Intermittent fasting has become a trend as more and more people explore options that can help them remain healthy. The word “fasting” may sound intimidating, but there are plenty of drinks that you can consume during intermittent fasting.
If you’re wondering if your favorite energy drink is okay to drink during your intermittent fast — then you’ve come to the right place.
To answer you briefly, you can consume your favorite energy drink during intermittent fasting if it’s sugar-free and contains little to no calories.
Remember that intermittent fasting is more about when you eat rather than what you eat.
Read on if you want to know more about intermittent fasting and what energy drinks can you consume while on an intermittent fast.
Let’s get started!
Page Contents
What Is Intermittent Fasting And What Exactly Can You Drink During It?
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern in which you switch between fasting and eating. You can prevent weight gain and even reverse diseases with the help of intermittent fasting.
The most common methods of intermittent fasting include:
- The 16/8 method (your eating period should be restricted to 8 hours during the day)
- Eat-Stop-Eat (you need to fast for 24 hours, twice a week)
- The 5:2 diet (you can only eat 500-600 on two non-consecutive days of the week)
However, you can still consume acceptable drinks during intermittent fasting. These include:
Water: Water is the best drink to replenish your thirst and feel refreshed. It doesn’t contain any calories, sugar, or caffeine.
Coffee: You can consume black coffee without any sugar, or cream. It is a great formula to lose weight.
Tea: It can also be a great choice because tea can curb appetite and boost weight loss. Tea can also enhance the effectiveness of intermittent fasting by improving gut health.
Energy Drinks: Some energy drinks can help you during an intermittent fast. You’ll get to know more about them as you keep reading this article.
Should You Consume Sugar While On An Intermittent Fast?
You shouldn’t consume any sugar content during an intermittent fast. Otherwise, it can break your fast by increasing your blood sugar levels.
That being said, it’s always wise to moderate your sugar consumption. This is because not utilizing the energy from sugar might end up making you fat. Consuming sugar during your “eating window” can lead to a sugar crash later.
For this reason, it’s best to consume energy drinks that are sugar-free during intermittent fasting.
Can You Drink Caffeine During Intermittent Fasting?
The most popular beverages during intermittent fasting are tea and coffee. Both of these contain caffeine which makes it okay to consume during an intermittent fast.
However, remember to consume energy drinks in moderation to avoid any caffeine-related side effects. If you consume too much caffeine, you might experience these symptoms later:
- anxiety
- muscle breakdown
- fatigue
- addiction
- rapid heart rate
Keep in mind that caffeine can also have an impact on the quality of your sleep. Never consume caffeine irresponsibly during intermittent fasting.
For reference, the U.S. Food Drug Administration says that you can consume up to 400mg of caffeine a day if you’re a healthy adult.
Is it Okay to Drink Zero-Calorie Energy Drinks During Intermittent Fasting?
Your body can remain in a fasting state if you consume less than 50 calories. So, zero-calorie energy drinks are great choices.
If you’re planning to lose weight through intermittent fasting, then it’s recommended that you don’t drink any energy drinks with calories.
If you’re planning to lose weight through intermittent fasting, then it’s recommended that you don’t drink any energy drinks with calories.
Sadly, you need to say goodbye to sugary energy drinks like Red Bull or Monster while on an intermittent fast.
Energy Drinks For OMAD
One Meal A Day (OMAD) is another diet plan that people follow on their weight-loss journey.
It’s similar to intermittent fasting but can be considered a stricter version. This is because OMAD controls what you can eat on top of when you should eat.
Just like intermittent fasting, you need to consume more water and less sugar.
How about energy drinks? You’re free to consume energy drinks just as long as they are sugar-free and low-calorie. Otherwise, they may end up breaking your fast!
Benefits Of Energy Drinks During Intermittent Fasting
Energy drinks can give you enough energy to fast throughout the day. Consuming an energy drink before fasting can be a good thing for you as it’ll boost your physical performance.
They have other benefits that can help you during intermittent fasting. These benefits are:
- preventing weight gain
- increasing alertness
- improving sports performance
- boosting long-term memory
The benefits include the very reason for intermittent fasting — losing weight. Still, you shouldn’t consume too much caffeine because it can lead to a caffeine crash later.
Consuming Energy Drinks On An Empty Stomach
Energy drinks can be pretty bad if you consume them on an empty stomach. They contain strong ingredients that can be bad for your health if there is nothing to protect your stomach.
Keeping that in mind, it’s not the best idea to consume energy drinks if your stomach is empty. The same goes for you if you’re in the middle of fasting.
What drinks don’t break intermittent fasting?
Energy drinks don’t break intermittent fasting. Energy drinks usually don’t include enough calories to raise insulin levels and break intermittent fasting. However, energy drinks may contain additional sugars or artificial sweeteners that might influence insulin levels and break a fast.
Additionally, some energy drinks contain caffeine, which can increase energy levels, disrupt sleep patterns, and lead to dehydration. It’s recommended to always check with a healthcare professional before consuming energy drinks during a fast, as individual tolerance and reaction to these products may vary.
How can I get energy in the morning when fasting?
There are several ways to get energy when fasting. Starting the day with hydration is key when fasting and looking for enough energy. Drinking water or electrolyte-rich beverages like coconut water can help replenish fluids and reduce feelings of fatigue.
drinking caffeine-free herbal tea, such as green tea or peppermint tea, or drinking water with a squeeze of lemon or lime for added flavor and a boost of vitamin C. Another option is to engage in light physical activity, such as stretching or yoga.
Best Time To Consume Energy Drinks During An Intermittent Fast
The best time to consume energy drinks would be before fasting or as you break the fast. That way, it can give or help you replenish your energy.
If you’re someone who likes to work out every day, you can consume energy drinks with BCAAs before you hit the gym. Some of the BCAA benefits include the following:
- decreasing muscle soreness
- increasing muscle growth
- reducing exercise fatigue
- preventing muscle wasting
Best Energy Drinks To Consume On An Intermittent Fast
Aspire Energy Drink
Aspire energy drink is a sugar-free and calorie-free energy drink that contains only 80mg of caffeine. It can be a suitable companion in your intermittent fasting journey.
This energy drink is filled with natural ingredients. There are around 6 vitamin Bs in Aspire energy drink.
Nonetheless, Aspire energy drink has great taste. Raspberry Acai, Mango Lemonade, and Dark Cherry Lime are some flavors that you can definitely try.
C4 Energy Drink
C4 energy drink, a creation of Nutribolt, brings four versions to the table, namely:
- C4 Original
- C4 Smart Energy
- C4 Ultimate
- C4 Natural Zero
All of these versions are completely sugar-free and calorie-free. Their caffeine amount ranges from 150mg to 300mg depending on the version.
If you’re onto intermittent fasting, you can choose the version that suits your caffeine need the most.
For instance, if you’re someone who consumes a moderate amount of caffeine per day, you can go for C4 Natural Zero. On the other hand, if you’re a big fan of strong energy drinks, you can try C4 Ultimate.
XS Energy Drink
XS energy drink is another energy drink with a modest amount of caffeine (80mg). It doesn’t have any sugar, but it does contain 10 calories.
The energy drink has two caffeine-free flavors:
- Mango Pineapple Guava (caffeine-free)
- Cranberry-Grape Blast (caffeine-free)
Personally, I think that it’s great to have an option for a caffeine-free flavor.
Bang Energy Drink
If you can handle 300mg of caffeine per day, Bang can be a suitable energy drink for you.
Do keep in mind that if you’re planning to drink Bang energy drink, you should keep an eye on your caffeine intake for the day. This is because its caffeine amount is quite close to the daily limit by the FDA.
Other than its high caffeine amount, Bang energy drink also contains super creatine. This ingredient can be helpful for you if you’re into workouts.
If you’re thinking about trying Bang for yourself, you can check out this article to have a better insight into its flavors.
Reign Energy Drink
Reign energy drink has 10 calories, 0 sugar, and a whopping 300mg of caffeine. It also contains BCAAs, B-vitamins, and other energy-boosting properties.
The caffeine in Reign energy drink can boost your exercise performance and enable you to perform your best. Just remember to not consume more than one can of Reign energy in a day.
If you’re interested to know more about the nutrition facts of Reign energy drink, you can find more in this article.
Is Gatorade OK for intermittent fasting?
Gatorade is a sports drink designed to replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates lost during intense physical activity and exercise. While it can be beneficial for athletes and individuals engaging in prolonged and strenuous workouts, it may not be ideal for intermittent fasting periods, particularly during fasting windows when caloric intake is restricted.
Gatorade contains added sugars and carbohydrates, which can break the fast and may lead to a spike in insulin levels, potentially interfering with the fasting benefits. During intermittent fasting, it is generally recommended to stick to non-caloric beverages like water, plain tea, or black coffee to avoid disrupting the fasting state.
Are energy drinks OK for fasting?
Whether energy drinks are suitable during fasting depends on the type of fasting and individual preferences. In intermittent fasting, some people may choose to consume energy drinks that are low in calories and do not contain added sugars or significant carbohydrates.
During longer fasting periods, such as extended water fasting, it is generally advised to avoid energy drinks altogether, as they can disrupt the fasting process and may interfere with the body’s natural fasting benefits. It’s essential to prioritize water and other hydrating fluids during fasting periods to maintain hydration levels.
The Final Say
When you’re planning to be on an intermittent fast, it’s always best to be mindful of what kinds of energy drinks you’re consuming — you need to go for ones that are sugar-free with little to no calories.
High-calorie energy drinks or sugary energy drinks can break your fast. So it would make sense to consume energy drinks that are compatible with your current diet plan or lifestyle while selecting what meets your caffeine requirement and taste preference.
At the end of the day, choosing the best energy drink for intermittent fasting will depend on you. So grab a can of your favorite drink.
Here is a video by Thomas DeLauer that can help you to know more about fasting.