Intermittent fasting has grown widespread in recent years, whether to promote a better lifestyle or reduce weight, but you should be aware that it can be harmful if not done properly.
As a result, it’s critical to grasp the proper techniques to perform intermittent fasting, such as avoiding and understanding what kinds of food are acceptable to take when fasting.
While fasting, you want to make sure that you are still properly hydrated, and you have enough energy throughout your day until the end of your fast comes. Energy drinks might be a good idea to give a boost, plus it’s just like coffee.
But which energy drinks are most suitable for intermittent fasting? Read onto find out!
Short answer: Zero-calorie energy drinks such as Monster Energy: Zero Ultra, Adrenaline Shoc, CELSIUS Energy, and Reign energy are among the finest non-caloric energy beverages to take when fasting. As long as the caloric content of your beverage is less than 50 calories, it is okay to eat and will not interfere with your fast.
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What is Intermittent Fasting?
To put it in laymen’s terms, intermittent fasting is simply a form of dieting that involves alternating between periods of eating and fasting for the sole purpose of losing fat.
Intermittent fasting works by putting your body in a state of starvation where it will have time to go through all the calories consumed during the previous eating cycle and continue breaking down fat to use as energy.
Common intermittent fasting methods include the 15/8 method, which involves foregoing breakfast and eating only within an 8-hour window, such as between 1 and 9 p.m, before fasting for the next 16 hours.
This method is the most preferable because you’ll be sleeping for a huge portion of the fast and thus don’t have to think about being hungry.
While intermittent fasting is a diet trend that has the main purpose of helping you drop your body fat percentage, it does have other benefits which include:
- reducing cholesterol
- reducing insulin resistance
- reducing liver fat
- increased endurance
- improving sleep
- improving brain and heart health
- extending lifespan
What Are The Acceptable Foods When Fasting?
The fundamental objective of fasting is to abstain from consuming anything. To avoid dehydration or other health issues, you can consume non-caloric drinks or anything that keeps you hydrated and energized throughout your fasting hours.
As such, before starting any fasts, especially prolonged ones, you should seek out medical advice first to determine what type of fast you should try first, or whether your body can even handle it.
Typically, clear liquids are allowed to consume when doing a fast. Here’s a list of fast-friendly drinks you can try to hydrate your system:
- Black coffee
- Unsweetened tea
- Herbal tea
- Sparkling water
- Lemon water
- Flavored water
If you want to learn more about acceptable liquids while doing intermittent fasting, here’s a great video presentation by Dr. Eric Berg DC on YouTube:
Can You Drink Energy Drinks While Intermittent Fasting?
Many energy drinks are high in sugar and calorie, which may not be suitable for intermittent fasting. Fat consumption is unimportant since the pituitary gland is not aware of it. It can only detect glucose and insulin.
As a result, you can certainly take more than 50 Calories of glucose/starch without disrupting the fast’s hormonal rhythm.
If you consume something with fewer than 50 calories, your body will stay in a fasting state. So your coffee with a dash of milk or cream, or any beverage with fewer than 50 calories, is OK.
Ingredients in Energy Drinks
Some ingredients in energy drinks can be carbohydrates and/or calories that can be converted into energy like sugar.
These ingredients are prominent in energy drinks because they help contribute to the energy-boosting effects and drive the blend of ingredients to be more effective.
Though some of these ingredients are not necessarily needed, they can be beneficial from time to time with the right dosage.
Sugar
It is rarely common for sugar not to be present in energy drinks. Since sugar is a type of carbohydrate and calories, it converts into energy that our body uses besides other nutrients or fats.
Sugar, in sufficient quantities, is essential for the proper functioning of various biological processes like energy production, but taken in excess, and you may experience the following side effects and illnesses:
- weight gain
- diabetes
- tooth decay
Though in the case of fasting, sugar, as much as possible, should be avoided. Because when you eat sugar, your fast and its benefits might be disturbed.
Caffeine
Caffeine is the star ingredient of energy drinks. It acts as a nervous system simulator that helps us in keeping awake and alert.
Caffeine has no caloric components in its natural state, which is why drinking plain brewed coffee or other caffeinated beverage, as long as it is noncaloric or has low caloric values, is safe to consume while fasting.
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are mostly used as a substitute for sugar in zero sugar beverages.
Though they may be 200-600 times sweeter than sugar, they hold no caloric value and even an ample amount if the dosage is fairly enough to give the drinks a sweet taste.
Artificial sweeteners are safe to use and safe for different kinds of diets such as keto and veganism.
Are Zero-Calorie Energy Drinks Safe For Intermittent Fasting?
Yes, they are. In fact, you’re better off with totally zero-calorie drinks than those with even low amounts of calories. You’ll be able to see results much quicker this way.
As we mentioned above, if you ingest less than 50 calories, your body will still remain in a fasting condition.
Taken all this, if you want to go with energy drinks to keep you boosted throughout the day, then I’d suggest that you are opt-in in energy drinks that have little to no sugars or caloric value.
There are plenty of them in the market since many consumers are also looking for these beverages without worrying about extra calories or avoiding sugar.
Here are some of the best energy drinks that are intermittent-fast friendly:
The Best Energy Drinks for Intermittent Fasting
To be considered fasting friendly, we must consider and keep in mind that it must be either sugar or calorie-free and/or not exceed 50 calories per serving.
Some of the energy drinks in the following list are all sugar and calorie-free, but for the sake of sweet drive may use artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
These artificial sweeteners are widely used and are safe to use. Though they are 200-600 times sweeter than sugar, they hold no caloric value, and only an ample amount is used, enough to give the drink’s sweetness.
Now without further ado, here’s the list:
Monster Energy Zero Ultra
Monster Energy: Zero Ultra is the drink for you if you want a lighter flavor of Monster. This drink has energy-boosting nutrients, including L-Carnitine, Taurine, and Inositol, which enhance insulin sensitivity, all in a 10 calorie package.
- Caffeine content: 140mg (16 fl. oz)
- Calorie content: 10 calories
- Sugars content: 0g
Reign Energy Drink
Reign Energy Drink is designed for those who lead an active lifestyle and are looking for a fast boost to improve their workout performance. It is also ideal for people who want to avoid consuming too many calories or sugar because it is sugar-free and has little to no calories.
- Caffeine content: 300mg (16 fl. oz)
- Calorie content: 10 calories
- Sugar content: 0g
However, you should be wary of its caffeine level because it may become rather powerful, especially if you have a poor caffeine tolerance. Other than that, it’s a great drink and is safe for intermittent fasting.
CELSIUS Energy
CELSIUS, marketed as a healthy energy drink, has natural flavorings, is sugar-free, and has only 10 calories. It is also suitable for a keto or vegan diet, making it a versatile drink suitable for individuals who also follow intermittent fasting.
- Caffeine content: 200mg (12 fl. oz)
- Calorie content: 10 calories
- Sugar content: 0g
Adrenaline Shoc
Another fantastic energy drink with no sugar or calories is Adrenaline Shoc. Its 300mg caffeine coupled with vital amino acids and electrolytes will definitely boost your energy levels.
- Caffeine content: 300mg (16 fl. oz)
- Calorie content: 0 calories
- Sugar content: 0g
Though it is one of the strongest energy drinks out there in the market because of its caffeine content, you may also be cautious about it. Still, other than that, Adrenaline Shoc will surely rehydrate you and enhance your energy while being safe to take while fasting.
Intermittent Fasting Tips
Intermittent fasting can be done in a variety of ways. Whether you’re a novice or are still unsure about intermittent fasting, it’s critical to understand what you’re getting into or to listen to your body to avoid harm to your health.
Here are some tips to take note of during Intermittent fasting:
- Staying Hydrated – Drinking lots of water and zero-calorie drinks may aid in you in getting boosted and having energy throughout your day until your fast ends.
- Taking a rest – You should also not that taking a rest during fast is important. Avoid any tiring activities because you may feel irritable and hungry which may disrupt your mind and may make you feel unwell during your whole fast.
- Break your fast slowly – To allow your digestive system to properly process the meal, you should eat well and consume slowly.
- Do not overeat – Eating too much might not only make you bloated and uncomfortable, but it can also sabotage the weight-loss objectives that likely drew you to IF in the first place. It is preferable to eat food for the goal of sustaining your body rather than for pleasure.
- Listening to your body – It will take some time for your body to adjust to fasting. However, if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, or irritation, you should consider breaking your fast or finding alternate diets that are suited for your body.
If you want to learn more about Intermittent fasting, here’s a video you can watch:
Conclusion:
Intermittent fasting is a great practice that can greatly change and make your lifestyle healthier.
Though many myths and notions have been all around the internet about how it should be practiced properly, it is still best to consult your doctor or trust your own judgment by doing enough research before getting into it.
As much as your health is concerned, it is still important to understand and listen to your body. Having enough hydration and energy is as important.
Luckily, you can always rely on energy drinks that can be safe for your fast, or you can try natural and homemade energy boosters such as herbal teas, ginger ale, and the like.
But above all, it is of the utmost importance to look after your health, and no amount of weight-loss diets should compromise your health’s overall safety in the long run.