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If you find yourself experiencing frequent stomach aches, nausea, and other unpleasant symptoms after having particular foods, you might have a sensitive stomach.
To prevent these symptoms from affecting your daily life, you might need to monitor and limit your everyday consumption, which means giving up on some of your favorite food items, including energy drinks.
Now, I know for a fact that many loved their energy drinks as a quick booster for their day, so does having a sensitive stomach mean you’ve to avoid energy drinks?
For a more detailed discussion, read on to find out about the potential effects of energy drinks on your stomach to a list of great recommendations if you have got a sensitive stomach.
Disclaimer: Don’t consume more than you can tolerate and get medical treatment if you develop stomach-related symptoms after drinking energy drinks.
Can Energy Drinks Cause Stomach Problems?
Energy drinks can cause stomach problems due to their caffeine content or other ingredients, especially if you have a particularly sensitive stomach.
While energy drinks do contain various compounds such as amino acids and vitamins, the main ingredient in these beverages is caffeine.
Energy drinks can have between 50mg to 300mg of caffeine per serving depending on the brand. The caffeine content of energy drinks can be synthetically produced or naturally sourced.
Caffeine is a must-have feature in energy drinks since it’s responsible for keeping you awake, improving your physical performance, cognition as well as mood.
That said, once consumed, caffeine increases the production of stomach acid due to its acidity, which might lead to some unpleasant stomach troubles like heartburn and diarrhea.
Plus, since caffeine is a stimulant, drinking it could activate your colon and promote bowel movement, leading you to pay frequent visits to the bathroom. That said, caffeine only seems to have a laxative effect on certain people, so it really depends on how sensitive your stomach is.
Furthermore, energy drinks more often than not contain concentrated doses of sugar, which can cause stomach aches and bloating if you’re not mindful of your consumption.
While it’s okay to indulge in some sugar once in a while, having too much without limiting your intake could lead to some serious stomach problems as well as health issues.
In some cases, certain energy drink brands might contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Artificial sweeteners might be approved as safe for general use by the FDA, there are still concerns regarding the long-term effects of these sweeteners.
Recent research reported that artificial sweeteners may be able to disrupt the balance of bacteria in your gut. A healthy gut bacteria balance is important in protecting your gut from infections and maintaining your overall weight.
If you have a generally sensitive stomach or other digestive-related conditions like IBS and celiac disease, you may need to steer clear of foods and drinks with artificial sweeteners as it could irritate your stomach.
Of course, while it may seem that you’ve to give up on energy drinks if you have a sensitive stomach, you actually don’t have to, as long as you consume these beverages in moderation.
Another thing to take note of is to wisely select an energy drink with a moderate caffeine and sugar content, and limit your overall intake.
It really comes down to making the right decisions for your own health and diet, as well as having discipline with foods and drinks.
Still, if you want to be completely sure, speak to your doctor and get professional advice before including energy drinks in your daily diet.
Is there a caffeinated drink that won’t upset my stomach?
People who experience stomach distress while drinking hot coffee may find that cold brew is a more tolerable option. The chemicals released into the water during the brewing process are reduced when coffee is brewed using cold water.
Furthermore, for some, mixing their coffee with milk helps alleviate stomach discomfort caused by the coffee’s acid-inducing components due to the interaction of milk proteins with those compounds. However, those who are lactose intolerant or who don’t eat dairy can run the risk of experiencing a slew of other digestive issues
Can You Drink Energy Drinks With IBS?
You can drink energy drinks even if you have IBS, provided you choose a suitable brand that doesn’t worsen your condition.
Since energy drinks are caffeinated, it would mean that you wouldn’t be able to have too many of these beverages.
That said, you’re still allowed to have small doses of caffeine even if you have IBS. A general rule of thumb to do so is going for an energy drink with a moderate caffeine and sugar content since these ingredients can trigger IBS.
Of course, if you want to save more time on your search, check out my article on the best energy drinks for IBS for some awesome options.
Can Red Bull Trigger IBS?
Red Bull can potentially trigger IBS as it has a pretty high sugar content.
First off, we need to take a look at the nutritional standards of a can of Red Bull.
A single 8.4 fl.oz can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine, 27g of sugar and 110 calories.
While the caffeine content of Red Bull may be pretty moderate, it does have large amounts of sugar, which could cause you to experience symptoms of IBS.
Hence, it’s safe to assume that a regular Red Bull may trigger IBS. It’s best if you go for a different energy drink with less sugar.
Is Caffeine Bad For Gastritis?
Caffeine can be bad for gastritis as it triggers the production of stomach acid.
Gastritis refers to a medical condition involving inflammation of the lining of the stomach. A few common symptoms of gastritis are burning pain in your stomach and nausea.
Caffeine is generally acidic, thus drinking it could adversely affect the lining of your intestines and stomach, causing heartburn and other unpleasant side effects. Plus, caffeine stimulates bowel movement too, which may lead to more stomach discomfort.
If you can’t give up caffeine, you would have to either limit your intake or find a substitute for your favorite energy drink. Brands like Xtend Energy offer non-caffeinated flavors of their beverages.
Besides, caffeine isn’t something you can consume without proper limitation. For enlightenment, the FDA suggests a regular caffeine intake of 400mg for fit grown-ups.
Anything more than that, and you might be affected with unpleasant effects such as:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Dehydration
Therefore, if you happen to have gastritis, be sure to moderate your daily caffeine consumption, as you’re the only one who knows your body best. But, if you’re still doubtful about adding caffeinated beverages into your diet, consult your doctor first.
Does Sugar Cause Acid Reflux?
Sugar isn’t one of the main triggers for acid reflux, but it’s often found in foods and drinks that causes it.
If you constantly experience acid reflux and heartburn, you may have to stay away from food products such as processed foods, citrus fruits and vegetables, and chocolate.
While sugar doesn’t exactly cause acid reflux, it’s often found in triggers foods and drinks. That said, you’re still allowed to consume sugar in small amounts. Having pure and natural sugar that doesn’t contain any added trigger ingredients such as maple syrup and honey won’t trigger any symptoms.
Of course, even if you can have sugar in minimal quantities, take note that the AHA recommends a daily sugar limit of 25g and 36g for women and men respectively.
A diet fairly high in sugar can lead to some serious health problems like:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Weight gain
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Aging skin
Energy drinks contain high levels of sugar, so you may want to opt for sugar-free energy drinks instead. Of course, keep in mind to have them in moderation to avoid triggering any symptoms.
Hence, be sure to have sugar at a personal tolerable limit, and try not to have sugary foods and drinks too often as well.
Best Energy Drinks For Sensitive Stomachs
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content | Sugar Content | Calories |
| Aspire | 80mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| Xtend Energy On-The-Go | 125mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| Guru | 100mg | 21g | 80 calories |
| REIZE | 50mg | 0g | 11 calories |
Aspire
Marketed as a sugar-free calorie-burning energy drink, Aspire offers a refreshing selection of natural ingredients for higher performance-tuned stimulation.
Each 12 fl.oz can of Aspire contains 80mg of natural caffeine, along with a handful of B vitamins and some organic ingredients like green tea and ginger root extract.
Aspire also has a variety of fruit-inspired flavors, which is a bonus, if you like switching between flavors.
If you have doubts on whether it’s okay to have Aspire frequently or not, feel free to check out my article on the benefits and potential side effects of drinking Aspire every day for an in-depth explanation.
Xtend Energy On-The-Go
Formulated for enhanced performance, Xtend Energy On-The-Go is a sugar-free pre-workout packed with lots of beneficial ingredients.
A single 16 fl.oz can of Xtend Energy On-The-Go is sugar- 125g of caffeine, with a blend of electrolytes, amino acids, and B vitamins.
Xtend Energy also offers a caffeine-free version, Xtend Energy Carbonated, which may be helpful if you’re unable to stomach caffeine.
If you want to know more about the potential benefits and effects of Xtend on you, check out the article I’ve written on whether Xtend is bad for you or not, for a more detailed discussion.
Guru
Advertised as a natural energy drink with few synthetic ingredients, Guru presents a healthy pick-me-up with a crisp and refreshing finish.
Each 8.4 fl.oz can of Guru contains 100mg of caffeine, 21g of sugar, and 80 calories, along with organic ingredients like organic cane syrup and guarana seed extract.
While the Original flavor is good, Guru Lite, their sugar-free version, offers the same caffeine content and benefits, if you prefer something with fewer calories and sugar.
To find out more about how Guru tastes like and whether it works, check out my review on Guru Energy Drink for my thoughts and experience with it.
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that is available in lightweight and suitable 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
Plus, REIZE is packed with a smart blend of beneficial ingredients such as 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 $1 per sachet, which is exceptional value for money.
Give a REIZE a try, and you might find that it’s the best pick-me-up for sensitive stomachs.
