From the producers of Mountain Dew, AMP Energy is essentially what would happen if you took everything you knew about the classic soda and gave it an energy drink twist.
Since you’re here, you’re probably wondering how good AMP Energy Drink actually is, and if it lives up to the high standard that you would expect of something with Mountain Dew branding on it.
In short, AMP Energy Drink is a pretty decent energy drink that will give you a good boost, but it has several notable downsides, which include having a limited flavor selection and having too much sugar.
Despite its shortcomings, I give Amp Energy a 7 out of 10.
For a longer, more detailed analysis, read on for all the information about AMP Energy, from its nutrition facts to pricing, and see how well it compares against some other energy drinks.
AMP Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
Firstly, let’s take a quick look at the nutritional value of an AMP Energy Drink in comparison with some other popular energy drinks:
| Value (Standard Serving) | Celsius (12 fl. oz) | Monster (16 fl. oz) | Rockstar (16 fl. oz) | Rockstar (16 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 220 calories | 10 calories | 240 calories | 122 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | 2.28g | 2g |
| Carbohydrates (Of which Sugars) | 58g (58g) | 2g (0g) | 60g (55g) | 26g (24g) |
| Sodium | 140mg | 10mg | 370mg | 320mg |
| Caffeine | 142mg | 200mg | 160mg | 160mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.7mg | – | 3.5mg | – |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 4mg | – | 51.5mg | 16mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | 2mg | 10mg | – | – |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3mg | 2mg | 10.7mg | 1.4mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2μg | 6μg | 13µg | 2.5µg |
| Vitamin C | – | – | – | – |
| Vitamin E | – | – | – | – |
| Calcium | – | – | – | – |
Amp Energy Drink Calories
Each 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy has 220 calories, which is quite a lot to have in a single energy drink can.
AMP Energy has a hefty amount of calories, being similar to that of a 16 fl. oz can of Monster (which has 210 calories)
Considering that you only need around 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day (depending on biological and lifestyle factors), a can of AMP has about 1/10th of your daily caloric intake.
With 220 calories, AMP Energy will definitely put a dent in your diet, so I would advise you to avoid it if you happen to be watching your calorie intake for health or weight-loss reasons.
On the other hand, if you need a couple of easy calories to push through a late-night cram session, AMP Energy Drink will definitely assist you with that.
That being said, I would highly recommend not treating AMP Energy as a meal substitute. Despite its high-calorie content, it doesn’t really give you all the essential nutrients that an actual nutritious meal would.
Having energy drinks such as AMP on an empty stomach also means you’re a lot more likely to come crashing down after the effects wear off since you may not notice that your body is practically running on empty.
So if you ever find yourself feeling peckish during a particularly gruelling day, it’s usually best to reach for some solid food and save the energy drinks for when you have some healthy calories to burn.
AMP Energy Drink Ingredients
Here’s a list of Amp Energy Drink ingredients, with a more detailed look at the important ones further below:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Concentrated Orange Juice
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Benzoate
- Sodium Polyphosphates
- Caffeine (142mg)
- Guarana Seed Extract
- Gum Arabic
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Ascorbic Acid (To Protect Flavor)
- Taurine
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
- Riboflavin
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Cyanocobalamin
AMP Energy Drink Caffeine Content
A regular 16 fl. oz can of AMP Energy has 142mg of caffeine, which is fairly typical for an energy drink of its size. Similar-sized energy drinks range from around 50mg to 300mg or more, so Amp is right around average in terms of caffeine strength.
For comparison, a 16 fl. oz can of Rockstar and Monster have 160mg each.
In the grand scheme of things, while AMP isn’t the strongest energy drink available on the market, it does still have some kick to it, which may hit you hard, especially if you’re more sensitive to caffeine.
Personally, I prefer my energy drinks to have between 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving. So while AMP is slightly higher than my usual, I wouldn’t mind a can of it if I happen to be craving a sugar rush.
Of course, depending on your caffeine metabolism and overall lifestyle, the energy boost that you get from AMP will differ a lot. Some people only need a little caffeine to get a nice boost, while veterans might need a lot more to get a sufficient boost.
Just be sure not to have too much caffeine in a short amount of time. For guidance, the FDA approves a caffeine intake limit of no more than 400mg per day. Any more than that might lead to side some unpleasant side effects such as:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
Be careful not to have too many cans of Amp Energy or other caffeinated beverages in a single day. If you’re only drinking Amp, the caffeine content in a single can of Amp Energy is well within that daily recommended caffeine limit.
AMP Energy Drink Sugar Content
Each 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy Drink has 58g of sugar, which is towards the higher end of the most sugary energy drinks spectrum.
For context, 58g of sugar is equal to about 4 tablespoons of sugar, which isn’t something you want to consume on a regular basis, given how bad sugar is for your health.
Given that the AHA recommends a daily sugar limit of no more than 25g for women and 36g for men, a single can of Amp Energy definitely goes way over that limit and then some.
While it’s fine to indulge your sweet tooth every now and then, having too much sugar too often can lead to some nasty health problems, such as:
- Weight Gain
- Type II Diabetes
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Acne
- Increased risk of depression
Having too many sugary energy drinks in a short period can also lead to a sugar crash due to the sudden rise and fall in your blood sugar levels, which may leave you feeling slow and sluggish after the caffeine wears off.
That’s not to say sugar is all bad, as it’s definitely a fine treat in small doses, even helping to temporarily boost dopamine levels, which improves your mood.
But when a single 16 fl. oz can have that much sugar, it might be time to reconsider if that 2nd or 3rd can of Amp is really worth the potential health consequences.
In any case, be sure to avoid any other sugary foods or drinks if you plan on having a can of AMP Energy drink, and be sure not to have too many Amps in a single day, even if they are pretty tasty.
For more information on sugar and what it actually does to you, have a look at the video below:
Other Ingredients In AMP Energy
Taurine
Taurine is an ingredient that’s found in many energy drinks. It’s noted to provide various benefits, most notably helping nerve growth and also reducing blood pressure.
While taurine has been claimed to improve cognitive performance, research suggests that caffeine is more important, so it’s unclear how much of a role taurine plays in energy drinks.
In any case, having taurine in Amp Energy is a positive in my book.
If you’re in the market for energy drinks with taurine, read my article here.
Guarana Seed Extract
Originally from Brazil, guarana boasts an impressive range of both stimulants and antioxidants for your immediate benefit.
In fact, guarana is actually used in a lot of energy drinks, including Rockstar which prominently features guarana as an ingredient.
Guarana is most commonly known for its ability to reduce fatigue and improve focus, which considering that a majority of guarana’s composition is caffeine, isn’t all that surprising.
As AMP already contains a generous amount of caffeine, and we don’t know exactly how much guarana extract is really present in AMP, take any potential benefits with a grain of salt.
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Ginseng is a herb that’s used in many remedies, foods, as well as some other energy drinks, including Rockstar and REIZE.
With an aromatic and almost earthy, licorice-like flavor, suitable doses of ginseng may have benefits such as:
- Increasing energy
- Sharpening cognitive function
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Reducing blood sugar
While its presence in AMP is welcome, the inclusion of one healthy ingredient amongst all of that sugar doesn’t make Amp a healthy energy drink.
For more information regarding ginseng and its properties, have a look at the article I’ve written about it here.
B-Vitamins
B-Vitamins are an energy drink staple at this point, so it’s not surprising that there are a few B-Vitamins floating around in AMP Energy.
I’ve listed the relevant B-Vitamins in the table below, but if you’re interested to learn more about them, click here to read a helpful Harvard resource.
| Purpose | AMP Energy (16 fl.oz) | Tolerable Upper Intake Level | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | cell growth and energy production. | 0.7mg | – |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | helps the body release energy promotes skin health | 4mg | 35mg |
| Vitamin B5 | builds and breaks down fatty acids promotes metabolic functions | 2mg | – |
| Vitamin B6 | store energy from protein and carbohydrates helps in the formation of red blood cells | 0.3mg | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | release energy from food forms red blood cells keeps the nervous system healthy | 1.2µg | – |
AMP Energy Drink Flavors
With only 4 flavors, AMP has a rather small pool of fruity options for you to choose from. So if you’re looking for something fresh and exciting, you’re a bit out of luck.
- Original Dew
- Tropical Punch
- Strawberry Limeade
- Cherry Blast
What Does AMP Energy Drink Taste Like?
Original AMP Energy Drink tastes very much like Mountain Dew with your usual energy drink additives and is quite pleasant on the taste buds due to its sweetness.
While it’s certainly not the healthiest energy drink, it’s hard to deny that AMP Energy is one of the best-tasting ones out there, with its high sugar content and soda-like consistency.
It’s certainly going to feel like a guilty pleasure if you like the taste, just be aware of its addictive properties, and you should be fine having one of them every now and then.
How Much Does AMP Energy Drink Cost?
A regular 12-pack of 16 fl. oz AMP Energy Drink will cost you around $30 online, which is actually quite pricey in my opinion.
I got this price point from an Amazon search, but keep in mind that the price may be different when you check.
A big factor of AMP’s high price is that it’s quite rare in actual stores, which makes it pretty hard to find.
On the other hand, Mountain Dew’s Game Fuel line-up is only around $21 for a 12-pack, which is a whole lot cheaper and easier to find than Amp.
Still, if you like the taste of Original AMP Energy, the higher price might be worth it for you.
Is AMP Energy Drink Healthy?
Given the massive amount of sugar and a moderate amount of caffeine, AMP Energy Drink is definitely an effective energy drink, but, unfortunately, it isn’t healthy in the slightest in my opinion.
Given that a single 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy has 58g of sugar, which is well over the AHA daily recommended limit, having a single can is already pretty bad for you, let alone having multiple of them in a week.
It’s definitely a bad idea to have more than one can of Amp Energy in a single day due to its high sugar content.
Too much sugar can lead to some serious health issues, including metabolic syndrome, so while AMP may be very tasty if you want to stay on the healthier side of life, try not to have too many AMPs in a short time.
If you’re looking for something healthier and less likely to raise your blood sugar levels, take a look at the article I’ve written on the best zero-calorie energy drinks for some great alternatives.
AMP Energy Review (7 out of 10)
All-in-all, AMP Energy Drink is a pretty solid energy drink that will satisfy your sugar cravings and provide a moderate energy boost, though its high price and ridiculous sugar content leave room for improvement in my book.
While AMP Energy Drink certainly tastes great, its high sugar content means that it’s not an energy drink you should probably be having every day.
But if you need a quick boost and want to get your energy levels up without worrying about the consequences, AMP Energy is definitely a decent choice every now and again.
AMP Energy Drink Alternatives
If you would like some energy drinks with a little less sugar, here are some alternatives that you might like:
- Celsius
- Bang
- Reign
- Rockstar
- Adrenaline Shoc
- C4 Energy
- Game Fuel
- Red Bull
- 5 Hour Energy
- Raze Energy
- Monster
- Uptime Energy
- Xyience
- 3D Energy
- Raze Energy
- C4 Energy
There are also some awesome powdered options if you prefer to customize your energy drinks to your personal preference:
- Advocare Spark
- G Fuel
- Zipfizz
- REIZE (my fav)
REIZE (10 out of 10)
If you want something with a lot less sugar and caffeine to keep your energy levels high throughout the day, REIZE has got you covered.
REIZE is a brilliant powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, it’s completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, all of which combine to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterwards.
The best thing?
REIZE ships straight to your door for only about $1 per drink, which is outstanding value for money.
Try REIZE today and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a smarter choice than AMP Energy.