A Southeast Asian country diverse in both people and local cuisine, Malaysia is a well-recognized tourist locale, attracting around 4 million visitors worldwide.
With a busy lifestyle becoming the norm in cities, many turn to energy drinks for their daily boost of energy.
While you can definitely find regional specialties (such as the Thai Krating Daeng), Malaysia also produces local energy drinks that contain ingredients not usually found in international brands.
Therefore, whether you happen to reside in Malaysia or simply want to try something fresh and new, stick around for a detailed breakdown of the benefits of the ingredients in energy drinks, as well as a few notable local brands that might tickle your fancy.
Let’s get to it…
Are Energy Drinks Popular In Malaysia?
Energy drinks are relatively popular in Malaysia, especially amongst the working crowd. Well-known brands like Red Bull and Monster are widely sold in easily accessible places like train station convenience stores and local supermarkets.
In fact, a 2019 report showed that 16% to 20% of Malaysians consumed energy drinks once to several times a week/month.
When it comes to competition, energy drinks are usually outperformed by soft drinks since they cater to the general public more.
Still, energy drinks still get a good chunk of the Malaysian limelight considering the hectic and fast-paced lifestyle in bigger cities.
Energy Drinks And Exercise
Energy drinks can be beneficial to exercise depending on your consumption habits and overall fitness.
Sometimes, we need a simple boost of energy to get us motivated to take a short jog around the park, or even do a few intense reps at the gym.
Naturally, you’re going to need a lot of energy when you exercise, and that’s where energy drinks come in.
Since energy drinks contain caffeine, you can expect a decent boost that can improve your performance during your workouts.
Many studies have confirmed that caffeine can enhance exercise performance. Caffeine is reported to have the most significant effects on physical endurance, high-intensity exercise, and power sports.
In a 2009 study, it was reported that caffeine could enhance performance by increasing stamina and maintaining higher active output in activities such as swimming and cycling.
While energy drinks may be helpful during exercise, it’s important to keep track of how much caffeine you’re consuming on a regular basis and consume just what is comfortable for you.
If you’re looking to take your workouts to the next level, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best energy drinks for exercise, which contains some great suggestions to complement your workout.
Is Caffeine Good For Studying?
Caffeine is good for studying as it can improve cognitive functions.
Whether you’re cramming for an exam or pulling an all-nighter to get those last assignments done, you’re going to need extra energy to help you pull through.
Caffeine is great when you need to stay awake for long hours to revise your lessons and absorb all the important information. In fact, researchers stated that caffeine might be able to enhance long-term memory, at least to around 24 hours after it’s consumed.
Plus, low to moderate doses of caffeine have also been found to increase certain cognitive functions like vigilance, attention and overall reaction.
Of course, this would depend on your caffeine tolerance and how quickly your body metabolizes caffeine.
Others who regularly consume caffeinated drinks may require more than those who only drink them sometimes.
I also wouldn’t recommend you to have caffeine all the time while you’re studying as your tolerance will increase over time, meaning you might have to take more to achieve the same effects.
Instead, go for energy drinks with moderate caffeine content and limit your caffeine consumption for times you really need a boost. You should also make sure to get enough sleep after staying up all night to replenish your energy levels.
Read here for my top recommendations for energy drinks for preparing for an exam.
Is It Ok To Have Caffeine While I’m Driving?
It’s completely okay to have caffeine while you’re driving provided it doesn’t affect your driving performance.
Falling asleep while driving is one of the main causes of too many road accidents.
If you ever find yourself struggling to stay awake while you’re stuck in a traffic jam or driving long distances, caffeine is the best wake-up call you can get.
Caffeine can supply you with an energy boost, increasing your alertness and wakefulness.
Some drivers have coffee on the road and that’s completely fine, although personally, I would go for energy drinks, mostly due to their taste and convenience.
Numerous studies have found that caffeine can help improve driving performance, especially during prolonged highway driving.
A study involving 24 volunteers reported that the ingestion of a Red Bull reduced driver sleepiness and enhanced driving performance during prolonged highway driving.
So, if you’re going to be in the car for many hours and you feel like you need a pick-me-up, an energy drink is a great option. Obviously, the boost won’t last forever, but it should help you remain awake until you’re quite close to your goal.
For a longer-lasting energy boost, my advice is to go for energy drinks that are low in sugar to prevent a sugar crash from happening while you’re behind the wheel.
All in all, be sure to consume energy drinks in moderation, get enough rest before getting behind the wheel and drive responsibly.
If you’re looking for energy drinks to keep you focused behind the wheel, take a look at the article I’ve written about the best energy drinks for driving for some great suggestions.
Does Sugar Give You Energy?
While sugar does give you energy for a short period of time, the boost will eventually wear off, leading to a crash.
Foods and drinks like cereals, yogurt, and energy drinks usually contain large amounts of sugar as a sweetener and temporary energy booster.
While having sugar once in a while is okay, having an excessive amount of it is fairly unhealthy.
Consuming large quantities of sugar can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, leading to a surge in energy, followed by a drastic drop due to insulin, which ends up as a sugar crash.
A sugar crash leaves you feeling sluggish and tired, something you wouldn’t want, hence make sure to choose your energy drinks wisely. After all, there are plenty of sugar-free options in the market that offer the same sweetness without calories and carbs.
Energy Drink Side Effects
Energy drinks can be beneficial to you when consumed properly. However, having energy drinks too often can lead to unpleasant side effects, regardless of how ‘healthy’ said energy drinks are.
A diet high in energy drinks can lead to both short-term and long-term side effects such as:
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Shaking
- Irritability
- Fatigue and sugar crashes
- Stomach Irritation
- Headaches
- Chest pains
- Vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- Caffeine addiction
- Dehydration and weakness
- Poor dental health
- Kidney stones
- Respiratory problems
- Miscarriage
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
- Allergic reactions
- Caffeine overdose
- Niacin overdose
Therefore, be sure to have energy drinks when you really need them, and keep your caffeine intake to moderate amounts too.
Best Energy Drinks In Malaysia
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine | Sugar Content | Calories |
| Livita | Unspecified | 16.5g | 72 calories |
| Red Bull | 80mg | 27g | 110 calories |
| Power Root | Unspecified | 30.3g | 179 calories |
| REIZE | 50mmg | 0g | 11 calories |
Livita
Originally from a Japanese company, Livita has grown to be one of the most prominent energy drinks in the Malaysian market.
Each 3.fl.oz bottle of Livita contains 72 calories, 16.5g of sugar, and plenty of B vitamins, like vitamins B1 and B12. Livita does contain caffeine, but its amount isn’t stated on the bottle.
Livita is also available in 8.5 fl.oz cans and offers four other flavors, among which are a carbonated version and a rare pineapple flavor called Livita Ex.
If you would like a more detailed look at the ingredients of Livita, check out the article I wrote on the caffeine and ingredients in Livita Energy Drink for an in-depth look at what they do.
Red Bull
Well-recognized in almost every country, Red Bull is very popular in Malaysia and sold in many supermarkets and stores at an affordable price.
An 8.4fl.oz can of Red Bull has 110 calories, 80mg of caffeine, and 27g of sugar, along with a handful of taurine and vitamin B12 for good measure.
Red Bull also offers an extensive variety of fruity flavors to suit your preferences, which is a plus, particularly if you like switching between flavors.
While the Original flavor is good, Sugarfree Red Bull, their sugar-free version, offers the same benefits without the extra sugar, which definitely makes it the healthier option.
If you want to read more about Red Bull and how well it works, check out my Red Bull Energy Drink review article for my take on it.
Power Root
If you’re interested in homegrown brands, Power Root is a good place to start.
Every 8.5fl.oz can of Power Root contains 179 calories, 30.3g of sugars, and lots of beneficial ingredients like Tongkat Ali, ginseng, and lysine.
The amount of caffeine within this drink isn’t stated, but it’s mentioned in the ingredients list on the can. As the sugar content of Power Root is quite high, be sure to consume it in moderation.
Power Root also offers three other flavors, each with its own natural ingredients and benefits, which is a bonus if you want more from the local energy drink scene.
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
Still looking for an affordable sugar-free energy drink? I’ve got you covered.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that is available in light and fits 4g sachets. With a reasonable 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is totally sugar-free and has just 11 calories for every serving.
Plus, REIZE contains a smart blend of beneficial ingredients like ginseng, taurine, and B-group vitamins that combine together to provide you with a smooth energy boost without the dreadful sugar crashes.
The best part is that REIZE ships to your home for only around $1 per sachet, which is exceptional value for money.
Give REIZE a try, and you might find that it’s perfect for your daily energy needs.