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Unmasking Bang Energy Drinks: The Truth About Their Impact

Unmasking Bang Energy Drinks: The Truth About Their Impact

Summary: Bang Energy isn’t likely to cause you any harm unless you have an underlying health issue. However, 300mg of caffeine is a lot and you should be aware that excessive intake has the potential to cause vomiting, nausea, headaches, irritability, nervousness, rapid pulse, insomnia, stomach pains, and muscle tremors.

What started off as just a “healthy everyday energy drink” has become the next big thing in the fitness industry – known to fitness fanatics as the BANG revolution.

In fact, Bang Energy seems to be driving hype among fitness freaks all over the globe with their new and innovative energy drinks containing creatine, BCAA’s, and CoQ10, being the first of its kind in the market claimed to enhance mental and physical capabilities.

Coupled with what seems like a successful marketing strategy featuring fitness influencers on social media platforms, BANG has now managed to put its name into the conversation with energy drink giants Red Bull and Monster.

Bang contains potentially dangerous amounts of caffeine that can be bad for most people. In comparison, a cup of coffee contains only 95 mg of caffeine while Red Bull has 80 mg only. Bang’s 300 mg is not recommended for caffeine-sensitive people or those who are beginners to caffeine.

But, is Bang actually good for you?

To cut the chase, Bang Energy Drink is fine in moderation, but keep in mind that it contains a whopping 300mg of caffeine per can, which is dangerously close to the FDA’s maximum daily recommendation of 400mg.

Stick around as we dive into all of the details and take a closer look at whether Bang is good or bad.

Bang Energy Drink Nutrition Information

The back of a can of Bang, showing the list of ingredients in Bang Energy Drink.
The ingredients list is on the back of a can of Bang.

A 16 fl. oz can of Bang Energy drink contains:

Nutritional ValuesBang(16 fl.oz)
Energy0
Protein0g
Fat(Of which Saturated)0g(0g)
Carbohydrate(Of which Sugars)0g(0g)
Sodium40mg
Caffeine300mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)5mg
Vitamin B60.5mg
Vitamin B121.5μg
Vitamin C27mg
Magnesium5mg
Calcium5mg
Bang Nutrition Facts

Bang also contains traces of:

  • Carbonated Water
  • Citric Acid Anhydrous
  • Caffeine Anhydrous
  • Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)
  • Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
  • Sucralose (Artificial Sweetener)
  • L-leucine
  • Acesulfame Potassium
  • Magnesium Chloride
  • Super Creatine (Creatyl-L-Leucine)- creatine bonded to L-Leucine
  • L-Isoleucine
  • L-valine
  • Calcium Chloride
  • Calcium Disodium EDTA
The Nutrition Information as printed on the back of a can of Bang
Bang Energy Drink Nutrition Information.

How Much Caffeine Is In A Can Of Bang?

A can of Bang Energy Drink (16 Fl.oz) contains 300mg of caffeine which is equivalent to about 3 cups of coffee. The recommended maximum daily dosage of caffeine is only 400mg according to the FDA.

This is one of the most caffeinated energy drinks on the market. Consuming just one can of Bang puts you nearly to your max daily dosage of caffeine.

Many studies have confirmed that caffeine acts to improve both physical and mental performance, hence the reason for it being included in all energy drinks.

UPDATE: I paid to have Bang lab-tested to check the caffeine, CoQ10, and amino acid levels.

The lab results were SO SHOCKING that I had to double-check them with a 2nd lab.

You can view the complete lab report HERE.

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?

An average healthy adult is safe to consume no more than 400mg of caffeine per day.

Consuming over the recommended daily dosage of caffeine may cause side effects such as migraines, headaches, and insomnia.

In order to fatally overdose on caffeine, you would have to consume as much as 10g of caffeine, which is equivalent to 33 cans of Bang Energy drink in a day. I highly doubt that anyone would consume that amount of energy drinks in a day, nor do I suggest anyone actually try.

It’s also possible to experience some nasty caffeine overdose effects from doses around, and slightly higher than the 400mg daily recommendation.

For these reasons, consuming over the recommended daily dosage of caffeine isn’t recommended.

The label itself comes with a fairly terrifying warning:

“Too much caffeine may cause nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, and occasionally rapid heartbeat.”

Yikes…

I don’t know about you, but this definitely raises concerns in me regarding how safe it is to consume such a huge amount of caffeine in a single energy drink.

It makes me wonder if I should just opt for an energy drink with a more sensible caffeine content such as Red Bull, REIZE, or even Monster to meet my daily needs.

With this much caffeine, you might be asking yourself whether it’s even safe to drink Bang every single day. Check out my other article that covers everything you need to know about that if you want to learn more.

Bang’s Special Formula

Bang claims to contain “potent brain & body-rocking fuel”, which is a name that they have trademarked. They say that this special formula consists of Super Creatine, caffeine, CoQ10, Super, and EAAs.

Bang's potent body rocking formula on the back of a can of Bang
Legit special blend?

However, besides caffeine, Bang doesn’t disclose the amounts of each of these other ingredients that are actually included in a can.

I decided to have a can of Bang tested by a lab to find out for myself – and to share the findings with you.

Here’s a brief overview of what the lab report showed:

(I wasn’t able to test for “Super Creatine” because it’s a phrase that Bang themselves have coined, but I’ll get to that in a moment).

Regarding caffeine, Bang claims that each can contain 300mg of caffeine, whereas lab testing showed that there is actually much less caffeine in each can.

For CoQ10, Bang doesn’t give any indication of how much is in a can. Lab testing showed that a 16 fl. oz can of Bang actually contains just 63.86mg of CoQ10.

Regarding EAAs, the story is even worse.

Bang claims that each can contains 9 different amino acids, yet lab testing showed that only 3 of them were detected. The other 6 weren’t detected at all.

Of the 3 that were detected, the amount of each was tiny – between around 1% and 3% of the dose required for most use cases.

Indeed, this class action lawsuit is claiming that Bang’s “potent brain & body-rocking fuel” doesn’t contain sufficient ingredients to make a meaningful difference to consumers.

What Is Super Creatine?

“Super Creatine” is what VPX, the company that produces Bang Energy drinks claims to be the only water-stable creatine in the world today, meaning it is exceptionally good at staying soluble in water and has the same benefits and effects as creatine.

According to VPX, that is.

So what exactly is creatine?

Creatine is basically a compound that is formed in protein metabolism and is present in almost all living tissue.

Creatine doesn’t stay soluble in water for long and is usually consumed to help increase lean muscle mass, improve strength and the muscle recovery process.

There are reports claiming the “Super Creatine” in Bang Energy drinks is nothing but a faux and that it doesn’t actually form creatine at all. Instead, it decomposes into creatinine, which is basically a useless substance and is potentially harmful to the body.

Does Bang Actually Have Creatine In It?

According to Bang, it does have a small amount of creatine in it, however, as mentioned above, others disagree.

If true, this is most probably the only energy drink out there with creatine content which explains why it has been so appealing to fitness enthusiasts around the world.

The only downside is that it is not stated how much creatine is actually present in one serving.

It makes it hard for consumers to gauge how much creatine content there is and whether it is enough to meet their fitness needs.

My guess is that the creatine and other nice-sounding ingredients are only included for marketing purposes and that they aren’t actually present in meaningful quantities. This is fairly common among many energy drinks.

Marketing spin.

However, I should point out that I don’t have accurate information about how much creatine is actually inside a can of Bang and that I’m just speculating.

This video is a must-watch (but be warned, it does contain plenty of F-bombs)

What Sweetener Is Used In Bang?

Bang Energy drink uses sucralose as a substitute for sugar in their drink.

Sucralose is a versatile artificial sweetener commonly used in diet drinks, chewing gum, gelatin, and frozen desserts. It is also frequently added to coffee or tea to sweeten them for consumption.

It’s calorie-free and has no bitter aftertaste, unlike many other artificial sweeteners.

Is Sucralose Safe?

Sucralose is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as safe to consume.

Sucralose doesn’t have the digestive properties of sugar, and it is passed through the body practically undigested.

Well…don’t go thinking that’s a green light to consume more Sucralose though.

There is research linking sucralose to a wide variety of health issues, as some parts of it may still be metabolized in the digestive tract.

At the moment there still isn’t enough evidence to say that sucralose is bad for your health, but I wouldn’t recommend consuming too much of it anyway.

Can You Drink More Than One Bang a Day?

Drinking more than one Bang a day is definitely not recommended due to the high caffeine content. The recommended maximum caffeine dosage for a healthy adult is 400mg, consuming any more can be dangerous and will put you way over the FDA recommended daily maximum.

Consuming more than one Bang a day puts you at risk of developing irregular heartbeats, hallucinating, chest pains, convulsions, and could even be lethal if you really overdo it (although deaths from energy drinks are extremely rare).

Is It Safe To Drink Bang Every Day?

When it comes to energy drinks or drinks with high sugar or caffeine content, personally, I think it’s always best to consume them in moderation.

Sure, the boost they provide might be appealing, but consuming them too frequently might be asking for trouble down the road.

My advice is to drink Bang occasionally and never drink more than one in a single day due to the high caffeine content.

If you want to dive further into the question of whether you can drink Bang every day, check out my other article.

How Much Bang Is Too Much?

Because of the 300mg of caffeine per can (if that is indeed true), you shouldn’t ever drink more than a single can of Bang Energy per day.

Drinking a second can of Bang would cause you to exceed the FDA‘s maximum recommended daily caffeine intake, which may lead to serious consequences.

Bang Energy Drink Warning Labels

On the side of any Bang Energy drink, you’ll find a label indicating the potential harm caused by consuming too much caffeine. It clearly states that consuming too much caffeine may cause nervousness, irritability sleeplessness, and occasionally rapid heartbeat.

This serves as a direct warning to not consume more than a single can of Bang per day.

The warnings printed on the back of a can of Bang.
That sounds pretty serious…

And here’s another caution on the back of the can:

A caution on the back of a can of Bang

Bang Energy Side Effects

According to a lot of reviews, Bang energy drink certainly does give you an effective energy boost. That’s no surprise given the whopping 300mg of caffeine.

With additional supplements like caffeine and BCAA’s, one might conclude that consuming this would help contribute to their fitness progress.

But… it does exactly the opposite. And here’s why:

Creatine is usually best for high-intensity type workouts.

Studies have shown that there’s a boost in strength and power when consuming creatine during high-intensity workouts. Creatine encourages the shortening of the muscle relaxation time amid brief isometric muscle constrictions without influencing power output.

Caffeine, on the other hand, has been shown to provide significant improvements in endurance-type workouts.

So, what happens when you mix the two together?

You get an absolute mess of a cocktail.

There has been research that shows consuming creatine together with caffeine may decrease their effectiveness.

This is because of the opposing effects that caffeine and creativity have on muscle relaxation time.

How Long Does Bang Energy Stay In Your System?

It takes an average of 12 hours for the caffeine in a can of Bang energy drink to completely exit your system. Caffeine has a half-life of 5-6 hours, meaning that 5 hours after drinking a can of Bang you’ll still have 150mg of caffeine in your bloodstream. 

This means that it will take about 12 hours for all traces of the caffeine in a can of Bang to be out of your body. After 12 hours, any positive effects from drinking Bang will have passed.

There are reports indicating that consuming energy drinks can cause people to fail drug tests.

This is due to the presence of THC in the body which is linked to consuming Marijuana. The ingredients Riboflavin and ibuprofen contained in energy drinks can cause people to test positive for THC, although this is rare.

How Long Does 300mg Of Caffeine Last?

Since caffeine has a half-life of 5-6 hours, you’ll still have 150mg of caffeine in your bloodstream after about 5 hours and it will take approximately 12 hours for the caffeine to completely leave your system.

300mg of caffeine is a lot. It’s approximately equivalent to around 3 average cups of coffee, or almost four 8.4 fl. oz cans of Red Bull.

Are Bang Energy Drinks Safe To Drink?

Overall, if consumed in moderation, like any other energy drink, I personally think that Bang Energy drinks are safe for consumption. One serving of Bang energy drink contains 300mg of caffeine which is below the daily recommended dosage of 400mg.

Of course, caffeine isn’t the only ingredient that we need to consider when deciding if Bang is safe to consume or not.

I’ll address some of the other ingredients in a moment.

Are Bang Energy Drinks Bad For You?

Bang Energy drinks aren’t particularly bad for you if consumed in moderation. Bang is far from the wonder drink that they sometimes claim it to be, but it probably isn’t any worse for you than any other energy drink either.

With all the controversy surrounding Bang with regard to their ingredient claims it’s understandable why some people stay away from Bang altogether. Bang doesn’t provide sufficient information about the quantity of Super Creatine, BCAA’s, or CoQ10 for us to know if there is enough of any of them inside a can to get any health benefits at all.

And that’s exactly the problem.

Bang has previously made all sorts of wild health claims about their drinks, but so far, those claims have not only not been backed up by evidence, but they have also brought Bang a litany of lawsuits to defend against.

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend consuming Bang too frequently due to its high caffeine content.

When Is It Unsafe To Drink Bang?

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, sensitive to caffeine, are pregnant, nursing, or have a child it might be unsafe to drink Bang Energy Drink.

There are plenty of health warnings and cautions on the back of a can of Bang for good reason.

If you’re unsure, check with your doctor.

Is Bang Better For You Than Monster?

In my opinion, Bang is a healthier choice than Monster. 

I base this on Bang being sugar-free and Monster containing a whopping 54g of sugar in a single 16 fl. oz can.

However, Bang contains a lot more caffeine than Monster. 300mg in a Bang versus 160mg in a Monster.

That’s almost double the caffeine in a Bang compared to a Monster.

If you’re caffeine-sensitive, you might consider Monster to be better for you than Bang.

If you would like to learn more about the ingredients of Monster, I’ve written everything you need to know about whether or not it’s bad for you in my other article.

Benefits Of Bang Energy Drink

Let’s put all of the lab test results to the side for a moment and assume that everything that Bang says is true and that Bang really does contain a meaningful amount of legitimately good ingredients.

If we assume this, these are some of the potential benefits of Bang:

  • Increase focus, alertness, and performance
  • EAAs may help exercise performance
  • Sugar-free
  • Super Creatine may be a good thing (most people disagree with this)
  • CoQ10 may help provide energy to cells
  • Good taste
  • Reasonable price

What Are The Potential Negatives Of Bang?

For balance, let’s now look at what might not be so great about Bang:

  • Too much caffeine
  • Caffeine claims don’t match lab test results
  • Not enough transparency about several other key ingredients (CoQ10, EAAs, Super Creatine) – all of which have either been disputed as legitimate or have been shown to be included in very small quantities
  • Too expensive compared to other great options
  • Sucralose is in the list of ingredients
  • Acesulfame Potassium may contribute to weight gain
  • Sodium Benzoate is in the list of ingredients (studies have shown that benzene accumulates in the human body, leading to an elevated risk of diseases including leukemia and genotoxicity)

Is Bang Energy Drink Banned?

Despite the controversy surrounding Bang and the incredibly high caffeine content, Bang isn’t banned.

Having said that, the ingredients in Bang may not fit within the allowable limits for energy drinks in some countries outside the US.

Alternatives To Bang Energy Drink

There are lots of great energy drinks on the market. If you’re looking for some similar, liquid-based energy drinks that contain less caffeine than Bang, take a look at:

If you want something a bit different and more efficient, try caffeine pills or Mio water drops which are both alternative products to regular energy drinks.

Powdered energy drinks are another great option, and they tend to be more convenient and also more affordable than a lot of the better-known energy drinks.

They contain less caffeine than Bang, but come with generally lower price tags and better convenience of use:

TRY REIZE!

REIZE (10 out of 10)

In particular, REIZE is an energy drink that is easy to carry around and make – just add water.

With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE doesn’t have the same amount of caffeine that Bang does, but it is a lot more convenient and a more affordable choice.

REIZE is sugar-free and contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that work together with the caffeine to give you the perfect energy boost – without the crash.

REIZE ships right to your door for only about $1 per drink, a lot more affordable than Bang. 

That’s outstanding value for money.

Give it a try today and you might just find that you prefer REIZE to Bang too.

More Bang Energy Drink Resources

This article focused on the issue of whether or not Bang energy drink is bad for you. However, there is a lot of information about Bang that I didn’t include in this article.

If you’re interested in reading more information about Bang, I recommend these other articles that I also wrote:

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