Caffeine is the king of energy-boosting stimulants. To provide a pick-me-up after getting out of bed and again as the day wears on, people resort to caffeinated beverages, powders, tablets, and other supplements.
Which caffeinated product is better for users, both in terms of effectiveness and the resulting health hazards, is less certain.
Despite being the most popular, coffee is occasionally avoided by those who don’t enjoy the flavor; instead, many people turn to regular and sugar-free energy drinks to provide their preferred stimulant.
But considering the unfavorable publicity surrounding items containing caffeine, and energy drinks, in particular, many people want to know: are energy drinks more harmful to your heart than coffee?
Continue reading to learn about which one is better: coffee or an energy drink.
What Is An Energy Drink?
I assume that most people have heard of energy drinks. For several decades, well-known brands like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar have dominated the market and left their stamp on the sector.
However, a few individuals are aware of the distinctions between energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks.
What exactly is an energy drink then?
In general, an energy drink is a carbonated, flavored beverage with a high sugar, additive, and caffeine content. They frequently also contain other synthetic and natural stimulants, such as:
- Guarana
- Taurine
- L-Carnitine
- Ginseng
The stimulants work to boost your energy levels, enhance physical performance, and increase alertness and attentiveness.
Similarities: Energy Drink And A Coffee
Energy drinks and coffee, both work similarly in terms of providing a boost of energy and keeping you active throughout the day, by increasing your performance and endurance period.
The stimulants in energy drinks work similarly to coffee. They can boost your energy levels, enhance physical performance, and increase alertness and attentiveness.
They share the same negative effects as coffee, such as jitteriness and anxiety. Additionally, they may cause worse side effects like high blood pressure, deeper breathing, and a faster heartbeat.
They also have some similar secondary ingredients like antioxidants, proteins, and carbohydrates. All of these work similarly in providing our body with a nutritious boost of energy.
Let’s have a look at some similar ingredients present in both, coffee and an energy drink.
Caffeine
Recent research on caffeine suggests that it is effective in preventing diseases like Parkinson’s and Type 2 diabetes as well as improving cognitive function and alertness.
According to studies, there isn’t much of a difference in the amount of caffeine in a serving between coffee and energy drinks. Energy drinks may contain less caffeine than coffee.
However, depending on the brand, energy drink caffeine levels might vary significantly.
In contrast to Bang Energy Drink, which has 300mg of caffeine per serving, one of my favorite energy drinks, Red Bull, only has 80mg of caffeine in each sachet.
Comparatively, the typical amount of caffeine in coffee is indicated to be “approximately” 95 mg, with brewed coffee containing between 70 and 140 mg, which is a moderately high amount.
Do keep in mind, however, that the FDA recommends a healthy adult consume no more than 400mg of caffeine daily.
Caffeine consumption in excess has been linked to side effects, including:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Frequent urination or inability to control urination
- Fast heartbeat
- Muscle tremors
Even if you follow the FDA’s recommendations for energy drinks and coffee, you must still consider your own caffeine tolerance when selecting a caffeinated beverage because you might still have some negative effects.
Sugar
Coffee allows you to easily manage the amount of sugar in your beverage, however energy drinks, as demonstrated by Monster, can range from having no sugar at all to as much as 54g of sugar per serving.
However, if you’re considering canned coffee, it’ll be a completely different scenario altogether. For instance, Nescafe’s canned coffee contains 11.1g of sugar per 8.11 fl. oz., and that sugar cannot be changed.
If you omit sugar-free energy drinks, coffee would win in terms of having less sugar in them, but if you include them, I’d say sugar-free energy drinks are unquestionably superior.
However, keep in mind that no matter how much coffee or energy drinks you choose to consume, it’s important to adhere to the AHA’s recommended daily sugar intake:
| Gender | Maximum Daily Intake |
| Men | 150kcal or 37.5g |
| Women | 100kcal or 25g |
If you don’t, you can encounter unpleasant side effects that could harm your health, like:
- Weight gain
- Heart disease
- Acne
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancer
Comparison: Energy Drinks vs. coffee
Upon comparing both of these caffeinated drinks based on their ingredients, energy drinks win. They contain a wide range of ingredients from healthy and at the same time toxic.
Caffeine, tannin, fixed oil, carbs, and proteins make up the majority of coffee’s ingredients. It includes 13% proteins, 2-3% proteins, 3-5% tannins, and 10-15% fixed oils. Caffeine is found in the seeds as a salt of chlorogenic acid (CGA). It also has wax and oil in it.
Caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo Biloba, l-carnitine, carbohydrates, antioxidants, and trace minerals are the key components of energy/power drinks.
Let’s have a look at some common ingredients present in both of these drinks.
| Energy Drinks | Coffee |
| Taurine | Diterpenes |
| Ginseng | Ochratoxin A |
| Glucuronolactone | Acrylamide |
| L-carnitine | Furan |
| Vitamins | Tannins |
The presence of vitamins and health supplements like ginseng and L-carnitine induce health benefits in our body like avoiding hyperlipoproteinemia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, exercise weariness, and muscle weakness.
On the other hand, coffee is calorie-free. Almond milk, which comes in a variety of delectable tastes, can be used in place of cream. Antioxidants added to coffee make it healthier to drink. Numerous studies have revealed that drinking coffee raises blood antioxidant levels.
Where To Buy Coffee And Energy Drinks From?
Both coffee and energy drinks are widely available. Of course, purchasing them directly off the shelf in your neighborhood store is the most practical option.
I would advise purchasing them online, though, if you’d want a better deal or would rather have them delivered right to your door.
If you’re a coffee aficionado, you might even think about making your own cup of coffee at home from scratch. This may take some time, but it will be worthwhile if you truly enjoy coffee.
In addition to the typical can, you can now get energy drinks and coffee in powder form, which allows for greater customization than canned drinks that have already been prepared for you.
However, powdered coffee has more possibilities because it can be consumed completely black or blended with sugar and cream, unlike energy drinks that have a predetermined formula that is specific to the brand.
Energy drinks and coffee are also available in powder form, which you can manufacture yourself, and offer more personalization options than the canned ones that have already been prepared for you.
Are Energy Drinks Worse Than Coffee?
Coffee may help you wake up, and energy drinks can help you out when you need that additional surge of energy to work out or stay up late.
They are both beneficial in their own ways, and I wouldn’t claim that energy drinks are necessarily worse than coffee.
As far as comparisons go, neither really outshines the other; it all comes down to personal preference and the situation in which you find yourself in need of a drink.
Coffee and energy drinks, both have a set of ingredients that can be healthy and a few that can be harmful.
However, no matter which one you choose to consume, keep in mind that doing so too frequently is not advised because it could result in unpleasant side effects.
So be careful not to abuse either and expose yourself to some of the more detrimental effects.
Energy Drinks To Try
Red Bull
Among the well-known brands of energy drinks is Red Bull. Everyone has at least once mentioned Red Bull, whether in a health article or a commercial.
Red Bull is comparable to a cup of coffee in terms of flavor. It has less caffeine than you might anticipate, with only 80mg per 8.4 fl oz drink. Additionally, each serving contains 27g of sugar, which is very sweet.
Rockstar
Since 2001, Rockstar has been a player in the energy drink industry. With their 20 years of experience, they were able to refine their recipe and create a fantastic beverage.
It mostly consists of 122 calories, 63 grams of sugar, and 160 milligrams of caffeine. Along with taurine, it also provides a variety of B vitamins, ginseng, and guarana extracts. It’s quite the package, then.
REIZE (Personal Favorite)
Conclusion
- While coffee is fantastic, it doesn’t provide the same level of all-around vigor that energy drinks offer, thus I personally prefer them.
- It’s just a matter of preference, but I like beverages with predetermined ingredients because I feel more in control of what I’m consuming.
- If you consume more caffeine and sugar than is recommended, both of these could be detrimental to your health.
- Not to mention, I may choose an energy drink with the right amount of caffeine to regulate my intake.
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