Applied Nutrition, a major UK supplement company, released the long-awaited energy drink version of its flagship stimulant pre-workout, All Black Everything, or ABE.
The formula is more pre-workout than typical energy drinks, with 2g of beta-alanine and citrulline malate, a gram of betaine, some added b-vitamins, and a solid 200mg of caffeine. It is both, sugar and calorie-free.
This fantastic Energy & Performance drink has all of the performance of the UK’s best-selling pre-workout in a convenient canned drink.
Here’s a quick rundown of the caffeine content and ingredients in Applied Nutrition’s All Black Everything (ABE).
Ingredients In ABE Energy Drink
ABE contains a number of tried-and-true ingredients, such as Beta-Alanine and Citrulline, as well as vitamins. They all work together to improve overall performance and energy.
Let’s have a look at the ingredient list.
- Carbonated Water
- Beta-Alanine
- Citrulline Malate
- Betaine Anhydrous
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavoring
- Sucralose (Sweetener)
- Acetyl L-Tyrosine
- Caffeine
- Taurine, Potassium Sorbate
- Vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide)
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
Beta-Alanine
Carnosine, a molecule that helps buffer acid in muscles, is built from beta-alanine. Carnosine decreases lactic acid accumulation in your muscles during exercise, resulting in better athletic performance.
It boosts athletic performance by decreasing fatigue, increasing endurance, and increasing performance in high-intensity exercises.
According to research, beta-alanine can help you reach exhaustion faster. To put it another way, it allows you to exercise for longer periods of time.
A study of cyclists discovered that four weeks of supplements increased total work completed by 13%, with an additional 3.2% increase after ten weeks.
Some other benefits of Beta-Alanine include:
- Improve muscle endurance
- Benefit body composition
- Antioxidant effect
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid produced by the body from phenylalanine.
It is required for the production of several important brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Tyrosine can be obtained from the diet in the following ways:
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Beans
- Oats
- Wheat
Tyrosine, when used in energy drinks, plays an important role in energy metabolism. It is required for the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain, which are important for nerve conduction and mood stabilization.
Other benefits of tyrosine are:
- Treating phenylketonuria
- Improving cognitive function
- Reducing stress
Citrulline Malate
L-Citrulline, also known as simply citrulline, is a non-essential amino acid. After supplementation, it is efficiently converted into L-arginine in the kidneys, making it an excellent choice for increasing nitric oxide synthesis in the body.
Citrulline serves essential functions in the body, but unlike some amino acids, it is not used in protein synthesis.
However, it is required for the urea cycle, which rids your body of harmful compounds. The urea cycle, in particular, removes ammonia from the body. The result of this cycle is urea, which your body excretes in urine.
According to preliminary research, both short-term and long-term citrulline supplementation can reduce fatigue, increase power output, and improve endurance in both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
Other benefits include:
- Widen blood vessels
- Reduce blood pressure
- Increased growth hormone
Taurine
Taurine, which has a similar chemistry to other amino acids, is essential in several metabolic processes in the body.
It’s believed to have antioxidant properties. However, little is known about the long-term effects of supplemental taurine use.
According to research, combining taurine and caffeine improves mental performance. However, more research is needed, and this finding, like the use of taurine in energy drinks, remains controversial.
Other benefits include:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Support nerve growth
- Treat obesity
- Reduce fatigue
Other Ingredients In ABE Energy Drink
Let’s look at some common ingredients in ABE found in almost all the other energy drinks out there, alongside their function.
| Ingredients In ABE | Function |
| Carbonated Water | It improves digestion and relieves constipation, which helps to empty the stomach and may cause someone to feel hungry. |
| Citric Acid | It is primarily used as a flavoring and preservative. It is also used as a disinfectant and to stabilize or preserve medicines. |
| Natural Flavoring | Its purpose is to enhance flavor rather than to add nutritional value to a food or beverage. |
| Sweeteners | It adds sweetness to foods and beverages without adding a lot of calories. |
Nutritional Content Of ABE Energy Drink
The best part about ABE energy drink is the fact that it’s sugar-free and calorie-free. Although the absence of vitamin range, protein, and dietary fiber makes it less beneficial.
Let’s have a look at its nutrients.
B-Vitamins
The B-group vitamins are a group of eight water-soluble vitamins that are required for a variety of metabolic processes.
The B-Vitamins present in ABE are:
| Type of B-Vitamin | Amount In ABE |
| Vitamin B3 | 32mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 10µg |
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is required by the body to convert carbohydrates, fat, and alcohol into energy.
It promotes skin health and is beneficial to the nervous and digestive systems. Unlike other B-group vitamins, niacin is very heat stable and loses very little when cooked.
Cyanocobalamin, also known as Vitamin B12, aids in the production and maintenance of myelin that surrounds nerve cells. It also improves mental ability, promotes red blood cell formation, and breaks down some fatty acids and amino acids to produce energy.
Sugar
ABE energy drinks are sugar-free. Sucralose is used instead in the ABE energy drink.
Sucralose is 400-700 times sweeter than sugar and, unlike many other popular sweeteners, does not have a bitter aftertaste.
According to the FDA’s Dietary Guidelines, added sugars should account for no more than 10% of daily calories.
If your daily calorie intake is 2,000, you should consume 200 calories or 50g of added sugars per day.
The AHA recommends a lower added-sugar limit of no more than 24 grams for most adult women and 36 grams for most men, any dose higher can cause:
- Skin problems
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Obesity/Weight Gain
- Heart Problems
- Laziness
Caffeine In ABE Energy Drink
Caffeine, which is present in all energy beverages and supplements, is only 200mg per serving in ABE Energy drink.
A 330ml can of ABE Energy contains no caffeine that is harmful to your body or brain. Instead, it will provide you with incredibly subtle yet potent benefits.
The FDA recommends limiting your daily caffeine intake to 400mg. Anything more could have the following negative consequences:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Concentration Problems
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Rapid heart rate
- Depression
- Mood Swings
- Dehydration
If you don’t want to become addicted to caffeine, limit your daily intake to one dose.
Is ABE Energy Drink Bad For You?
ABE energy drink is not particularly hazardous to your health.
It contains vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function correctly. It should not interfere with your weight-loss diet because it is sugar-free and has no calories.
It contains 200 mg of caffeine, which is said to be less than the FDA’s daily caffeine intake (400 mg per day). It contains trace amounts of food additives that have been proven safe for human consumption.
According to my understanding, the only risk of consuming ABE energy drinks is an overabundance of caffeine and amino acids.
Does ABE Energy Drink Actually Work?
Yes, the ABE energy drink is functional in its promise.
It contains enough caffeine to improve your physical and mental performance, as well as just enough amino acids to aid in the energy boost.
Other components improve cognitive functions such as focus, memory, learning, and problem-solving. The lack of sugar makes this drink appealing to those who are trying to lose weight or who have diabetes.
Alternatives To ABE Energy Drink
Alani Nu
Alani Nu has released an energy drink “formulated for your wellness needs.”
Alani Nu exploded onto the health scene in recent years with their supplements and protein bars, and it appears that they’re now attempting to make a name for themselves in the energy drink space as well.
Alani Nu contains 200mg of caffeine per 12oz can, which is more than most energy drinks of the same size.
5 Hour
5-Hour Energy Shots have all the potential of an energy drink in a 1.93 fl. oz. sugar-free package.
It’s a great pick-me-up that will help you get through late-night crunch sessions or afternoon energy slumps.
A 2-ounce shot of 5-Hour Energy contains 200mg of caffeine, while the “Extra Strength” version contains 230mg.
REIZE
ABE Energy certainly packs a powerful punch in a small package, but how about something more enjoyable and versatile?
REIZE is a powdered energy drink in the form of a 4g sachet. It contains only 11 calories per serving and contains a reasonable 50mg of caffeine.
REIZE also contains a clever combination of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, which work together to provide the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash.
Conclusion
- The effects and benefits of the ABE energy drink formula are as expected, with a clean boost in energy and a slight increase in focus.
- I’ve never used the product in the gym; instead, I’ve used it for work, gaming, and day-to-day activities. However, as previously stated, it contains a few performance-enhancing ingredients such as citrulline, beta-alanine, and betaine that work best for improving endurance during workouts.
- It has a high caffeine content of 200mg, which is perfectly safe if consumed in one can, but exceeding that limit can be fatal to your health.