Energy drinks have become popular over the decade as they help alleviate tiredness and become an energy-boosting beverage that gives everyone a lifting mood throughout the day.
But the ingredients in energy drinks have become a concern for most as they are usually high in caffeine and sugar-which is the source of energy people get from them.
If you are looking for an energy lift without wanting to worry about sugar and extra calories, then you’ve come to the right place. My personal choices are Adrenaline Shoc, CELSIUS and 3D Energy, but there are plenty of other options on the market, so long as you know what you’re looking for.
Find out the best sugar-free energy drinks in the market and discover what more they can do for you.
Contents
Sugar in Energy Drinks
It is uncommon not to find sugar in any sweetened beverage unless they’re explicitly labeled sugar-free.
The most frequent components included in energy drinks are sugar and caffeine. This is mostly because they provide you with an ‘energy boost.’
However, like with any processed product, too much sugar can have negative consequences, so the usage of energy drinks, which contain sugar as one of the main ingredients, can be concerning at times.
Some ways that sugar can harm your health includes:
- Blood glucose levels rise and fall as a result of sugar consumption.
- Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are all linked to sugar consumption.
- Sugar hurts the immune system.
- Chromium shortage is common in those who eat a high-sugar diet.
- Sugar hastens the aging process.
The Right Amount of Sugar
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that males consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day, while women consume no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories).
Some energy drinks contain a lot of sugar, up to 21 teaspoons (83.5g) per serving, which is quite dangerous, especially if you consume them frequently.
That being said any manufacturers, thankfully, have chosen to utilize artificial sweeteners, which are regarded acceptable to use as a healthier alternative to sugar.
We’ll be discussing what are artificial sweeteners in he next section.
But if you want to learn more in-depth information about sugar, here’s an insightful video by Tech Insider on sugar:
Artificial Sweeteners in Energy Drinks
Besides sugar, energy drinks (notably sugar-free ones) also use artificial sweeteners.
Many manufacturers now opt to use artificial sweeteners, oftentimes sucralose and acesulfame potassium, because they are much sweeter than sugar while they hold no caloric components.
Artificial sweeteners are also beneficial in that they may be used safely by those who are attempting to avoid gaining weight, diabetes, or the dangers that sugar may bring to their diet.
Moreover, they have almost no calories A teaspoon of sugar, on the other hand, has around 16 calories, thus a can of sweetened cola with 10 teaspoons of additional sugar contains around 160 calories.
Artificial sweetener-sweetened goods may be an appealing alternative if you’re attempting to lose weight or avoid weight gain. However, their effectiveness for long-term weight loss is unknown.
Varieties of artificial sweeteners include:
- Saccharin
- Sucralose
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Aspartame
- Advantame
- Neotame
Are Artificial Sweeteners Better than Sugar?
Artificial sweeteners may be safe to consume and contain no calories, but that does not imply they are any healthier than sugar.
Although the American Heart Association (AHA) has allowed the use of artificial sweeteners for a short time, they nevertheless advise caution because they can have negative side effects. Artificial sweeteners are 200-600 times sweeter than sugar. Thus only a small amount is required.
Where Does the Energy Come From?
Now you may be wondering where the energy from sugar-free energy drinks is coming from.
Sugar may be a source of calories and carbohydrates that aids in energy conversion, but the energy boost from sugar-free energy drinks will be influenced by the level of caffeine in the energy drinks.
Because caffeine stimulates your neurological system, making you feel more awake and alert, most sugar-free energy drinks compensate for the lack of sugar by increasing the quantity of caffeine or energy-boosting minerals.
Caffeine may be beneficial from time to time in lengthy hours of work and physical activities, but it should not be used as a meal replacement on a regular basis since it can cause dangerous side effects. It’s still a good idea to limit your coffee intake and eat well-balanced meals.
Do Sugar-Free Energy Drinks Help With Weight Loss?
Artificial sweeteners (which are used in the majority of zero-calorie beverages) do not promote weight gain in and of itself, but many individuals compensate for the lower calorie counts of those beverages by eating a higher-calorie meal.
Even though artificial sweeteners are low in calories, their sweetness may trigger the food reward circuit in your brain. This may increase hunger and desire because these sweeteners aren’t completely fulfilling without the calories.
To properly enforce your weight reduction, you may prevent these adverse effects by controlling your portion sizes in meals and keeping a balanced and nutritious diet while engaging in physical activity.
Are Sugar-Free Energy Drinks Suitable For Diabetics?
Sugar-free energy drinks are safe for people with diabetes, however it is still advisable to not take them too often.
According to recent research from Canadian experts, caffeinated energy drinks, even when sugar-free, cause blood glucose and insulin levels to increase and may create issues returning blood sugar levels back to normal.
So it’s essential to know how many carbohydrates you eat and how they affect your blood sugar levels before diving into sugar-free energy drinks, and it’s best to consult a health specialist to see if a certain drink may be right for you.
Are Sugar-Free Energy Drinks Healthy?
This isn’t a bad concept in theory, but sugar-free energy drinks are loaded with artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). The FDA has declared all of them safe, but there hasn’t been enough testing to assess long-term consequences.
Regardless of whether these energy drinks are sugar-free, low in caffeine, or employ natural ingredients, it is still advisable to take them in moderation.
Caffeine is still present in many energy drinks, which can be hazardous in the long term if not consumed carefully.
Are There Healthy Energy Drinks?
None that I could think of. Energy drinks, in general, are artificially made, and some may contain chemicals only effective for a limited time, so their effects on your health are most temporary, but can be detrimental in the long-run.
But if you’re looking for a boost that doesn’t compromise your overall health in the long run, you can try the following:
- Coffee
- Water
- Green tea
- Yerba mate
Best Sugar-Free Energy Drinks
I’ve compiled a list of the finest sugar-free energy drinks; however, this list is in no particular order. These sugar-free energy drinks are sweetened with artificial sweeteners and rely heavily on caffeine to provide a boost.
However, it’s still a good idea to drink them in moderation and keep an eye on your caffeine intake because it can have some negative side effects, but that depends on your tolerance. Regardless, let’s get started on the list!
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content | Sugar | Calories |
| Adrenaline Shoc | 300mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| CELSIUS | 200mg | 0g | 10 calories |
| 3D Energy | 200mg | 0g | 15 calories |
Adrenaline Shoc
Adrenaline Shoc is a calorie and sugar-free energy drink that contains beneficial and natural ingredients that’ll give you an energy boost for your workouts and extreme activities.
Each 16 fl.oz can will run you 300mg of caffeine, 0 calories, and 0 sugar (similar to Reign and Bang, making it a pretty solid choice if you do feel like getting an extreme caffeine rush going
However, if you’re not cautious, the 300mg of caffeine in it can be harmful, especially if you have a low caffeine tolerance just aren’t used to caffeine.
For more information, check out my Adrenaline Shoc Review article, for a detailed look at the drink.
CELSIUS
If you’re looking for a palate cleanser and some fruit-based flavors, Celsius is definitely one of the better drinks out there.
Each 12 fl.oz can of Celsius has 200mg of caffeine, 10 calories and no added sugar, while also being keto and vegan-friendly, making it an exceptionally flexible drink for just about anyone.
If you would like to more, my Celsius Nutrition Facts article should prove to be an informative look at things; it’ll definitely have some eye-openers in it.
3D Energy
3D Energy is a well-balanced energy drink with only 200mg of caffeine. It’s sugar-free, low in calories, and packed with ingredients that will give you the boost you need to get through the day.
Overall, it appeals to many people, making it simple to suggest to anybody looking to start into energy drinks or discover a coffee substitute. You can find out more about it in my 3D Energy Caffeine and Ingredients article
Conclusion
Taking all of this into account, sugar-free energy drinks are beneficial in certain ways, but they are not always healthier than sugar-containing energy drinks, and certainly not the healthiest beverage you could be having.
While definitely healthier, sugar-free energy drinks aren’t necessarily healthy. You can’t substitute them with meals because they don’t really provide that much nutritional value, and only give you a temporary boost of energy.
So if you want a boost without the sugar, caffeine, or vitamins that are commonly pushed in these artificially manufactured beverages, you may always go for the healthy side of energy boosting methods like the ones listed above.
You can seek your attending physician for additional specific advice if you need it. Nonetheless, I hope this article provided you with some insight.