If you’re looking for a pre-workout that’d provide an explosive boost, you certainly can’t get it wrong with C4 Energy. This sugar-free, caffeinated beverage, along with other helpful ingredients, will give you enough energy to go on for several hours with unwavering focus.
But what exactly goes into a can of C4 Energy drink anyway?
C4 Energy has a wide variety of sugar-free flavors that contain zero calories as well as a range of 120mg to 300mg of caffeine, along with an assortment of performance-boosting ingredients. C4’s ingredients are designed to improve your body strength and stamina as well as enhance your thermogenesis.
To know how nutritionally viable C4 Energy Drink is for you, read on for a detailed discussion of its ingredients to whether it’s healthy for you or not.
But, if you’re more interested to know whether C4 Energy works or not, check out my C4 Energy Drink review for my experience with it.
C4 Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
C4 Energy has four series under the brand, with each having different nutritional facts and ingredients:
| Standard Values | C4 “Original” Carbonated (16 fl.oz) | C4 “Smart Energy” Carbonated (16 fl.oz) | C4 “Ultimate” Carbonated (16 fl.oz) | C4 “Energy Natural Zero” Carbonated (12 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 0 calories | 0 calories | 0 calories | 0 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | Unspecified | 0g |
| Fat (Of Which Saturated) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Sodium | Unspecified | 0mg | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| Caffeine | 200mg | 200mg | 300mg | 120mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 30mg | 30mg | 60mg | – |
| Vitamin B6 | – | – | 1mg | – |
| Vitamin B9 | – | – | 500μg | – |
| Vitamin B12 | 6μg | 6μg | 70μg | – |
| Potassium | 85mg | – | 110mg | – |
How Many Calories Are In C4 Energy Drink?
All of the series under C4 Energy are calorie-free.
Considering that the recommended daily calorie intake is between 2000 calories to 2500 calories (depending on your age, gender, and other factors), C4 Energy being calorie-free would mean your overall diet won’t be affected.
Compared to high-calorie energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster, C4 Energy is certainly one of the healthier energy drinks out there.
That said, since C4 Energy lacks any calories, most of your energy would come from its caffeine content.
You must also remember that C4 Energy shouldn’t be a substitute for your meals, so if you’re feeling peckish, you should grab something nutritious to eat first before heading down to the gym.
If you’re interested to find more calorie-free energy drinks like C4 Energy, check out my article on the best zero-calorie energy drinks for some great options.
C4 Energy Drink Ingredients
C4 “Original” Carbonated
Each 16 fl.oz can of C4 Original Carbonated drink contains the following ingredients:
- 0 calories
- 0g total carbohydrates
- 0g total sugar
- 30mg niacin (as niacinamide)
- 6mcg vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin)
- 85mg potassium
The beverage is made of 6.73g of Explosive Performance Energy Blend that contains:
- Caffeine anhydrous (200mg)
- CarnoSyn Beta-alanine
- Beta power Betaine Anhydrous
- N-acetyl-l-tyrosine
- Citrulline malate
The drink has trace amounts of these ingredients:
- Carbonated water
- Citric Acid
- Natural flavors
- Artificial flavors
- Potassium sorbate
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Acesulfame potassium (artificial sweetener)
C4 “Smart Energy” Carbonated
Each can of 16 fl.oz C4 Smart Energy Carbonated drink contains:
- 200mg caffeine
- 0 calories
- 0g total fat
- 0g total carbohydrate
- 0g total sugar
- 0g protein
- 0mg sodium
- 30mg niacin
- 6mcg vitamin B12
Other ingredients in the drink include:
- Carbonated water
- Malic acid
- Citric acid
- Cognizin citicoline
- Potassium benzoate
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- InnovaTea green tea leaf extract
- Acesulfame potassium
- Natural flavors
- N-acetyl-l-tyrosine
- Sodium citrate
The drink doesn’t contain artificial colors, or dyes.
C4 “Ultimate” Carbonated
Every can of 16 fl.oz C4 Ultimate Carbonated drink has the following:
- 0 calories
- 0g total carbohydrates
- 0g total sugars
- 1g taurine
- 500mcg folic acid
- 110mg potassium
- 70mcg vitamin B12
- 1mg vitamin B6
- 60mg niacin
- 3.2g CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine
- 2g Beta power Betaine Anhydrous
- 6g Citrulline malate
- 1g Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate
The drink contains 708g C4 Ultimate Energy and Focus Blend that consists of:
- 300mg caffeine anhydrous
- N-acetyl-l-tyrosine
- Alphasize A-GPC (Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline)
- Zembrin (Sceletium Tortuosum) aerial parts extract
- Rauwoflia Vomitoria root extract
- Huperzine A (from toothed Clubmoss/Huperzia Serrata aerial parts extract)
There are also trace amounts of:
- Water
- Potassium sorbate
- Natural flavors
- Artificial flavors
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Acesulfame potassium (artificial sweetener)
- FD&C Yellow #6 (permitted food coloring by FDA)
*These ingredients are based upon the C4 Tropical Blast flavor.
C4 “Energy Natural Zero” Carbonated
A single can of 12 fl.oz drink C4 Energy Natural Zero Carbonated drink has:
- 0 calories
- 120mg natural caffeine from CoffeeBerry
- 0g total carbohydrates
- 0g total sugars
- 0g total fat
- 0g protein
- 250mg cognizin citicoline
- 1g taurine
- 0.5g tyrosine
Also contain trace amounts of:
- Carbonated water
- Natural flavors
- Malic acid
- Citric acid
- Stevia leaf extract
- Coffeeberry energy fruit extract
There seems to be no artificial dyes, colors, or preservatives to be found in this drink.
How Much Caffeine Does C4 Energy Drink Have?
C4 Energy drinks have between 120mg to 300mg of caffeine per serving, depending on the series you go for.
The caffeine content of C4 Energy drinks ranges from moderate to high based on the series under the brand.
Given that energy drinks can contain between 50mg to 300mg of caffeine per serve, the caffeine within C4 Energy drinks is pretty common for the sizes of the beverages the brand offers.
Since C4 Energy has a diverse range of caffeine, you can easily choose the variety that suits your caffeine tolerance.
Personally, my preferred caffeine range is between 50mg to 100mg per drink, as I find that amount supplies me with a smooth energy boost without the pesky jitters or headaches.
With that much caffeine in each serving of C4 Energy, you can expect an improvement in performance, as caffeine can help you perform better mentally and physically.
That said, caffeine should be consumed at a tolerable level. The FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 400mg for healthy adults. Any more than that, and you may end up with unpleasant effects:
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Rapid heart rate
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues
- Muscle breakdown
- High blood pressure
Hence, be sure to have C4 Energy in moderation and consume caffeinated beverages within the recommended daily limit to stay on the safe side.
Is C4 Energy Drink Sugar-Free?
C4 Energy drink is completely sugar-free but does contain artificial sweeteners to provide the sweetness often found in energy drinks.
The artificial sweeteners found in C4 Energy drinks are sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and stevia leaf extract.
Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are zero-calorie sweeteners that improve the flavors of food products without the inclusion of extra calories or sugar.
If you’re skeptical about these sweeteners, you’ll be glad to know that they’re safe for use and consumption as approved by the FDA.
As for stevia leaf extract, it’s basically made from a highly refined stevia leaf extract that was blended with other sweeteners like dextrose.
Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener and doesn’t leave an impact on your daily calorie intake, though it’s still advisable to avoid having too much of it.
While these sweeteners seem beneficial for weight loss, you shouldn’t include them in all of your meals, as their long-term side effects remain inconclusive.
If you would much rather do without artificial sweeteners, take a look at the article I’ve written on all-natural energy drinks, for some notably healthier alternatives.
C4 Energy Drink B Vitamin Content
From boosting metabolism to creating new blood cells, B vitamins play a vital role in making sure all of your body’s functions work smoothly and properly.
C4 Energy drinks have three types of B-group vitamins, namely vitamin B3, B6, and B12.
I’ve listed the kind of B vitamins found in C4 Energy drinks, their purpose and tolerable upper intake limit in an easy-to-read table below:
| Types of B Vitamins | Purpose | Tolerable Upper Intake Level |
| Vitamin B3 (niacin) | Helps the body release energy; keeps the skin healthy. | 35mg |
| Vitamin B6 | Store energy from protein and carbohydrates; formation of red blood cells. | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | Release energy from food; structures red blood cells; retains the nervous system sound. | – |
For a more in-depth discussion on the benefits of B vitamins, you can check out Harvard’s article on the subject.
Is C4 Energy Drink Healthy?
C4 Energy can be healthy or unhealthy for you depending on your intake.
Before we can determine whether C4 Energy is healthy or not, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of C4 Energy.
C4 Energy has a pretty diverse caffeine range, along with being calorie-free and sugar-free. If you’re on a diet or trying to shed some pounds, C4 Energy would be great for you.
Besides, C4 Energy contains lots of beneficial ingredients, including natural ones, like InnovaTea green tea leaf extract and citrulline malate, which will help give you an edge in performance.
Plus, this brand also has a wide selection of flavors with different caffeine content and ingredients that cater to varying energy needs.
C4 Energy has everything you need if you’re trying to increase your mental concentration and workout performance and want a little more variety.
As for the cons, the caffeine present in C4 Energy can be too much if you’re caffeine-sensitive. Aside from that, there are a ton of ingredients in C4 Energy drinks that might not that healthy for you.
Furthermore, with C4 Energy’s high caffeine content, you can’t have too many cans of it either as it could lead to potential negative effects.
All in all, it really depends on your caffeine metabolism and consumption of C4 Energy drinks. As long as you keep your C4 Energy drink intake in moderate amounts, you’ll be okay.
I also recommend having a healthy and balanced lifestyle if you really intend to stay healthy.
What Are The Side Effects Of C4 Energy Drink?
There are several potential side effects from drinking C4 Energy, from minor to major, depending on how much you consume and the frequency of your intake:
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Shaking
- Irritability
- Fatigue and sugar crashes
- Stomach Irritation
- Headaches
- Caffeine addiction
- Dehydration and weakness
- Poor dental health
- Kidney stones
- Respiratory problems
- Miscarriage
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
- Allergic reactions
- Caffeine overdose
- Niacin overdose
- Risk-seeking behavior
Therefore, be sure to consume C4 Energy and other energy drinks as well in moderation.
Alternatives To C4 Energy Drink
If you’re interested in finding awesome alternatives to C4 Energy, here’s a quick list to get you started:
You might also want to consider powdered energy drinks as they’re more flexible, convenient, and affordable:
- G Fuel
- Zipfizz
- Advocare Spark
- REIZE (my go-to beverage)
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
REIZE is great for every occasion and all energy needs.
If you think that C4 Energy’s high caffeine content isn’t doing it for you, how about giving REIZE a try?
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that can be found in convenient 4g sachets. With a reasonable 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is additionally sugar-free and has just 11 calories for each serving.
Plus, REIZE contains a smart blend of ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that combine together to provide you with a smooth energy boost without any crashes involved.
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 today, and you might find it to be the smarter option than C4 Energy.