Shark Energy is a Thai energy drink that has spread its jaws over many countries- 89 to be exact.
Following the success of its predecessor M-150, Osotspa Company Limited introduced Shark Energy in Thailand, but it soon became an internationally acclaimed energy drink.
Shark Energy comes in many versions, including a non-carbonated version, a sugar-free version, and even a lightly caffeinated version. This article, however, is about the standard version of Shark Energy.
For starters, Shark Energy comes in 8.4 ounce or 250 ml cans, and each can has 31.98mg caffeine, 15.3g sugar and 65 calories per 3.4oz /100ml, along with essential B-vitamins, Vitamin C, Taurine and more.
But I’m sure that just this wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy your curiosity. Am I right or am I right? Well then, you’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a deep dive into the nutritional facts of Shark Energy drink.
Let’s go…
Shark Energy’s Nutritional Facts
Here is a simple table showing the nutritional value of an 8.4 ounce can of Shark Energy:
| Macronutrient(s) | Amount per 8.4 fl. oz |
|---|---|
| Calories | 153 |
| Fat Of which saturates | 0 0 |
| Carbohydrates Of which sugars | 36g 36g |
| Salt | <0.025g |
| Protein | <1g |
| Vitamin C | 22.5mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.5mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 2mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 20mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 5mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 5mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 3mcg |
| Inositol | 50mg |
As you can see, Shark Energy is a great source of Vitamins and has almost no sodium in it.
Ingredients in Shark Energy
These are the ingredients that go into making Shark Energy:
- Caffeine (natural)
- Sugar
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Inositol
It also contains the following other ingredients:
- Carbonated water
- Taurine
- Choline
- Dextrose
- Guarana extract
- Acidity regulators
- Flavors and colors
How much caffeine is in Shark Energy?
Shark Energy contains around 32mg of caffeine per 3.4 ounces or 80 milligrams in the entire can.
As far as caffeine contents go, Shark Energy lies in the sweet spot with its moderate amount of caffeine. With this much, you can get a nice boost to your energy levels without the risk of feeling jittery or anxious.
Caffeine is used as the main stimulant in energy drinks because it is a central nervous system stimulant. Here are some of the benefits which you can expect from ingesting moderate amounts of the drug:
- Reduces fatigue
- Makes you alert
- Increases focus and concentration
- Improves physical performance
- Supresses hunger
- Reduces risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
- Might reduces risk of several types of cancer, if consumed over longer periods
- Reduces rsik of Type 2 Diabetes
The FDA recommends that you consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine in a day, and going over the said limit might have some adverse effects, some of which are:
- Insomia
- Restlessness or shakiness
- Jitters
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Abnormal heart rate
Therefore, it is best if you keep your caffeine intake well within 400mg. But if Shark Energy is your main source of caffeine, then you have no reason to worry about caffeine overdose.
How much sugar is in Shark Energy?
Shark Energy contains a whopping 15.3g sugar per 3.4oz. This translates to around 36 grams of sugar in an 8.4-ounce can.
As someone who doesn’t like sugar-coating things, I’ll give it to you straight: This much sugar in a single beverage is by no means safe for daily consumption, because many of us already eat sugary food in our daily diet.
To put into perspective just how high Shark Energy’s sugar content is, let’s see the AHA recommended sugar intakes for men and women:
| Men | Women |
| 36g | 24g |
If you drink a single can of Shark Energy in a day, then you will have already reached the threshold of the sugar you can consume on that particular day, and consuming any more than that might lead you to overdose on sugar, which can lead to some problems.
Here are the side effects of sugar overconsumption:
- Hunger
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Feeling jittery or anxious
- Bloating
- Feeling shaky or dizzy
And if you consistently overindulge in sugar over a long time, you might end up with Type 2 Diabetes or obesity.
So, in my opinion, Shark Energy isn’t the ideal energy drink for a daily pick-me-up kind of role. If you really like the drink, then you should consider using its sugar-free version instead of the regular one.
Or if you’re looking for a different sugar-free energy drink, then I have an entire article dedicated to helping you find just that.
Also, here’s a Ted-Ed video on the effects of sugar on the brain:
How many calories are in a Shark? 153
Shark Energy has 65 calories per 3.4 ounces, and a total of 153 calories in the entire can.
On average, men need 2500 calories, while women need 2000 calories in a day, but this amount may vary greatly depending on the person’s height, age, weight, etc.
Whatever your calorific need may be, Shark Energy won’t make too big of a dent in your diet if you work out regularly, so that even if you go into a caloric surplus, you will just burn the extra calories off and not worry about them.
On the flip side, if someone doesn’t keep track of how much they are eating and end up frequently overeating then the standard version of Shark Energy isn’t the one for them, and they should instead try out the zero-calorie Shark Energy.
Does Shark Energy have any vitamins in it?
Shark Energy contains multiple vitamins, namely the B-Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 as well as Vitamin C.
Below are the benefits of each of these essential vitamins:
| Vitamin | Benefits |
| B1 | Helps with the conversion of carbs into energy, as well as the transmission of nerve signals etc. |
| B2 | Helps with the dispersion of oxygen throughout the body, as well as in the production of skin cells, blood cells, and the lining of the digestive tract. Also shares some benefits with vitamin B1. |
| B3 | Improves fat levels in the blood, may reduce blood pressure and help fight Type 1 Diabetes etc. |
| B5 | Is important for a healthy nervous system, digestive tract, liver, as well as skin hair and eyes. It also helps with the production of sex-related hormones etc. |
| B6 | Promotes brain health, and reduces risk of brain-related diseases like Alzheimer’s. Also improves mood and reduces depression etc. |
| B12 | Is essential for healthy nerve cells and red cells and helps in the production of DNA, along with reducing risk of megaloblastic anemia |
| C | It is essential for development and growth of most, if not all bodily tissues. It is also involved in processes like healing of wounds, collagen formation etc. |
Is a Shark Energy vegan?
Shark Energy, as the name suggests (or does it?) is completely vegan.
Shark Energy contains a number of healthy ingredients (except it’s high sugar content) like B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, Inositol, Taurine and of course caffeine.
The notable thing is that all of these ingredients are either naturally sourced from plants or prepared in the lab, and are therefore free of any animal proteins.
There is a popular myth that Taurine is derived from bull sperm, but, well, the thing is…whoever started this myth had a disgusting sense of humor. While Taurine is found in abundance in many animals as well as human beings, it is too tedious to actually extract in from animals, and it is therefore produced in labs.
Does Shark Energy drink have alcohol?
Shark Energy doesn’t have any alcohol in it.
Not only Shark Energy, but virtually all energy drinks are non-alchoholic beverages. This is because alcohol and caffeine have opposite effects, and aren’t supposed to be mixed together.
Some people, however, are mixing energy drinks with alcohol to produce an effect called “wide-awake drunk”. This is, to be frank, a pretty stupid idea because a person who drinks a mixture of both beverages won’t feel as intoxicated as they actually are.
What then happens is that the person in question proceeds to drink more than what they would have drunk had they not mixed energy drink with the alcohol. Also, a drunk person who thinks they are alert is more likely to drive themselves home, which could lead to tragic road accidents.
Therefore, I strongly advise against the mixing of the two polar beverages.
How long does Shark Energy last?
The boost from Shark Energy should last you around 3-4 hours, which could be more or less, depending on your caffeine tolerance
Shark Energy contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, which, although moderate, is by no means a small amount. A cup of filter coffee contains code to this amount of caffeine.
Not only that, but the caffeine used in Shark Energy is natural and not artificially prepared. This means that they caffeine doesn’t get completely absorbed into your bloodstream all at once, and instead provides a slow-release, long lasting boost.
Is Shark Energy bad for you?
Shark Energy won’t be bad for you if you drink it only occasionally.
What I mean by this is that while Shark Energy is a great energy drink to drink once in a while, it isn’t safe to consume regularly. The reason is that its sugar contents are very high for its size, and it has a somewhat significant amount of calories.
What would; happen if someone drinks a can of Shark Energy daily, is that they would instantly reach their sugar-limit, meaning that any sugar that they ingest apart from the sugar in the energy drink will be excess and will lead to the aforementioned side effects.
Another thing that discourages me from recommending you to drink Shark Energy daily is that if you, let’s say, end each day with a surplus of 15-200 calories, then this would result in you gaining a few pounds of weight in a short time.
One more thing, that is related to energy drinks in general, is that it isn’t a good idea to rely on caffeine for daily stimulation, and you might become dependant on it for getting through the day.
The sugar-free or zero-calorie versions of Shark Energy are much better options for daily consumption.
Shark Energy Flavors and Variations
Shark Energy comes in the following flavors:
- Original
- Apple and Melon
- Strawberry X Lime
- Red Berries
It also has these variants:
- Shark Stimulation (less sugar and calories)
- Still Shark (non-carbonated
- Shark Zero Calories
- Shark Sugar-Free
- Shark Vitamin B Power
- Shark Vitamin C Explosion
Shark Energy Alternatives
Here are some alternatives to Shark Energy:
- Alani Nu (Highly caffeinated, but with no sugar and minimal calories, plus the cans look super dope)
- Red Bull (It’s THE Red Bull)
- Musashi Energy (Sugar-free, twice the size of Shark Energy and with twice as much caffeine)
- 28 Black (similar to Shark Energy)
- Zipfizz (Moderate caffeine, sugar-free, minimal calories, and a plethora of essential ingredients)
Conclusion
Overall, Shark Energy is a very good energy drink that gets the job done really well, and it also tastes pretty nice. But the catch is that you can’t drink it every day
Shark gets quite hampered by its high sugar content, which makes it a poor choice for those who are looking for a suitable regular use energy drink. It is also highly unsafe for diabetic people.
Hence, for the sake of a safer experience I would recommend that you stick to the sugar-free version of Shark Energy and keep the standard one for special occasions.
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