Whether you’re in school, college or university, you have to go through classes, tests, and exams. Sometimes, you’ll even need to stay up all night just to do some last-minute studying or cram information into your brain.
To push past all that, you’ll need tons of energy, and the most popular choice to get it is through energy drinks.
Thus, in this article, I’ll be dedicating some time to the benefits of energy drinks and their ingredients in helping you keep up with school.
For a more detailed discussion on how energy drinks can benefit your studying experience and which brands check out the boxes, read on…
Is It Good To Drink Energy Drinks While Studying?
Energy drinks can greatly complement your studying experience, as it can boost your energy and improve your cognition at the same time.
Now, what would make you more energized isn’t exactly the energy drinks, rather it’s the caffeine in these beverages that’ll give you a boost.
Energy drinks typically contain caffeine, ranging from as little as 50mg to as much as 300mg per serve, depending on the brand and target audience.
Aside from caffeine, energy drinks also could have sugar, B-group vitamins, amino acids, and naturally sourced ingredients like guarana and ginseng. While these ingredients are usually in small amounts, they do somewhat contribute to improving your physical and cognitive performance, giving you an extra edge to help you excel.
As for caffeine, it’s the main ingredient that can enhance certain brain functions like reaction time and mental focus. In fact, there are studies that’ve even found that caffeine might be able to boost concentration and other cognitive functions in people who have ADHD.
A 2017 study involving 24 participants reported that attention and memory improved after the consumption of a Red Bull.
Furthermore, caffeine can enhance your mood and stimulate you to be more motivated in studying.
A review discussing three studies reported that caffeine could enhance and/or maintain mood and performance during tiring and mentally demanding situations.
Of course, while energy drinks can be beneficial when you’re trying to remember and understand tons of information within several hours, you should moderate your intake to avoid over-consuming them.
Can Monster Energy Keep Me Awake?
First off, let’s go through the nutritional values of Monster and how it can contribute to keeping you awake.
A single 16 fl.oz can of Monster contains 160mg of caffeine, 190 calories and 54g of sugar.
With 160mg, the boost from Monster would definitely be stronger and could last for a longer period of time than a can of Red Bull.
That said, Monster does contain 54g of sugar, which could lead to a sugar crash, leaving you sluggish from the spike and fall in your blood sugar levels.
So, while it’s a definite ‘yes’ that Monster can keep you awake for a certain period of time, once the effects of the caffeine and sugar wear off, you’ll feel tired again.
Of course, if you want to steer clear of the sugar crash, Monster Zero Ultra, their sugar-free version, has the same taste and caffeine content as well as benefits.
For an in-depth discussion on whether Monster really works or not, check out my Does Monster Really Give You Energy article to find out more about its effectiveness as an energy drink.
Can Energy Drinks Keep You Focused?
Drinking caffeine can give you a boost in mental focus temporarily.
Whether it’s daydreaming or getting distracted, it can hard to pay attention in class or revise for your exam when you’re not focused.
Chewing on the gum or having some light and healthy snacks can keep you in the zone for a while, but it’ll probably only last for a few minutes until you get tired of chewing or run out of food.
On the other hand, having some caffeine, whether it’s from energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages can help improve and maintain your mental focus for several hours.
A 2016 study reported that low to moderate doses of caffeine could enhance cognitive functions like alertness, vigilance, attention, and reaction time.
Another study reported that caffeine could increase mental concentration in athletes even if they hadn’t slept well during the previous night.
Thus, if you’re looking for something to maintain your concentration and mental focus for a few hours, getting some caffeine into your system can help you with that.
That said, caffeine isn’t something you can go crazy with. The FDA recommends a daily caffeine limit of up to 400mg for healthy adults. Anything else than that, and you may wind up with unpleasant impacts like:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Rapid heart rhythm
- Dehydration
So, even if caffeine is beneficial in maintaining your focus, having too much could give you a headache and disrupt your focus, which isn’t something you’d want if you’re in class or have an important test the next day.
As such, be sure to moderate your caffeine intake and consume caffeinated drinks within the recommended limit.
Does The Sugar In Energy Drinks Reduce Mental Performance?
While some sugar every now and then can boost your mental focus, having too much can reduce your overall cognitive performance.
It’s not wrong to have some sugary foods and drinks like soda and ice cream once in a while since it brings enjoyment and happiness to our lives.
Though, indulging in too much sugar can lead to some serious problems in the future.
According to this article, sugar can decrease cognitive skills such as memory and mood, leading to a drop in mental capacity. Plus, consistent consumption of sugar could lead to an addiction as well.
For reference, the AHA advises a daily sugar intake of 25g and 36g for women and men respectively. A diet fairly high in sugar could lead to health issues like:
- Aging skin
- Cardiovascular diseases
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Weight gain
If you want to cut down on sugar, you could always go for sugar-free energy drinks, which contain artificial sweeteners instead.
In any case, to maintain an efficient cognitive performance, be sure to moderate your sugar intake, and monitor your consumption of sugary foods and beverages to stay on the safe side.
Other Ways To Stay Energised And Focused In School
Drink Lots Of Water
While caffeinated beverages like energy drinks and coffee can perk you up, the boost is only temporary, thus you’ll soon feel tired again. Plus, if you keep topping up on the caffeine without making space for water, your body will eventually become dehydrated.
Signs of dehydration include fatigue and headaches, which may cause a significant drop in efficiency. After chugging an energy drink, if you find yourself thirsty and exhausted once again, try a glass of water instead.
After all, water is sugar-free, calorie-free and can help provide your body with lots of nutrients.
Stick To A Sleep Schedule
Without a good night’s sleep, you’ll find yourself falling asleep in the morning. So, try to have a fixed time to go to sleep and wake up, which would allow you to get ample rest.
Try to get around 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day, though for some, as many as 9 to 10 hours sleep is what they need to get properly energized for the next day.
If you absolutely have to pull an all-nighter the day before, be sure to sleep enough the day.
Have A Healthy Meal
No one can stay awake and focused on an empty stomach, so make sure to have a natural and nutritious meal throughout the day. Try to avoid highly processed foods like sugary cereals, instant noodles, and sweets, which could make you prone to a sugar crash afterward instead.
Though, make sure to not have any heavy meals before your classes start as that could lead to sleepiness.
As for your revision sessions, bring along some healthy snacks such as granola bars, water, or unsalted nuts to help maintain concentration and supply energy to your brain.
Best Energy Drink For School
| Energy Drink | Caffeine Content | Sugar Content | Calories |
| Red Bull | 80mg | 27g | 110 calories |
| Aspire | 80mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| Celsius | 200mg | 0g | 10 calories |
| REIZE | 50mg | 0g | 11 calories |
Red Bull
Easily the most common and popular energy drink around, Red Bull will definitely keep you energized with its classic taste and simple yet effective ingredients.
Each 8.4 fl.oz can of Red Bull has 80mg of caffeine, 27g of sugar, 110 calories, along with a handful of taurine and vitamins.
Best of all, Red Bull has an extensive selection of flavours, if you happen to not be a fan of the original flavour.
Of course, if you want a quick answer to how Red Bull tastes like and if it actually works, check out my Red Bull review for my thoughts and take on the drink.
Aspire
Packed with a balanced mix of natural ingredients, Aspire ‘aspires’ to be a sugar-free and calorie-free pick-me-up for your health-focused energy needs.
A single 12 fl.oz can of Aspire contains 80mg of caffeine, together with loads of vitamins, minerals, and energy-boosting ingredients like ginger root, guarana seed, and green tea extract.
Since Aspire is sugar-free, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting a sugar crash in the middle of class, though be sure to watch out for the amount of Aspire you have in a day.
Still unsure about making Aspire your daily energy drink? Check out my article on whether you can drink Aspire every day or not for a more in-depth discussion.
Celsius
Made with health in mind, Celsius boasts a refreshing formula of beneficial and natural ingredients for a sustained energy boost.
A 12 fl.oz can of Celsius is sugar-free with 200mg of caffeine and 10 calories, along with a generous serving of vitamins and minerals.
The bonus part of Celsius is that it offers a wide variety of fruity flavors that might tickle your fancy, especially if you like switching up flavors.
If you want to know more about what goes into a can of Celsius, check out the article I’ve written on the caffeine and ingredients of Celsius Energy for further explanations on what they do.
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that can be found in light and suitable 4g sachets. With a rational 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is sugar-free and consists of only 11 calories per serving.
Plus, REIZE is packed with a smart blend of beneficial ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins that work together to provide you with a smooth energy boost without the dreaded sugar crashes.
The best part is that REIZE ships to your doorstep for only around $1 per drink, which is amazing value for money.
Give REIZE a try, and you might agree that it’s the best pick-me-up to get you energised and awake for school.
Other Articles
- Best Energy Drinks for Late-Night Studying
- Best Energy Drink to Keep You Awake and Focused
- Best Energy Drink for an All-Nighter
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