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Best Energy Drinks For Staying Awake

Energy drinks give you a nice energy boost and improve your energy levels.

Most energy drinks are cheaper than a cup of coffee, and the taste of energy drinks stays the same if kept open for long hours.

In this article, I go over all the things that give you energy and provide a list of energy drinks that’ll keep you awake. So stay till the end.

Let’s jump right into it.

What Are The Key Ingredients Of An Energy Drink?

Caffeine

The main ingredient of an energy drink is caffeine.

Caffeine is a nervous system stimulant. The drug stimulates your brain and helps by keeping us awake, increases alertness, and focus.

If you’re on the hunt for a good energy drink that’ll keep you awake and increase your alertness, go for something that has a generous amount of caffeine.

Caffeine also gives us energy. However, drinking too much caffeine will cause a caffeine overdose rather than giving you an energy boost.

The FDA recommends everyone take a maximum dose of 400mg of caffeine per day. And to consume 200mg of caffeine in one sitting.

Consuming more than 400mg of caffeine in a day can cause significant side effects like:

  • Insomnia
  • Lack of focus
  • Headaches
  • Nervousness
  • Anxiety

I suggest knowing your body’s caffeine tolerance and drink accordingly.

Sugar

Added sugar is not the healthiest option for our bodies.

Before selecting an energy drink, I recommend reading the nutrition label to see how much sugar is in the energy drink.

To help you understand how much sugar you should consume daily, the AHA recommends 36g/25g sugar a day for men and women. That’s 9 and 6 teaspoons of table sugar in a day.

Consuming added sugar too much can have side effects:

  • Gaining weight
  • Inflammation
  • Mood swings
  • Diabetes

It’s best to avoid added sugar as much as possible.

As more energy drinks are on the market, more sugar-free versions of energy drinks are becoming available. Most of these sugar-free or low-sugar energy drinks use artificial sweeteners.

Guarana

Guarana is added to an energy drink’s caffeine content to enhance the caffeine. It works like a caffeine intensifier.

Meaning, if you want a substantial boost in energy, you can go for an energy drink that has guarana in it.

Regular caffeine energy drinks with guarana don’t specify the amount of guarana used (1g guarana equals 40mg).

Does Caffeine Help You Stay Awake?

Caffeine can keep you awake.

Scientifically, the neurotransmitter in our brains causes tiredness and drowsiness, which eventually makes us want to sleep.

After we consume caffeine, it causes our adrenaline to spike up. Moreover, caffeine also lessens the feeling of drowsiness and tiredness.

Caffeine is a stimulant of the nervous system. It stimulates our brain function by speeding up the process, increasing focus, energy, and performance.

Does Sugar Help You To Stay Awake?

Sugar does not help in keeping you awake.

It works in tandem with caffeine to boost energy, resulting in you feeling less tired or sleepy.

Consuming too much sugar can result in sugar crashes due to the sugar rush that boosts adrenaline, this is known as hypoglycemia.

Sugar crashes cause fatigue, extreme tiredness, and a drop in your energy levels.

How Long Can Caffeine Keep You Awake?

Your body’s caffeine tolerance plays a significant role in caffeine keeping you awake. Caffeine tolerance is the amount of caffeine your body can metabolize without any adverse side effects.

Caffeine starts working almost immediately, but effects are most noticeable 45 minutes after consumption.

Caffeine also has a half-life of 5 hours. Meaning, if you consume 100mg of caffeine, 5 hours after consumption, your body will have 50mg of caffeine left in your system.

The more caffeine you consume, the more effects of the stimulant you’ll see. But if you have low caffeine tolerance, you might be awake more for an extended period of time than a person with high caffeine tolerance.

Can Energy Drinks Help You Stay Awake?

The energy drinks containing caffeine and sugar help you to stay awake.

Sure, energy drinks can be a great option in keeping you awake, but consuming too many can raise health concerns.

Here is a detailed video on the possible side effects of energy drinks if consumed too much.

Are energy drinks safe for staying awake?

Energy drinks are safe for staying awake. However, be mindful that while energy drinks can help you stay awake and alert, excessive consumption can be harmful to your health. Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, and sleep disturbances are some of the most common side effects.

It’s important to consume energy drinks in moderation and avoid drinking them late in the day to prevent disrupting your sleep cycle. It’s also recommended to opt for sugar-free or low-sugar options to avoid a crash in energy levels.

How long do energy drinks keep you awake?

Energy drinks keep you awake for about 4-6 hours. The length of time an energy drink can keep you awake depends on various factors, such as the amount of caffeine and other stimulants it contains, your tolerance level, and your overall health.

It’s important to note that the effects of an energy drink can vary from person to person. Some people may experience a crash in energy levels after the initial boost wears off, while others may not feel any adverse effects.

Which Energy Drinks Are Most Effective?

The effectiveness of energy drinks depends on the ingredients in them, especially caffeine.

The strongly caffeinated energy drinks tend to be the most effective. As a result, the more caffeine you consume, the more likely you’re to stay awake.

If you’re sensitive to caffeine, try to consume less caffeinated energy drinks or decaf coffee.

Consuming too much caffeine will cause fatigue, jitters and will mess with your sleep schedule. If you consume energy drinks every day, try to finish the glass in the morning.

I like to drink 50-100mg of caffeine in my energy drinks, as that’s as high as my caffeine tolerance go. I don’t usually pick up strongly caffeinated energy drinks unless I have a long day ahead or trying to pull an all-nighter.

What Are the Best Energy Drinks for Staying Awake?

If you’re convinced to get an energy drink for yourself, here are some energy drinks I think would be great to keep you from dozing off:

Energy DrinksCaffeine ContentSugar ContentCalories
Red Bull80mg26g117
Monster160mg54g210
Advocare Spark120mg0g15
XS80mg0g10
Xyience175mg0g0
G Fuel Powder140mg0g15
Celsius200mg0g10
Zipfizz100mg0g10
Bang300mg0g0
NOS160mg54g160
Here is a detailed video on the possible side effects of energy drinks if consumed too much.

Red Bull

Red Bull is more of a classic energy drink than a popular energy drink now.

An eight fl. oz can of Red Bull has 80mg of caffeine, with 26g sugar and 117 calories each serving. The caffeine content is not staggeringly high, but enough to keep you awake.

Also, did you know the 12 year Red Bull ban in France? Check out my article about it.

Monster

Each 16 fl. oz can of Monster has 160mg of caffeine, a whopping 54g sugar, and 210 calories.

Now the caffeine content is double the caffeine content of Red Bull.

Monster has 54g sugar in each can, which surpasses the daily recommended sugar content by the AHA, and the calorie count is high too.

If you’re looking for something with less sugar but want Monster, you can go for Monster Zero Ultra.

Advocare Spark

Instead of regular cans, Advocare Spark is a powdered energy drink. It has 120mg of caffeine, and zero added sugar with only 15 calories per serving.

Open the 5g sachet and mix it with some water to consume this energy, and you’re ready to go. These tiny little sachets actually work. Here’s my article about it.

XS

XS energy drink has 80mg of caffeine in each serving, with no sugar, and only 10 calories. All of these are in in a 8.4 fl. oz can.

So if you’re up for trying something different without giving up the caffeine, XS is a great choice. Not to mention, you’ll definitely be awake for a long time if you drink this energy drink.

Xyience

Xyience is a zero-calorie and zero-sugared with 175mg of caffeine.

One of the most significant advantages of Xyience is that it’s packed with B vitamins and amino acids, which definitely will keep you awake. The drink can be great before a workout session too.

G Fuel

G Fuel is a go-to drink for many eSports players.

G Fuel has both canned and powdered versions. The powdered versions are called “Energy Tubs.” Each energy tub has 40 servings of G Fuel, that is, 40 cans of G Fuel.

An average G Fuel energy tub has 140mg of caffeine with only 15 calories no added sugar in one serving. G Fuel is known to give you energy and enhance your focus.

Check out my review article on G Fuel if this interests you.

Celsius

Celsius is an “all-natural” energy drink, as per the company’s claims. The drink has lots of flavors to offer.

Each can of Celsius has 200mg of caffeine and is entirely sugar-free, with 10 calories. The caffeine content in Celsius will be more than enough to keep you energized and awake.

Not to mention that the energy drink is high in nutrients and vitamins.

Zipfizz

Zipfizz is another powdered energy drink that comes in these cute tiny tubes. This energy drink is focusing more on the consumers who are health conscious.

Every serving of Zipfizz has 100mg of caffeine, only 20 calories, and is sugar-free.

After drinking Zipfizz, you won’t face any bitter aftertaste.

Bang

Bang is known to have high caffeine content.

Bang has a staggering 300mg of caffeine in each of its 16 fl. oz cans. The high caffeine content will keep you awake more, but consuming too much will mess with your sleep.

Bang has no additional sugar neither any calories in its energy drinks. Instead, the can has an addition of L-creatinine, EAAs, B vitamins to make the drink more nutritious.

Not to mention, Bang also has a two fl. oz miniature shot version available.

NOS

Every 15 fl. oz can of NOS has 160mg of caffeine, 54g sugar, and 160 calories.

NOS will keep you awake and give you a significant boost of energy.

But the worry here is the caffeine content. It goes way higher than the tolerable daily intake, so I suggest not drinking more than one can of NOS in a day and not consuming the energy drink all at once.

If you’re curious about the nutritional facts about NOS, check my article about the nutritional facts of NOS, where I discuss everything.

Is it okay to drink energy drinks to stay awake?

It is okay to drink energy drinks to stay awake. Using energy drinks to stay awake can provide a short-term solution due to their caffeine content. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, temporarily enhancing alertness. However, relying solely on energy drinks isn’t a sustainable approach.

Occasional use might be fine, but prioritizing adequate sleep, managing stress, and staying hydrated are healthier ways to maintain wakefulness. If sleepiness persists, addressing underlying causes and consulting healthcare professionals is recommended to ensure overall well-being.

What is the best energy drink to stay awake without crash?

Energy drinks with balanced caffeine content, additional ingredients like B-vitamins and amino acids, and minimal added sugars are better options to prevent crashes. Look for those designed to provide sustained energy and focus.

Brands like “Nuun Energy,” “Zipfizz,” and “Advocare Spark” are known for such formulations. However, individual responses vary, and responsible consumption remains key. Prioritizing hydration, maintaining a balanced diet, and consulting healthcare professionals guides informed choices for sustained wakefulness.

Summary

Drinking energy drinks most times refrains us from taking a nap now and then. This way, we won’t be procrastinating, thanks to energy drinks.

Energy drinks not only keep us awake but enhances our cognitive performance too.

If you overconsume energy drinks by drinking too many, you’ll face health problems rather than any benefits, so be careful. Remember, moderation is the key.

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