Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink is a hydrating and recovery-to-go beverage containing 100mg of Caffeine, 5g of Amino Acids, and 5 Calories in a 12fl oz. serving.
The sugar-free drink has electrolytes to help support your performance, endurance, and active living. Optimum Nutrition also helps with boosting your energy and focus.
Keep on reading to know the nutrition you can get and the contents of this energy drinks when consumed.
Let’s jump right into it.
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Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Ingredients
Before we get into the nutrition facts of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink, let’s first see the list of ingredients.
Please do remember that the list of ingredients may differ from one flavor to another. Below, I’ve listed the ingredients for the flavor “Blueberry Lemonade”:
- Carbonated Water
- Amino Blend
- Natural and Artificial Flavor
- Citric Acid
- Malic Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate and Potassium Benzoate (as Preservatives)
- Caffeine (From Tea Leaf and Coffee Bean)
- Sucralose
- Potassium Chloride
- Magnesium Phosphate
If you want to see the ingredients list in other flavors, you can check Optimum Nutrition‘s website for more.
The Nutrition Facts of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy
Now, let’s dive into this article’s main topic, the Nutrition Facts of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy. The table below can also be seen behind the can of the beverage:
| Nutrition | Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value * |
| Calories | 5 | – |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Sodium | 100mg | 4% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars | 0g | 0% |
| Protein | 0g | 0% |
Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, added sugars, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
The Caffeine Content in Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy
The amount of caffeine in Optimum Nutrition is 100mg every 12fl oz. serving.
They’ve sourced the caffeine from coffee beans and tea leaves. These two are the most common sources of caffeine.
According to the FDA, the maximum amount of caffeine a healthy adult can consume daily is 400mg, far from the 100mg caffeine content of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy.
Despite being a small amount of caffeine, it’s enough for you to boost your energy for a heavy workload.
However, if you’re thinking about drinking this beverage more than twice, I suggest you shouldn’t because of the side effects that occur to your body.
If you consume from 250-700mg of caffeine within 24 hours, you may experience:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Sleep Difficulties
- Increased Anxiety
When you’re cautious enough with your caffeine intake, then this chemical will do wonders to your body, not limited to the following:
- Improved Memory
- Decreased Fatigue
- Improved Mental Functions
- Prevention Against Type 2 Diabetes
- Resistance Against Parkinson’s Disease
- Lowered Risks of Liver Disease
When you’re unfamiliar with your caffeine tolerance, I suggest you consult your doctor before consuming any caffeine-induced beverages such as energy drinks.
It’s better for you to consume safe amounts than damage your health.
The Sugar Content in Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy
There isn’t any sugar in Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy. Although, it does use artificial sweeteners.
It’s usual for sugar-free products to use an alternative to regular sugar to get the sweet taste that the product may lack. In this case, they’ve used Sucralose, a synthetic sugar substitute.
The Sucralose in this product is used as an artificial sweetener and has no calories. It’s about 600 times sweeter than sugar.
If you’re wondering if this alternative makes a difference to your body and to the drink itself, there are a few notable benefits that Sucralose has to offer:
- No Unpleasant Aftertaste
- Aided for Reducing Diabetes
- Avoided Tooth Decay
- Better heat stability
Although, like any other ingredient, excessive consumption of Sucralose may lead to negative effects, which are:
- Higher Risk of Diabetes
- Increased Risks of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Higher Risks of Crohn’s Disease
- Possible Leaky Gut
- Generated Toxic Compounds
- Weight Gain
Alongside the other risks listed in the overconsumption of Caffeine, it’s always best to keep in mind to drink energy drinks moderately. Because if you consume it in a healthy amount, you’ll get the best results out of it.
Amino Blend of Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy
The main ingredient that makes this energy drink different is the Amino Blend, containing nine components including:
- L-Threonine
- L-Leucine
- L-Citruline
- L-Theanine
- Sustamine
- L-Alanil
- L-Glutamine
- Micronized Taurine
- L-Lysine Hydrochloride
Amino acids are compounds that help form proteins in your body. They also give great benefits to your body, such as:
- Aided Food Breakdown
- Body Tissue Growth
- Provided Energy Source
The benefits listed above are very crucial, especially when you do heavy workouts. Amino acids are also known to help build up muscles because it creates new muscle fibers out of the protein you consume.
To learn more about Amino Acids, I recommend watching this short video:
What does Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy do?
Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy is a dietary supplement marketed as a source of essential amino acids to support muscle recovery, energy, and focus. It contains a combination of amino acids, caffeine, and other ingredients designed to improve physical and mental performance.
The amino acids in Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential for various physiological processes in the body, including muscle repair and recovery after exercise. Caffeine is a stimulant that is commonly used to enhance alertness and focus.
Is it OK to take Amino Energy everyday?
It is OK to drink Amino Energy every day. However, it should be used according to the recommended dosage and guidelines provided by the manufacturer or as advised by a healthcare professional. Taking Amino Energy every day should be done with caution and consideration of individual factors.
It’s important to follow the recommended dosage instructions and guidelines provided by the manufacturer, and to consult with a healthcare professional or a qualified nutritionist before using Amino Energy or any other dietary supplement on a daily basis, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications
What is optimum nutrition amino energy for?
Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy is a supplement designed to support various fitness goals. It combines amino acids, including essential and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), with natural caffeine from sources like green tea extract. This blend aims to provide energy, enhance focus, and aid in muscle recovery during workouts.
Amino Energy is often used as a pre-workout or intra-workout supplement to boost energy and endurance. It’s also taken post-workout to assist in muscle recovery. The amino acids promote protein synthesis, while the caffeine helps with alertness.
Does amino energy help burn fat?
Amino Energy, with its amino acid and caffeine content, can potentially support fat loss indirectly. Amino acids aid in muscle preservation during calorie deficits, crucial for maintaining metabolism. Caffeine, known for its thermogenic properties, might enhance calorie expenditure through increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation.
However, fat loss primarily relies on a balanced diet, calorie control, and consistent exercise. Amino Energy might complement these efforts by aiding energy and muscle support during workouts. Consulting fitness experts and healthcare professionals guides a comprehensive approach to achieving fat loss goals while utilizing supplements like Amino Energy responsibly.
Is Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Gluten-Free?
Although the ingredients included in Amino Energy are most likely to be free of any gluten, the manufacturer doesn’t confirm nor advertise that it’s a gluten-free product.
If you’re curious about how the ingredients in this beverage are gluten-free, I made a table with sources to prove that they are:
| Ingredient | Is It Gluten-Free? |
| Carbonated Water | Yes |
| Amino Blend | Yes |
| Natural and Artificial Flavor | Most Likely |
| Citric Acid | Yes |
| Malic Acid | Yes |
| Sodium Citrate | Yes |
| Potassium Sorbate | Yes |
| Potassium Benzoate | Yes |
| Caffeine (from Tea Leaf and Coffee Bean) | Yes |
| Sucralose | Most Likely |
| Potassium Chloride | Yes |
| Magnesium Phosphate | Yes |
If you want to make sure that Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink is gluten-free, it’s best to contact the company and ask.
I suggest you read this article about Game Fuel, a gluten-free drink: Is Game Fuel Gluten-Free? (Truth)
Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Flavors
Since I’ve only based the ingredients earlier onto one flavor, you might be wondering if there are other flavors of Amino Energy.
There are nine different flavors you can try for yourself:
- Blueberry Lemonade
- Grape
- Green Apple
- Juicy Cherry
- Juicy Strawberry
- Mango Pineapple Lime
- Mixed Berry Sangria
- Peach Bellini
- Watermelon
Alternatives to Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy
If the amount of caffeine in Amino Energy is not enough for you to boost your energy, there are some alternatives to the beverage with a higher caffeine content that you can try out:
In Conclusion
To sum up, Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink has 100mg of caffeine, 5g of Amino Acids, and 5 calories. Moreover, it’s also a sugar free beverage that can help boost your energy.
The amount of caffeine in this drink is just the right amount for you to get your energy boost for high-intensity activities. It also contains nutrients in its Amino Blend to help recover your muscles on the go, as advertised.
If you’re still unsure if this drink is for you, I highly suggest you consult a medical professional. No one wants to have side effects on their body.
So it’s best to educate and be aware of your own caffeine tolerance despite the amount of caffeine Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Drink offers you.
Overall, Amino Energy is a healthy beverage. However, you still have to keep in mind to always drink it in moderation to get the best effects.
Now that we’ve investigated the nutrition facts of Optimum Nutrition Essential Energy, you might’ve already decided to try it out yourself. If not, there are still other drinks for you to try out.
Always remember to stay caffeinated and enjoy.