Energy drinks are usually associated with masculinity. In fact, energy drinks certainly aren’t just for men, although the target market of many energy drink brands is indeed male dominant.
Some people think that they’re designed for men simply because men are deemed to need more energy than women but I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. So, cheers if you’re a woman that loves energy drinks.
You’re not alone.
Read on to find out more about the best energy drinks for women.
Ingredients in Energy Drinks
Caffeine
Caffeine is the most important ingredient in energy drinks that helps to boost your energy levels.
Caffeine has a bunch of beneficial properties, like enhancing your concentration and enabling you to stay focused on the task at hand.
It’s safe for women to consume caffeine on a daily basis.
Many women all over the world have a daily coffee, many others prefer to get their caffeine from energy drinks.
The FDA recommends limiting your daily caffeine intake to 400mg per day. However, it’s worth remembering that caffeine metabolism varies depending on several factors, including body size.
Therefore, if you’re not built like the average adult male you may want to consider reducing your caffeine consumption further than the FDA guidance to be on the safe side.
Sugar
Sugar is another ingredient commonly found in energy drinks. Sugar can also boost your energy levels for a short time.
However, sugar is very unhealthy, especially if consumed in excess. You should definitely attempt to cut down on your sugar intake.
Fortunately, there are many energy drinks on the market nowadays that are sugar-free. Have a close look at the ingredients label of your energy drink of choice to confirm the sugar content.
The list of health problems that sugar causes are long, but perhaps of more concern to ladies than men is the fact that sugar causes premature aging. So, if you want to avoid getting wrinkles before your time, it’s best to choose an energy drink that contains little or no sugar.
Is caffeine harmful to women?
Caffeine is not specifically harmful to women.
All women have a different tolerance level for caffeine. The same caffeine dose may affect two different women differently, based on their tolerance.
However, you should never exceed the daily recommended caffeine intake, and you should usually also avoid it too late in the day or it might affect your ability to get a good sleep at night.
Consuming more caffeine than you can handle may result in unwanted side effects like:
- jitters
- headache
- stomach upset
- anxiousness
- palpitations
As mentioned, the maximum daily recommended caffeine intake is 400mg. However, some ladies might have a lower tolerance, thus consuming only 100mg of caffeine might cause you to feel uneasy.
Because of the difference in the size of female bodies compared to male bodies, women are often affected more by a given dose of caffeine than men are.
Always listen to your body whenever you’re drinking a caffeinated beverage. If you notice any negative reactions, don’t drink anymore and talk to your doctor to get professional advice.
Do energy drinks contain male hormones?
No, energy drinks don’t contain male hormones.
This can be worrying for women that want to drink energy drinks, as they’re primarily marketed to males, hence the reason for thinking that there might be something special for men in the list of ingredients.
Fret not, you won’t suddenly wake up with a mustache or start leaving the toilet seat up the day after you drink an energy drink.
However, there are some energy drinks with special formulations that can help boost men’s health – you might want to steer clear of them. They are quite rare cases, read the label of your chosen energy drink for more information.
Do energy drinks affect women’s health?
No, energy drinks don’t affect women’s health according to this study. Energy drinks also don’t appear to affect ovulatory functions in women.
However, if you are trying to get pregnant, you might want to consult your doctor in regard to your diet.
Are energy drinks bad for females?
Energy drinks aren’t bad for females in my opinion.
Energy drinks are designed to provide supplemental energy to consumers, which is perfectly fine for females.
There are no ingredients in typical energy drinks that make them unsuitable for women.
Energy drinks can help you get through a long night studying, a long drive after work, or if you need them for concentration.
It’s also okay to drink energy drinks on a daily basis, providing you exercise care and caution when drinking energy drinks.
Can pregnant women drink energy drinks?
Pregnant women should not drink energy drinks.
This is due to the high levels of caffeine and also other ingredients in energy drinks that might not be suitable for mom and baby.
However, there are some pregnant moms that really need an energy boost and might reach for an energy drink once in a while.
If you do so, do drink it in moderation and definitely consult your doctor first.
Can breastfeeding mothers drink energy drinks?
Yes, breastfeeding mothers can drink energy drinks in moderation.
I know, breastfeeding moms should be on a strict diet, as whatever they eat or drink would affect their baby too.
But, if you do want your energy drink, only breastfeed your baby a few hours after consumption, that should allow enough time for the caffeine to metabolize.
Also, only about 1% of the caffeine that moms consume gets into their breast milk, so it’s unlikely that the baby will be adversely affected. However, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. If in doubt, talk to your doctor or just skip energy drinks completely for a few months.
Research shows that breastfeeding moms can still consume caffeine as per usual. However, always monitor your baby’s reaction and immediately cut out energy drinks if you notice any negative reactions.
Can female athletes drink energy drinks?
Yes, female athletes can drink energy drinks.
In fact, caffeine is a stimulant that can enhance your sporting performance.
Drinking energy drinks 45 minutes before you exercise or play sports is best.
You can also grab another can of energy drink after your workout, just to replenish lost energy. However, remember to make sure you’re well-hydrated after sweating out.
You can check out my previous post where I’ve written everything you need to know about the best energy drinks for cardio, and you might find your favorite energy drink in that list.
Can I drink energy drinks on a diet?
Yes, you can drink energy drinks on a diet, but you shouldn’t consume them to replace your meals.
Studies have shown that some women go on a diet and only drink energy drinks. That’s really bad for your health. You still need your normal nutrition from meals.
Some diet plans are actually beneficial for you and could help you not only lose weight but also improve your health.
As unbelievable as it may sound, going on an intermittent fast or a keto diet doesn’t mean you have to cut out energy drinks. You can still consume them if you choose wisely.
What’s the healthiest energy drink?
The healthiest energy drink is one that’s low in sugar and calories, with a moderate amount of caffeine.
For me, I am fairly particular regarding the caffeine amount in my energy drink. I can only tolerate energy drinks that have less than about 100mg per serving, otherwise, I get the jitters.
Let’s say I consume a full can of Monster Energy Drink, I usually don’t find myself enjoying it due to the high caffeine amount of 179mg.
It also has a high amount of sugar, 54g and 190 calories.
Yikes, that seems really unhealthy, especially if you’re not physically active.
For the full story on whether Monster is good or bad, check out my other article that goes into all of the details. Alternatively, you can read my article about drinking Monster energy every day and whether it’s a good idea or not.
Can women drink Red Bull?
Yes, women can drink energy drinks including Red Bull.
Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine, 27g of sugar, and 110 calories.
Just looking at it from a health aspect, I wouldn’t recommend Red Bull to be consumed in excess.
If you do want to drink Red Bull every day, it’s probably a smart idea to go for the sugar-free version.
For the complete picture of Red Bull and if it’s right for you, check out my article on whether Red Bull is bad for you.
Furthermore, here’s a brief rundown of what typically goes inside a can of Red Bull.
| Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Caffeine | 80 mg |
| 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 |
Best Energy Drinks for Women
If you’ve heard of BCAA’s, they’re supposedly helpful for muscle recovery and reducing exercise fatigue. It’s also an ingredient found in some energy drinks, like Bang Energy.
You could try Bang Energy Drink if you’re looking for something to consume before you exercise, be it your cardio or muscle-building sessions.
Its very high caffeine amount of 300mg will definitely provide you with the energy kick you need to power through your sets. However, if you have a lower caffeine tolerance, you might not want to drink Bang Energy Drink.
Alternatively, you could try Rockstar Energy Drink.
It has about half the caffeine amount of Bang but with 31g of sugar and 130 calories as opposed to Bang’s zero sugar and calories content.
The choice is yours, whichever suits you best on your quest to muscle building or weight loss.
Moreover, XS Energy Drink could be a good choice for breastfeeding moms. This is because not only is it zero-sugar, but also low in caffeine at 80mg.
That’s a moderate amount that should be safe for you and your baby.
XS also comes with 18 different flavors and 2 caffeine-free ones, in case you do want to steer clear of caffeine, but would still like a can of energy drink.
Yes, we all know to cut out sugar and calories, but there’s no need to cut out energy drinks.
Just choose an energy drink that’s low in calories and sugar and you will be fine if the rest of your diet is healthy and balanced.
Try Monster Zero Ultra Energy Drink. It is sugar-free and has zero calories.
This could be your go-to choice, especially if you have a higher caffeine tolerance, as this one has 140mg of caffeine, which is under the recommended daily caffeine intake, so no need to worry too much.
However, 140mg is still quite a lot and certainly more than I prefer to have in my energy drink.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
My personal favorite – suitable for women, whatever your needs may be.
REIZE contains just 50mg of caffeine, enough to provide me with the energy boost I need without unwanted side effects like jitters or headaches. It’s a sensible amount of caffeine that won’t blow your head off.
The combination of caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins gives you a perfect energy boost, with no crash.
With zero sugar and only 11 calories, I can have 2 servings of REIZE Energy Drink in a day and not feel guilty.
Perhaps best of all, REIZE ships right to your door for only about $1 per drink. That’s amazing value for money and it’s the most affordable energy drink on this list.
Give REIZE a try today and you might just find that it’s a girl’s best friend.