You never know when you’re going to be down with the flu. Sometimes there are signs that your condition is deteriorating, other times you just wake up feeling sick.
Whether you can get sick leave or you just go to work or school, I think an energy drink can help you get through the day.
At this point, my recommendation for energy drinks would be REIZE Energy. It’s perfect for when you have flu and you want to feel that boost that’ll somehow improve your mood.
Even if you can’t stop sneezing, at least you can comfort yourself with your favourite energy drink.
Let’s find out more about the best energy drink for flu!
Ingredients in Energy Drinks
Caffeine
Caffeine is the main ingredient in energy drinks.
The caffeine content in energy drinks differs by brand. Some have a higher caffeine content while some are moderate or even caffeine-free.
A healthy adult can consume up to 400mg of caffeine daily, but that also depends on your level of tolerance. If you have a lower caffeine tolerance, it means that a small dose of caffeine can affect you negatively.
Other than helping you to feel energised through the day, the caffeine in energy drinks is actually beneficial for you, provided you don’t overdo it.
When you’re sick, energy drinks can help battle the grogginess and tiredness that you feel if you don’t have the luxury to spend the day laying on the couch or in bed at home.
However, keep in mind that caffeine can interfere with getting a good night’s sleep if you have too much of it too close to going to bed. It’s a good idea to avoid caffeine in the evening unless you plan on staying up all night.
If you’re in need of an energy drink to accompany you during an all-nighter, check out this article.
Sugar
Sugar doesn’t go well when you’re sick though. It might prevent the immune system from getting rid of the bacteria, in addition to all of the other reasons to avoid sugar.
You should limit your sugar intake when you’re down with the flu. Also, keep in mind the side effects of excessive sugar intake such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 to 37.5g of sugar per day for women and men, respectively.
Other Ingredients
Energy drinks often contain many other ingredients like taurine, guarana, and B vitamins.
Guarana, taurine, and B vitamins are energy-boosting properties infused in energy drinks.
You should be careful with these ingredients as they may be detrimental to your health especially when you suffer from some kind of allergic reaction.
For example, you should watch out for guarana due to its massive caffeine which isn’t mentioned on the nutrition label of energy drinks.
Is it OK to consume caffeine when you have a cold?
Yes, it’s okay to consume caffeine when you’re sick with a cold or flu.
Caffeine can help you power through the day, especially if you still need to be up and about.
The caffeine content in energy drinks can increase your brain function and your concentration to enable peak mental performance.
However, keep in mind that when you’re sick, getting good sleep is important in order to recover.
If you find that caffeine interferes with that, you might either want to reduce your consumption.
Also, you might read that caffeine causes dehydration and infer that as a reason to steer clear when you’re sick, but that may not actually be true.
Overall, there are some pros and cons to having caffeine when you’re sick, but a little bit should be perfectly fine – especially if it brightens your day a little!
Can you drink energy drinks while sick?
Yes, you can still drink energy drinks when you’re sick with the flu.
In fact, based on a previous study, participants with colds that consumed caffeine showed improved alertness and performance.
Therefore, not only can you still enjoy your daily caffeinated energy drinks, they might actually be beneficial for you when you’re down with the flu.
Do energy drinks interfere with medication?
Energy drinks may interfere with your medication, so you should check with your doctor before consumption.
Of course, the safest choice is to simply avoid energy drinks while you’re taking medication if you’re unsure about things.
Can you mix energy drinks and cold medicine?
No, you shouldn’t mix energy drinks and cold medicine.
Purposely mixing cold medicine with energy drinks is actually a trend (like mixing alcohol and energy drinks) in order to experience a high.
This is really dangerous and could potentially be fatal.
Are energy drinks hydrating?
No, energy drinks aren’t hydrating.
There are energy drinks nowadays that contain electrolytes, supposedly to help with hydration, but most energy drinks are not hydrating.
If you’re sick, it’s important to stay hydrated and the best way to do that is to drink plenty of water.
Can energy drinks help you recover from fatigue due to the flu?
Yes, energy drinks can help you recover from fatigue due to the flu.
When you’re down with the flu, not only is your nose runny, but you might also have a general malaise. Malaise’s symptoms include a feeling of weakness and overall discomfort whereby your alertness and psychomotor functions are reduced.
The caffeine in energy drinks can boost your energy and help to overcome those feelings of lethargy so that you can still function and get stuff done during the day.
Can you drink Red Bull if you have the flu?
Yes, you can drink Red Bull even if you have the flu.
Let’s look at the contents of an 8.4 fl. oz can of Red Bull in the table below:
| Ingredients | Amount |
| Caffeine | 80 mg |
| Calories | 110 cal |
| Glucuronolactone | 600 mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 5.1 µg |
| Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) | 5.1 µg |
| Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) | 5 mg |
| Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) | 5.1 µg |
I think the moderate amount of caffeine in Red Bull is sensible when you’ve got a cold or flu. It’s enough to boost your energy levels without giving you extreme side effects that you’ll want to avoid when you’re already sick.
The sugar and calorie content is a bit alarming, however, and I wouldn’t suggest regular Red Bull as a daily habit in the long run.
If you do still want a can of Red Bull a day, maybe opt for Red Bull Total Zero instead.
If you’re wondering about exactly how Red Bull and Monster are different from each other, check out my other article.
Other Beverages to Drink With the Flu
Water
Drinking a lot of water is essential if you want to recover quickly. During this sick period, you may also be losing more fluids than normal, so you should stay hydrated well.
Water helps loosen the mucus and relieve the stuffiness that comes with the flu.
Hot Herbal Tea
Other than clearing congested airways, hot drinks can actually help to relieve a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and fatigue.
The steam from a hot cup of herbal tea can be soothing and warming for temporary pain relief.
Orange Juice
Fresh orange juice contains a ton of vitamin C and folic acid, which are beneficial to boost your immune system and allow you to feel better in no time.
If you’re looking for beverages that can help make you feel better when you’re sick, watch the video below!
Best Energy Drink for Flu
Here are a few good choices if you’re looking for an energy drink to consume when you have the flu.
Monster Zero Ultra
If you’re a fan of Monster Energy Drink, you might want to consider Monster Zero Ultra.
You still get the familiar Monster brand taste without the unnecessary 54g of sugar and 190 calories that you get in a regular can of Monster.
It contains 140mg of caffeine, which is quite a lot in my opinion, especially if you’re sick with the flu.
But like I said, if you only drink Monster Energy this is a good switch, especially in the long run.
Advocare Spark Energy Drink
Going down the levels of caffeine a little, we have Advocare Spark Energy Drink with 120mg of caffeine.
It’s also sugar-free but with 15 calories (which honestly doesn’t bother me).
This is a powdered form of energy drink, whereby 1 sachet of Spark powder can be mixed with 8 fl. oz of water.
I love powdered energy drinks as they’re so convenient to carry around and mix whenever you need them.
Powdered energy drinks are usually cheaper than their canned versions, but Advocare Spark costs around $2.50 with shipping, so you might want to think twice about making this your flu-recovery drink.
XS Energy Drink
XS Energy Drink has 80mg of caffeine, 10 calories, and zero sugar. The contents are pretty moderate and should be suitable for you if you’re down with the flu.
XS also has 2 caffeine-free options:
- caffeine-free cranberry-grape blast
- caffeine-free mango pineapple guava
REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)
Whether I’m sick or as healthy as an ox, I always go for REIZE Energy Drink as it only has 50mg of caffeine, 11 calories, and is sugar-free.
The sensible amount of caffeine gives me just the right boost of energy without worrying about side effects or a sugar crash afterwards.
Also, REIZE Energy Drink is super-affordable. It ships right to your door for around $1 per drink, including shipping.
That’s amazing value for money.
Try REIZE Energy Drink today, and you might just find that it’s also the best energy drink for you when you’ve got the flu.