. A 16 fl.oz can off Rockstar Energy offers a powerful boost with 160mg caffeine, along with 122 calories and sugar content of 24 grams.

And that’s not all of it, Rockstar also offers a range of B-Vitamins, Ginseng, and Guarana extracts, as well as Taurine. So it’s quite the package.

How about we go into a bit more detail about this impressive cast of ingredients?

I’ll also be sharing my thoughts about the effectiveness and potential side effects of Rockstar Energy, and answering some FAQs, so be sure to stick around, alright?

Let us begin...

Rockstar’s Nutritional Facts

rockstar can
A Rockstar has 122 calories.

Rockstar Energy comes in a 16 fl.oz can, which is typically considered a single serving. Here’s a chart showing the nutritional value of a Rockstar:

Nutrients AmountDaily value
Energy122 Calories2000 calories
Carbohydrate26g225-325g
Sugar24g24-36g
Fat0g44-77g
Protein2.0g46-56g
Salt0.82g2300mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)16mg16mg
Vitamin B61.4mg1.3-1.9mg
Vitamin B122.5mcg2.4mcg
Nutritional Facts for Rockstar.

It’s highly recommended that you check the nutritional label for any product that you consume so that you have a clear idea of exactly what and how much goes into your body.

Rockstar Energy’s Ingredients

Rockstar label
Rockstar has many good ingredients like Guarana and ginseng extracts, as well as taurine and inositol.

Here’s a list of the ingredients that go into making the phenomenal energy drink that is Rockstar:

  • Carbonated Water
  • Caffeine
  • Sugar
  • Taurine
  • Ginseng Extract
  • Guarana Extract
  • Inositol
  • Erythritol
  • Vitamin B3
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Citric Acid (Acidity regulator)
  • Glucuronolactone
  • Sodium Citrate (Acidity Regulator)
  • Flavouring
  • Sucralose and Acesulfame K (artificial sweeteners)
  • Caramel E150c and Riboflavin E101 (colors)

Rockstar Energy drink has many of the staple ingredients that you’ll find in any energy drink, but one thing that could be considered uncommon is the Ginseng extract. ‘

Caffeine in Rockstar

caffeine
Caffeine is the world’s most used psychoactive drug and is legal in most countries.

Rockstar Energy contains 160 milligrams of caffeine per 16 fl.oz serving.

This is twice the amount of caffeine in some other energy drinks like Red Bull or 28 Black but is the same as that in Monster Energy. However, all of these energy drinks have one thing in common: A caffeine density of 10mg per ounce.

What this means is although Rockstar may have double the amount of caffeine in Red Bull, you still get the same caffeine per fluid ounce, so it isn’t too high of caffeine content.

So one can provide you with enough energy to last a good while. Whatever you use it for, remember that there is a limit to how much caffeine you can have in a short interval.

The FDA says that 400mg of caffeine is about as much as you can have within a day. It is also not recommended to take more than 200mg of caffeine in a single serving.

So Rockstar Energy hits a really nice spot when it comes to caffeine. Besides, since it comes in 16 oz cans, you can just split the can into two servings if you don’t need too much stimulation.

One thing you should keep in mind is that if you’re drinking a Rockstar every day (Which I wouldn’t recommend, but more on that later), you shouldn’t drink too many other beverages that have caffeine.

If you do happen to go over the limit, then you can expect to suffer from any of these side effects:

  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Palpitations of the heart
  • Dehydration
  • Depending on caffeine

No matter your caffeine tolerance, too much caffeine isn’t going to do you any good, so it’s best to keep things nice and moderate.

Calories in a Rockstar

food rich in calories
Calories are used to denote the energy gained from food and drinks.

A Rockstar Energy provides you with 122 calories per 16 fl.oz serving.

While this by itself isn’t a very significant amount, with the daily recommended amount of calories being 2500 and 2000 respectively for men and women, it can drive you over the limit if you already eat a lot.

So Rockstar Energy isn’t for the people who live a not-so-active lifestyle, since you may not be able to burn off the extra calories and might end up in a caloric surplus, which can lead to a gain in weight.

But as the company’s motto says, Rockstar might just be a great energy drink for people with active lifestyles.

With a great amount of caffeine, plus the added calories, Rockstar may be able to give you an extra reserve of energy to help with a tough workout or extra work.

But there is a catch here, and it’s that most of the calories in Rockstar come from the sugar in it, and such calories are “empty calories”, meaning that although they might give you a temporary reserve of energy, they won’t add any nutrition to your diet.

So you can’t expect Rockstar, or any sugary energy drink for that matter, to help you with weight gains.

Sugar in Rockstar Energy

Sugar can be harmful if consumed in excess frequently.

Rockstar is a heavy hitter when it comes to sugar, although it is still safer than Monster when it comes to sugar content.

A single 16 fl.oz can of Rockstar gives you 24 grams of sugar.

To put into perspective how high of an amount this is, consider that the AHA recommends that an average adult man consume no more than 36 grams and a woman might only consume 24 grams of sugar in a day.

So, a single Rockstar covers the daily amount of sugar for women just by itself, while for men, it pushes them close to the edge, with even a little bit more of sugar tipping them over, into the abyss of sugar overdose.

Ahem, I might have been a little too dramatic back there, but the point still stands that Rockstar’s sugar contents are by no means safe for daily consumption, so if you’re looking for a daily companion, try something that’s sugar-free.

If you have ever ingested too much sugar, then you might recognize some of these symptoms of sugar overdose:

  • Jitters
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue or a drop in energy levels
  • Problem with focusing
  • Hunger
  • Bloating
  • Dizziness

Yep, you definitely need to avoid consuming too much sugar. And if you’re already eating many sugary foods in the day, then a Rockstar on top of all that is just a bad idea.

Rockstar Energy also comes in a completely sugar-free version, so I would recommend that you chose that over the original.

Here’s Ted Ed video that brilliantly explains the effects sugar has on the human brain:

Sugar’s effects on the brain.

Artificial Sweeteners In Rockstar

Rockstar Energy also contains artificial sweeteners along with sugar to give it its characteristic sweetness.

The sweeteners used in this case are Sucralose and Acesulfame K. Both of these sweeteners are certified by the FDA to be safe within reasonable doses.

Sucralose is probably the most used artificial sweetener, and it has zero calories while being 500 to 700 times sweeter than normal sugar. It is sold under the brand name Splenda.

Acesulfame K is also a great artificial sweetener, but since it has a bitter aftertaste, it is used in conjunction with other sweeteners to mask the aftertaste.

Vitamins and other Ingredients

Rockstar Energy also has three essential B-Vitamins, right along with other good ingredients like Inositol, Taurine, and extracts like Ginseng and Guarana. I’ll touch on these briefly in this section.

Let’s start with the vitamins:

VitaminsEffectsAmount in Rockstar
Vitamin B3Helps with keeping blood pressure and blood fat levels under control and improves cognitive function, along with other benefits.
16mg
Vitamin B6Improves your state of mind, reduces the risk of getting diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and more.1.4mg
Vitamin B12Helps with the formation of red blood cells, is great for improving bone health, and may also give you a little bit of energy2.5mcg
Vitamins are essential for our bodies.

Rockstar has you covered when it comes to these three vitamins.

Taurine

Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in the human body. It serves an important role in certain bodily functions.

Taurine supplements may have the capability of boosting athletic performance, preventing diseases like diabetes while also helping with fat metabolism. It is for this reason that Taurine is used in many energy drinks.

Also, a common myth surrounding Taurine is that it comes from animals. Well, it can theoretically be extracted from animals, but no one would really bother doing it because it is much more efficient to produce it in the lab.

Inositol

Inositol is also a compound found in the human body in the form of a type of carbohydrate. Its supplements can have some pretty great effects on health.

First of all, it helps a lot with the body’s insulin resistance which is a deciding factor when it comes to preventing Type 2 Diabetes. It also improves your mood and fights anxiety and depression.

Ginseng Extract

Ginseng has been an important herb in Asian countries, specifically China, for a long, long time. As of late, energy drink manufacturers are also recognizing its benefits and using it in their beverages. It has some of the following benefits:

  • May help you be more energetic
  • Good for the brain
  • It May help keep blood sugar levels low
  • Could be a possible way to treat Erectile Dysfunction

Guarana Extract

Guarana extract has also been seeing a lot of use in energy drink blends, and rightly so. This Brazilian and Amazonian plant has some pretty good benefits:

  • Works similarly to caffeine, it reduces fatigue and helps with focus
  • Is rich in antioxidants
  • Good for skin, digestion, and even the heart
  • Could improve learning ability

One small disclaimer for these extracts: The amount included in Rockstar may not be enough to produce the abovementioned benefits by itself.

Is Rockstar Energy bad for you?

While Rockstar may have a lot of pros, it has one glaring con that might offset all the good things for some people. It has a lot of sugar in it.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean that Rockstar is bad for you, it does put you at risk of damaging your health if you drink it daily.

It’s also not a great option for caffeine-sensitive people, but that has more to do with the variation in constitution from person to person and isn’t strictly a Rockstar-exclusive problem.

So, Rockstar will only be bad for you if you drink the original daily. But it is fine as an occasional treat, as long as you cut down on your sugar intake afterwards.

If you want to drink Rockstar every day then you might as well be wise about it and drink the sugar-free version.

Does Rockstar have alcohol in it?

Rockstar Energy doesn’t have any alcohol in it. And as far as I know, the company would get in legal trouble if it combined alcohol with caffeine, as it can have disastrous effects.

A person who drinks a mix of alcohol and energy drink wouldn’t be able to realise how intoxicated they actually are, and might end up drinking much more than what they normally would.

Which of course would be bad for their health, but that isn’t most of it. People who are “wide-awake drunk” are also more likely to drive while drunk because they tend to think that they are sober, which could lead to traffic accidents.

Rockstar’s Different Flavours and Versions

Rockstar has a pretty expansive lineup of energy drinks, here is a list of the ones I could find:

  • Rockstar Energy Original
  • Rockstar Sugar-free
  • Rockstar 2X Energy
  • Rockstar Pure Zero Silver Ice
  • Rockstar Pure Zero Punched
  • Rockstar 32oz Can
  • Rockstar Recovery Grape
  • Rockstar Recovery Orange
  • Rockstar Recovery Lemonade
  • Rockstar Roasted Mocha
  • Rockstar Sparkling Cherry Citrus
  • Rockstar Sparkling Peach
  • Rockstar Supersours Blueberry
  • Rockstar Supersours Sour Apple
  • Rockstar Pink
  • Rockstar Punched
  • Rockstar Punched Acai Berry
  • Rockstar Zero Carb
  • Rockstar Juiced
  • Rockstar Juiced Guava
  • Rockstar Juiced Pomegranate
  • Rockstar Energy Cola
  • Rockstar Cucumber Lime
  • Rockstar Frozen Lime
  • Rockstar Horchata Energy
  • Rockstar Organic Energy drink
  • Rockstar Pina Colada

As you can see, due to Rockstar’s immense variation, I can confidently say that there is a Rockstar for every energy drink fan out there, it’s just a matter of finding the right one. And being smart with its consumption.

Alternatives To Rockstar

Here are some sugar-free energy drinks that are great alternatives to Rockstar Energy:

  • Bang Energy
  • Celsius Energy
  • Monster Zero Ultra
  • Reign

Conclusion

Rockstar lies in the same niche as other big-name energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster in the sense that it has an almost perfect blend, but with a high amount of sugar that makes it far from ideal for daily consumption.

But like the other two brands, Rockstar also provides a solution to this problem by having a sugar-free version.

But in the end, an energy drink is all about the boost it provides and how good it tastes, and Rockstar nails both.

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