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5-Hour Energy Review (Everything Revealed)

A shot of 5 Hour Energy
Need a quick boost?

5-Hour Energy shots are popular for the heightened boost it gives despite its small size. The energy drink, often referred to as an energy shot, packs a lot of energy in its 1.93fl. oz packaging.

Fans of the energy drink often mention that these little bad boys keep them powered through early mornings jogs, until later that day — all without the caffeine crash that an average sized energy drink gives.

Can 5 Hour Energy shots compare to the same energy boost as a full-size can? If that sounds too good to be true, feel free to read below as I discuss the energy shot in detail.

Let’s explore more about 5-Hour Energy!

Is it OK to drink 5-Hour Energy everyday?

It is OK to drink 5-Hour Energy every day. Consuming 5 Hour Energy daily if necessary is beneficial, but doing so may lead to side effects like heart palpitations, insomnia, and headaches. There is no worry about gaining weight, as the drink is devoid of both sugar and carbs.

Even though there is no risk involved in consuming a 5 Hour Energy shot on a daily basis, it is possible that your body was not intended to process the equivalent of 200 milligrams of caffeine in such a short period of time.

Are 5 hour energies healthy?

5 hour energies are healthy. However, while 5-Hour Energy is generally safe, there is the potential for it to cause harm. This is especially if more than two energy shots are consumed each day, which would be over the daily caffeine limit of 400 mg that is suggested for adults.

Headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and dehydration are some of the side effects that can result from consuming too much caffeine. It is essential to place restrictions on the consumption of energy shots and drinks due to the widespread consumption of caffeine from other sources.

Nutrition Facts of 5-Hour Energy Shot

Here’s a table that contains nutritional values of 5-Hour Energy:

ContentAmount
Caffeine200mg
Protein0g
Fat0g
Choline 2mg2mg
Sodium15mg
Potassium15mg
Energy4 calories
Vitamin B330mg
Vitamin B650mg
Vitamin B12500μg
Carbohydrate0g
Nutrition Facts of 5 Hour
Photo of Supplement Facts of 5 Hour Energy
Nutrition Facts of 5 Hour Energy

Calorie Amount in 5-Hour Energy

A shot of 5-Hour Energy only contains 4 calories.

That’s virtually nothing if you place its caloric value side by side with different energy drinks. For comparison, a can of Red Bull contains 110 calories. Meanwhile, a can of Monster contains around 210 calories.

If you’re looking for an energy drink that is calorie-free, you can try Reign Energy Drink instead.

According to these dietary guidelines, the recommended daily calorie intake for healthy young adults are:

  • 2000 to 2400 calories on average for women
  • 2400 to 3000 on calories average for men

Of course, the suggestions will vary from person to person depending on their height, weight, and physical activity levels too.

5-Hour Energy having only 4 calories may be appealing to those who are watching their calorie intakes strictly. However, as it is a supplement, it’s best to consumed with a healthy meal.

Ingredients in 5-Hour Energy

Here are the ingredients of 5-Hour Energy:

  • Caffeine
  • Purified Water
  • Natural and Artificial Flavors
  • Sucralose
  • Taurine
  • Potassium Sorbate
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Malic Acid
  • N-Actyel L-Tyrosine
  • L-Phenylalanine
  • Citicoline
  • EDTA (to protect freshness)
Ingredients list of 5 Hour Energy
Ingredients list of 5 Hour Energy

Caffeine Content in 5-Hour Energy

A tiny bottle of 5-Hour Energy packs 200mg of caffeine. That’s more than a cup of coffee crammed into a single gulp.

Caffeine is a popular ingredient in energy drinks. Its other benefits include:

  • increasing mental alertness
  • reducing the risk of stroke
  • improving memory
  • reducing the risk of kidney stones
  • enhancing cognitive abilities
  • improving reaction time

Taken in moderation, caffeine is great and beneficial! But is 200mg a problem? To give you a better idea of how much caffeine a tiny bottle has, a 8.4 fl. oz can of Red Bull—which is over 4 times its size— contains only 80 mg of caffeine.

What does this mean? It means that the caffeine will be absorbed by your body a lot quicker compared with the other average-sized energy drinks. Think of it this way, tequila shots get you drunk faster than a bottle of beer will. It’s the concentration and amount of time your body absorbs what’s in the drink.

There are other factors that need to be taken in consideration too, of course. For instance, if you have a decent caffeine tolerance then the results may not be as intimidating as it sounds.

According to the FDA, an average healthy adult can drink up to 400 mg of caffeine. Otherwise, side-effects from overconsumption may be experienced.

Here are some of them:

  • restlessness
  • irritability
  • insomnia
  • weight gain
  • headache
  • nausea
  • irregular heartbeat

It’s best to drink only 1 bottle of 5-Hour Energy so you don’t exceed the recommended limit. Keep it mind that caffeine can be derived from other food and drink sources you consume throughout the day too.

Sugar in 5-Hour Energy

If you’re following a sugar-free diet, you’ll be happy to know that 5-Hour Energy shots are sugar free. With this in mind, you won’t have to worry about experiencing a sugar crash at all too.

The AHA recommends keeping our sugar intake below 36 g or about 9 teaspoons for men and 25 g, about 6 teaspoons, for women.

If you don’t stick to this recommendation, then you might face some of the following problems:

  • chronic inflammation
  • fatty liver disease
  • 2 types of diabetes
  • weight gain
  • higher blood pressure

Added to these, the above list are all linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Drinking sugar-free energy drinks may not keep you away from these complications, but they won’t add to the factors that cause it.

Artificial Sweeteners in 5-Hour Energy

5-Hour Energy replaces its sugar content with an artificial sweetener referred to as sucralose.

Sucralose, more popularly known as Splenda, is about 400 to 700 times sweeter than refined sugar. Despite mimicking the taste of sugar, sucralose doesn’t mess up insulin levels nor does it have an effect on blood sugar. A nice added bonus to it is that it’s zero calories.

sugar piled in a pyramid
5 Hour Energy contains zero sugar

According to the FDA, artificial sweeteners are safe for consumption. However, it’s worth noting that there are no long-term research studies about artificial sweeteners. So it’s best to be safe than sorry, and consume in moderation.

B Vitamins in 5-Hour Energy

5 Hour Energy Drinks have vitamins B3, B6, and B12.

Let’s take a quick look at the table below for better reference:

VitaminPurposeTolerable Upper Intake Level
Vitamin B3 Helping the body to release energy, keeping skin healthy.30 mg
Vitamin B6Storing energy from protein and carbohydrates, creating red blood cells40 mg
Vitamin B12Releasing energy from food, forming red blood cells, keeping the nervous system healthy500 mcg
B vitamins in 5 Hour Energy

These B vitamins are water-soluble and are easily carried to body tissues, though they don’t get stored in our bodies. This is it’s important to consume food that are rich in vitamins daily.

Although, I prefer and recommend eating healthy meals over drinking energy drinks just for nutrients, I think 5-Hour Energy Shots give a good supply of these essential vitamins.

How Long Does It Take to Feel The Effects of 5-Hour Energy?

In my experience, it takes around 10-20 minutes for the 5-Hour Energy to take effect.

I would say that I feel its peak at around half an hour to an hour, and stay energized for the time that I need to be. When I take this energy shot, I can feel its effects for 6 hours before it wears off, but your mileage may vary.

It’s important to know that caffeine can typically take about 10 hours before it leaves your system.

How Many Shots of 5-Hour Energy Can You Drink in A Day?

In my opinion, you should only drink one shot of 5-Hour Energy to stay within the recommended caffeine limit.

Drinking more will easily tip the scale of what’s healthy for you and may cause you to experience adverse side-effects. This goes against our intention to feel energized. Nobody wants to feel sick.

A caffeine overdose is a serious hazard of consuming too much energy drinks. It causes symptoms like overdose like vomiting, nausea, restlessness, rapid breathing and shock.

Consume energy drinks and shots only when you need to so you can avoid these serious side-effects.

How powerful is 5-hour energy?

Some users report feeling an increase in energy, focus, and alertness after consuming 5-hour Energy, while others may experience less noticeable effects. It contains a concentrated blend of caffeine, B-vitamins, amino acids, and other ingredients.

It’s important to note that consuming 5-hour Energy or any other energy drink should be done in moderation and in accordance with the recommended serving size to avoid potential side effects.

Is it OK to drink 5-hour energy everyday?

It is generally not recommended to drink 5-hour Energy or any similar energy drink every day. While 5-hour Energy shots are marketed as dietary supplements, they contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants.

Regular and excessive consumption of such products can lead to dependence, increased tolerance to caffeine, potential negative health effects, and disrupted sleep patterns.

5-Hour Energy Flavors

5 Hour Energy have a selection of flavors that are offered in its standard 1.93 fl. oz. bottle. You can check out the following flavors and try out which one you like best.

  • Berry
  • Blue Raspberry
  • Raspberry Tea
  • Cherry
  • Cool Mint
  • Grape
  • Orange
  • Peach Mango
  • Lemonade Tea
  • Pink Lemonade
  • Pomegranate

I’ve only tried the Berry flavor and have stuck with it since. It takes some getting used to, and I would even argue that they’re an acquired taste. Nonetheless, they aren’t your average energy drinks so don’t expect they’d taste the same.

5-Hour Energy Review

I would rate 5-Hour Energy a 7.5 out of 10.

I can’t confidently say that the energy shots perk me up the same way as caffeine pills would, but I’m sure they keep me from feeling exhausted.

Personally, I feel like these shots keep me at a constant energy level instead of elevating my energy then crashing. I would still say that the energy drink is highly effective, despite that statement.

As for the taste, I really do enjoy the Berry flavor but it did take a while before I came around to it. Of course, taste can vary from person to person. Just because that was the case for me, it doesn’t automatically apply to you.

If you’re looking for something that makes you feel refreshed, energy drinks like Celsius might be a better option for you. Since 5-Hour Energy is a shot, it may leave you hoping for more hydration.

You can watch this YouTube review of 5-Hour Energy to see other people’s opinion.

5 Hour Energy Review

Alternatives to 5-Hour Energy

If you don’t feel like going for a 5-Hour Energy shot, here are some other energy drinks that you can try:

Final Thoughts

Overall, I do enjoy 5-Hour Energy shots. It’s high caffeine packed in a tiny bottle delivers its promise in keeping you energized. However, I wouldn’t say it’s the first of my recommendation’s list because there are other energy drinks I would prefer you’d try.

Nonetheless, caffeine is the predominant ingredient in this energy drink. So it should be consumed responsibly to avoid side-effects from caffeine overdose, or something similar. Remember to be mindful of your tolerance because not everyone can easily handle 200mg of caffeine.

Even if you’re an avid coffee drinker, I’d say this energy drink is a different form or energy booster and not interchangeable. Always drink it with a meal, and never drink more than one.

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