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Shark Energy Review (Detailed)

Shark Energy Drink is a Thai energy drink brand that has made its mark on the international market as well.

Coming in really cool-looking 8.4-ounce cans, Shark has a caffeine content of 80mg which means that it packs a nice punch.

Shark Energy boasts a 120-year long history and its predecessor, M-150 was one of the very first energy drinks in history.

Aside from the original blend, it comes in many different versions like a sugar-free version, a non-carbonated version, and a lighter caffeine version.

In this article, I am reviewing the Original version of Shark Energy and not the Shark Stimulation version, which has less sugar and calories compared to the former.

I thought I should mention that as a disclaimer because the two variations are easily confusable for one another.

As for what I rate Shark Energy, I would say that it’s a nice 6 out of 10.

Want to learn the reasoning behind this rating?

Then come along with me as I explore the various aspects of this drink and answer some of the frequently asked questions relating to it.

Now, let us begin…

What is Shark Energy?

Shark Energy is an energy drink introduced by Osotspa Co., which is based in Thailand and was also the manufacturer of the well-received and classic M-150 energy drink.

Taking all of the good stuff from their previous energy drink, this company introduced Shark Energy in 2002.

Since then it has spread its network of suppliers to every single continent and in over 80 countries throughout the world.

Shark’s motto is, quite unsurprisingly, “Unleash The Beast”. This implies that the drink gives a really potent energy boost. And it isn’t wrong.

Shark Energy’s Ingredients

shark energy ingredients list back of can
The company was so considerate as to include the list of main ingredients in English.

An 8.4 fl.oz of Shark Energy has the below-mentioned ingredients in it:

  • 80mg caffeine (natural)
  • 0.5mg Vitamin B1
  • 2mg Vitamin B2
  • 5mg Vitamin B6
  • 3mcg Vitamin B12
  • 22.5mg Vitamin C
  • 20mg Niacinamide
  • 5mg D-Pantothenol
  • 50mg Inositol
  • 12.5 gram sugar

It also has the following ingredients:

  • Carbonated water
  • Taurine
  • Choline
  • Dextrose
  • Guarana extract
  • Acidity regulators
  • Flavors and coloring

Shark has a pretty standard list of ingredients including the essential B-Vitamins, Taurine, Inositol, and more.

I will talk in detail about some of the more prominent ingredients in the next part of this article.

Nutritional Facts For Shark Energy

The nutritional facts of Shark Energy as per a 100ml serving are:

Macronutrient(s)Amount per 100ml (3.4 fl.oz)
Calories65 kcal
Fat
Of which saturates
0
0
Carbohydrates
Of which sugars
15.3g
Salt<0.01g
Protein<0.5g
Nutrients found in Shark Energy.

As the chart may show, the calorie and sugar content in Shark is very high even in a 3.4 fl.oz serving.

We will talk about the sugar and calories separately in later subheadings.

How much caffeine is in Shark energy drink?

coffee in the middle of table
Although caffeine is a great stimulant, its overconsumption can be bad for your health.

Shark Energy has a moderate 80mg of caffeine in an 8.4 fl.oz.

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects physical and mental performance as well as focus and alertness.

It is because of this that it is the main component of an energy drink. But many energy drinks, in my opinion, just don’t get it right. Either they have too much caffeine, or they have way too little caffeine.

Shark’s 80mg, however, come pretty close to my ideal amount of caffeine which is 100mg per serving.

This much caffeine is just right when it comes to giving me a relatively strong boost in energy without getting me too hyped up.

I also like the fact that it has no accompanying crash, and the caffeine is from natural sources like coffee beans; 80mg may not be too much by itself, but keep in mind that most of us consume other caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee as well.

The FDA recommended upper limit for caffeine consumption in a day is 400 mg. Any more than that and you may start feeling some of these effects:

  • Dehydration
  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • A feeling of restlessness
  • Nausea and more

But, if consumed in the right amounts, caffeine can have many benefits too.

Therefore, a can of Shark Energy a day may help you stay more alert, focused, less tired, and can increase your mental and physical performances as well.

How many calories are in Shark Energy?

fast food
An average person should have around 2000 calories in their daily diet.

Shark Energy has 65 calories per 3.4 fl.oz serving. This means that a single 8.4 fl.oz can of Shark has 162 calories.

The calorific limits for men and women are 2500 and 2000 kcal respectively.

If we were to consider the fact that energy drinks are, well, beverages, then it becomes apparent that Shark Energy has a pretty large amount of calories in it.

As you would be drinking this energy drink separately from your meals, then it’ll be rather easy for you to ingest too many calories.

And ingesting too many calories creates a lot of issues, which are:

  • Obesity
  • Increased risk of chronic diseases
  • Higher susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases
  • Decreased cognitive abilities
  • Bloating

Therefore it is highly advisable that you don’t have more than a single can of Shark Energy in a day.

As for people who are looking to lose a few pounds or stay in shape, you guys are going to have a hard time managing your calories if you also drink Shark Energy daily.

So for a more active lifestyle, I would recommend that you check out the no-calorie version of Shark.

Does Shark Energy have sugar in it?

sugar cubes in a cup
The best way to eat sugar is with a hint of moderation.

Yes, it has. In fact, it has lots of sugar in it. Shark Energy has 15.3 grams of sugar in every 3.4 fl.oz serving.

Right off the bat, I strongly advise you to stay away from Shark Energy if you suffer from high blood sugar levels or have diabetes.

Now, I’m sure you all know that energy drinks are notorious for having large amounts of sugar in them, but this is high even for an energy drink.

For reference, a can of Monster Energy has 11 grams of sugar per 13.4 fl.oz and even then it is considered a very sugary energy drink.

The AHA recommends no more than 24 grams of sugar a day for women and 36 grams for men.

It’s not a big deal to go over the limit every once in a while, but doing it too frequently will lead to problems like:

  • Dental cavities
  • Risk of Type II diabetes
  • Sugar cravings
  • Sugar crashes accompanied by anxiety and depression
  • Weight gain
  • Heart problems and more

It seems that the company realizes that their original blend has quite a high sugar content, and that is why they also have a less sugary version available, called Shark Stimulation.

Is Shark Energy Gluten-free?

I feel like being gluten-free is a must for an energy drink, so that even gluten-sensitive people can enjoy a good energy drink as part of their gluten-free diet.

Anyways, is Shark Energy gluten-free?

Yeah, it is. Shark is certified gluten-free and it is even mentioned on their cans.

For those of you who are wondering what gluten is, it is a type of protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. It is what gives flour its characteristic elasticity and bread its chewy texture.

It is important for an energy drink to be gluten-free because people with the following medical conditions can’t tolerate even a single grain of it:

  • Celiac Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
  • Wheat Allergy

If you have one of these, you may want to be careful of what you ingest.

Is Shark vegan?

Shark energy
Shark Energy Drink

Vegan diets have increased in popularity in recent times as more and more people are converting to this lifestyle and giving up meat for good.

As such, an energy drink that is not vegan-friendly will be at a huge disadvantage in the market and will lose a ton of customers that way. It is for this reason that energy drink brands are focusing on cutting out animal-based ingredients from their products and becoming vegan.

Shark is no exception. Even though it has a very carnivorous name, Shark Energy is certified vegan and is free of all animal protein.

Is Shark Energy bad for you?

I’d be lying if I said that Shark Energy is a perfectly healthy drink.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad for you either.

Like most other energy drinks, Shark Energy can be a double edged sword. What I mean is that in moderate amounts it is good for you and in high amounts it becomes a risk to your health.

You see, the key here is moderation. It is imperative that we keep a strict eye on the things we are putting in our bodies because what goes inside the human body has a huge impact on its daily functions.

There’s a quote by Oscar Wilde regarding moderation that I really like.

It goes like this:

“All things in moderation, including moderation”

What this means is that it’s okay to indulge once in a while, as long as you don’t do it too frequently.

Even if you sometimes drink several servings of Shark Energy or any other energy drink for that matter, you should be okay as long as you balance it out in the next few days.

Have a look at this video review below to know more.

Check this out if you want another person’s insights.

How many Sharks can I have in a day?

One can in a day is the most you can have of Shark Energy.

Shark has large quantities of calories and sugar in it so it is very easy to get more of the two things than you should if you drink several cans along with a normal diet.

One more thing I should mention is that some people have a higher tolerance to caffeine and the 80mg caffeine in Shark Energy may not suffice for them. If that’s the case for you then it is better to find a high caffeine brand rather than risk your health by drinking more Shark than what is safe.

But apart from such people, most people will find that the boost from a single can of Shark Energy to be quite sufficient and will last a good amount of time.

If the original feels like it has too much sugar and calories, you can also check out Shark Stimulation which is a lighter version but with the same energy boost.

What does Shark Energy tastes like?

Most people who try out Shark Energy say that it tastes similar to Red Bull.

According to some, it tastes even better because it has more sugar and feels a lot softer doing down the throat because it’s less tart than Red Bull. Some people may even complain about the sugary taste, but I am not one of them.

Even though I criticized the high sugar levels in this drink earlier in the article, I can’t deny that it makes the taste that much better.

There is one problem with Shark Energy when it comes to taste though; some people have complained that it has an awful aftertaste, especially in Shark Stimulation, which just ruins the experience for them.

I find this to be a shame because the drink itself tastes incredible but then the aftertaste sets in and makes you doubt whether it was even good in the first place. Though if you are someone who doesn’t mind the aftertaste or can simply look past it to then you may find Shark Energy to be a great energy drink for you.

Shark Energy Flavors And Variants

Shark Energy drink has a total of four flavors, which are listed below :

  • Original
  • Apple and Melon
  • Strawberry X Lime
  • Red Berries

Apart from the main version, it also has the following variants:

  • Shark Stimulation (lower sugar and calories)
  • Shark Zero Calories
  • Shark Sugar-Free
  • Shark Vitamin B Power
  • Shark Vitamin C Explosion
  • Still Shark (non-carbonated)

If you love variety, then you’ll enjoy Shark Energy a lot.

Shark Energy Alternatives

Shark Energy may be a good energy drink, but it is not for everyone. So here are some healthier energy drink alternatives to it:

I especially love Krating Daeng for its similarity with Red Bull, so I highly recommend it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shark Energy is a great energy booster that gets the job done and tastes delicious.

But it has a few quirks which made me rate it only a 6 out of 10.

With the high amounts of sugar and calories in it, it is pretty risky to drink Shark Energy more than once in day. Another problem is that it may have a bad aftertaste which is a turnoff for some people.

But as long as you stick to a single can a day and ignore the potentially bad aftertaste you can reap all the benefits of a great energy drink that is rich with vitamins and tastes better than some top brands.

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