Warning: Avoid drinking energy drinks first thing in the morning!
Waking from sleep in the morning sounds easy, but in reality, it’s a headache for many night owls like me.
Well, this is where energy drinks can make a big difference.
First off, I think the best energy drinks for waking up are Starbucks Double-Shot Energy Drink Coffee, Bang Peach Mango, Zipfizz, and REIZE!
But to set you free from this everyday dilemma, read on and find out how energy drinks can help you wake up!
Do energy drinks help you wake up?
Energy drinks can help you wake up.
This study found that drinking caffeine in the morning reduced fatigue after a lacklustre sleep for around two hours.
The caffeine in energy drinks can give you a boost of energy as well as improve your concentration, which is beneficial for work or finishing up many other tasks.
With that said, when choosing an energy drink for the mornings, the key lies in choosing one with appropriate caffeine content.
Is it bad to drink an energy drink in the morning?
Because your cortisol levels are elevated when you first wake up, you should normally try to wait at least an hour before drinking an energy drink in the morning.
If you have low caffeine tolerance, you may be more susceptible to the side effects of caffeine.
In that sense, I would recommend that you don’t drink energy drinks on an empty stomach and have them alongside your breakfast.
What can I drink to avoid sleep?
Sleepiness can be blown away with many varieties of drinks such as tea, coffee, alcohol, soda, and of course, energy drinks!
Energy drinks can be your morning company as their caffeine amount and sugar can provide you with an instant boost to chase away your sleep.
You can also go sugar-free if you’re a no-sugar freak like me and want to prevent a sugar crash!
For my top recommendations for sugar-free energy drinks, read here.
What to look for when buying an energy drink for waking up?
When choosing a suitable morning energy drink, there are several factors you could consider:
- Caffeine
- Sugar
- Flavour
- Price
Caffeine
Caffeine is probably the most common ingredient used in an energy drink.
As recommended by the FDA, I try to limit my caffeine intake to the maximum recommended amount of 400mg per day.
Always check the caffeine content of your energy drinks before consuming them.
If you’re caffeine sensitive, I have mentioned some of the best energy drinks without caffeine in this article.
Sugar
Sugar is a staple ingredient found in various food and beverages, It’s a no-brainer that it’s another key ingredient of energy drinks that you should keep an eye out for.
With that said, sugar does not have any health benefits and is detrimental to your health. Hence, the ADA only recommends a maximum of 9 teaspoons of sugar for men and only 6 teaspoons for women a day.
Now, the important question is, how much sugar is appropriate for your morning energy drink?
The answer will be to go sugar-free.
Well, these days varieties of zero-sugar energy drinks have become a common sight on the shelves of your local stores, which provides you with a healthier alternative than the sugar-filled originals.
However, I understand that not everyone likes sugar-free drinks. If that’s you, you can still choose an energy drink containing sugar so long as you stick to the ADA recommendations for max sugar intake.
Flavours
Usually, people might think flavour is not an important factor to consider when looking for energy drinks. But then again, wouldn’t you rather drink something that suits your taste?
Especially if you’re looking to start your day with an energy drink, I doubt you would want to taste something horrible right? (Though it could probably wake you up too!)
Luckily, this is not that big of an issue at all, as stores are filled with varieties of flavoured energy drinks, so you probably wouldn’t have too much trouble looking for the one for you.
Although not available in physical stores, I personally love the taste of the REIZE Energy drink, which has just the right amount of flavour despite being sugar-free.
Price
Price is undoubtedly something all of us look for and it’s always wise to look for something budget-friendly.
There will always be an energy drink that matches your needs as well as your budget.
I have written a short guide for buying energy drinks online here.
Can you drink energy drinks on an empty stomach in the morning?
The answer might be quoted as “No” as many studies blame caffeine for dehydration, but nothing is proven in this area so far.
So you might consume an energy drink in the morning, but it’s probably better to drink some water on an empty stomach before having that energy drink.
What Energy Drinks Wake You Up the Best?
| Brand | Caffeine (mg) | Sugar (g) | Calories |
| Starbucks Double-shot Energy Drink Coffee | 32.69 | 26 | 10-20 (vary due to choice of flavours) |
| VPX Bang Peach Mango Energy Drink | 300 | 0 | 0 |
| Zipfizz Healthy Energy Drink Mix | 120 | 0 | 10-20 (vary due to choice of flavours) |
| REIZE | 50 | 0 | 11 |
Starbucks Double-shot Energy Drink Coffee
This is one of my favorite morning energy drinks but I would recommend going with it only if you plan to skip sugar for your lunch.
This energy drink is mildly caffeinated, which I think is a suitable amount. However, it contains 26g of sugar which is an instant turn-off for no-sugar freaks like myself.
With that said, the best part of this drink is that there are varieties of flavours available which would be a treat to your taste buds.
Bang Peach Mango Energy Drink
Bang is a popular energy drink brand and its Peach-Mango energy drink looks to be one of the most suitable choices for your morning energy drink.
Although this energy drink is the highest caffeinated drink on the list here, you can definitely go with it if your body requires an instant boost of energy.
For high caffeine addicts, this can be an everyday drink as it comes with zero sugar and a zero-calorie.
Zipfizz Energy Drink Mix
This drink is also considered to be a healthy option by many and is therefore consumed by a wide population.
Having few calories and no sugar, this energy drink only contains 10-20 calories per serving depending on your flavour, so you can have a few cups of this energy drink without worry.
Zipfizz contains 120mg of caffeine which is a moderate amount and much less than Bang.
REIZE (the best choice)
REIZE Energy is the perfect energy drink mix to have after a heavy breakfast.
It comes with 50 mg of caffeine, taurine, ginseng, zero sugar, and only 11 calories per sachet. This is ideal for anyone looking to get a quick morning boost.
The best part of this drink is its convenient packaging, being in powder form instead of a typical can, which allows you to carry it anywhere you go.
Best of all, REIZE energy drink makes quality energy drinks affordable, costing only around $1 per drink including shipping right to your door, which you have to agree is a pretty sweet deal!
Give REIZE a try today and I’m sure you’ll agree that it is the best energy drink to help you wake up.