5 Hour Energy Shots give you all the energy in a fraction of the drinking time, which is pretty good when you’re in a hurry and don’t want to crack open a full can of energy drink.
But is it safe to drink a 5 Hour Energy every day or only when you really need one?
You can definitely have a 5 Hour Energy Shot every day if you think you’ll benefit from it, but any more than that might lead to some noticeable side-effects like palpitations, insomnia, and headaches. The drink contains no sugar or carbs, so you won’t have to worry about your weight.
For a more detailed look, read on to find out everything you need to know about 5 Hour Energy, from its nutrition facts to ingredients, and just how many shots you can have in a day.
Let’s get started…
5 Hour Energy Nutrition Facts
For starters, let’s take a look at 5 Hour Energy’s nutrition facts and see what we’re working with:
| Standard Value | 5 Hour Shots (1.93 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 4 calories |
| Protein | 0g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 0g (0g) |
| Sodium | 15mg |
| Potassium | 15mg |
| Caffeine | 200mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 30mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 50mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 500μg |
| Choline | 2mg |
How Many Calories Are In 5 Hour Energy?
Every 1.93 fl.oz of 5 Hour Energy has only 4 calories, which is a relatively small amount.
For reference, your standard 8.4 fl.oz can of Red Bull has 110 calories, while a 16 fl.oz can of Monster Energy has 210 calories. So, a 5 Hour Energy definitely has a lot fewer calories than many energy drinks.
Having only 4 calories, you can definitely add 5 Hour Energy into your meal plans and not worry too much about your overall calorie intake.
As a reminder, the recommended daily caloric intake for healthy adults ranges from around 2000 to 2400 calories for women and 2400 to 3000 calories for men.
Too many calories a day can lead to weight gain and other side effects. So if you like energy drinks but not their calories, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best zero-calorie energy drinks.
5 Hour Energy Ingredients
Here’s a quick list of the ingredients in 5 Hour Energy, with further details below.
- Purified Water
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Sucralose
- Potassium Sorbate
- Sodium Benzoate
- EDTA
- Taurine
- Glucuronic Acid
- Malic Acid
- N-Actyel L-Tyrosine
- L-Phenylalanine
- Caffeine
- Citicoline
5 Hour Energy Caffeine Content
Each 1.93 fl.oz shot of 5 Hour Energy has 200mg of caffeine.
5 Hour Energy has quite a bit of caffeine, especially considering its relatively small serving size.
For example, a 12 fl.oz can of Celsius also has 200mg of caffeine, which translates to 16.67mg of caffeine per fl.oz.
Meanwhile, 5 Hour Energy has 103.6mg of caffeine per fl.oz, which is very concentrated.
Personally, I prefer somewhere between 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving for my caffeinated drinks. I find that just enough to give me a nice boost, but not so much that I might get a headache afterward.
200mg of caffeine is a lot more than what I usually prefer, but if you have the caffeine metabolism for it, a shot of 5 Hour Energy will definitely keep you focused and awake.
Just note that you’re downing all that caffeine in a short amount of time, unlike a standard energy drink. So, even if you think you’re used to caffeine, you might not be able to handle having the entire 200mg dose in one single go.
For your reference, the FDA also recommends you limit your daily caffeine intake to a maximum of 400mg as any more might lead to a caffeine overdose, leading to notable side effects, namely:
- Insomnia
- Anxiousness
- Increased Heart Rate
- Digestive Issues
- Nausea
- Headaches
In any case, as long as you moderate your 5 Hour Energy Drink consumption, you shouldn’t experience any severe side effects due to having too much caffeine.
Is There Sugar in 5 Hour Energy?
5 Hour Energy is completely sugar-free. Instead of regular sugar, 5 Hour Energy uses artificial sugars which helps to avoid many of the pitfalls of other sugar-filled energy drinks.
Being sugar-free, 5 Hour Energy won’t give you a sugar-induced crash like many other energy drinks, which is great if you plan to have a late-night cram session or are simply trying to stay awake for a few extra hours.
On top of that, you also get to avoid the many sugar-related side effects that sugary energy drinks can have, and it’s overall a lot healthier to reduce your sugar intake whenever you can.
Of course, there’s only so much enjoyment you can get out of a 1.93 fl.oz 5 Hour Energy, so if you’re looking for regular sugar-free energy drinks or simply energy drinks with less sugar, check out either of these other articles that I’ve also written.
Are There Artificial Sweeteners in 5 Hour Energy?
While free of sugar, 5 Hour Energy does contain artificial sweeteners, namely sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Considering that 5 Hour Energy consists mostly of caffeine, it’s no surprise that there are artificial sweeteners present to try and improve the taste (well, emphasis on the word try).
Both sucralose and acesulfame potassium are zero-calorie sweeteners, so they won’t have any effect on 5 Hour Energy’s calorie or nutritional value, which is definitely a good thing.
While controversies around artificial sweeteners are always present, the FDA has approved them for general use, so we can assume that they’re safe.
So, as long as you’re not consuming too many products with artificial sweeteners, you should be alright.
Does 5 Hour Energy Work?
5 Hour Energy does indeed work like a charm, although, depending on your metabolism, you probably won’t get the full 5 hours’ worth of energy that’s advertised.
Without a doubt, 5 Hour Energy’s potent mix of caffeine and other ingredients will certainly keep you awake, even if you don’t feel like you’ve gotten much energy from it.
Plus, with all that caffeine, you might also see an improvement in your cognitive ability while the effects last.
Of course, if you happen to be caffeine-sensitive or aren’t so used to having that much caffeine in such a short amount of time, you may be more sensitive to the possible side effects of the drink.
5 Hour Energy is definitely more of a panic button option rather than a drink you sip and enjoy, so I would advise you to have it only when you really need it and have something else on the other occasions.
For another view on how 5 Hour Energy works, take a look at the video below:
How Many Shots of 5 Hour Energy Can I Have a Day?
| 5 Hour Energy (1.93 fl.oz) | Daily Max Limit (Female/Male) | |
| Calories | 4 calories | 2400 calories/3000 calories |
| Sugar | 0g | 25g / 36g |
| Caffeine | 200mg | 400mg |
I personally recommend that you only have one serving of 5 Hour Energy per day, although you can technically have a maximum of two if you really need the boost.
If we’re going by the advertising, a 5 Hour of Energy will last you 5 hours, so unless you plan on staying up until 3 am, you probably only need one shot of 5 Hour Energy to get over an energy slump during the day.
Of course, given the daily recommended caffeine limit is 400mg in a day, you can technically have two 5 Hour Energy Shots if you really need them, but you have to be sure not to have any other caffeinated beverages on the same day.
Coffee, tea, sodas and even chocolate all contain caffeine.
In any case, be sure to check your caffeine sensitivity, and try not to have too many 5 Hour Energy Shots in a day, even if you think you really need it.
Should You Drink 5 Hour Energy Every Day?
Personally, I think that 5 Hour Energy isn’t something you should have every day, and it’s more of a drink that you have when you really need it.
While you certainly can have a shot of 5 Hour Energy every day, it’s probably not that great for your body to be constantly metabolizing 200mg of caffeine in such a short amount of time.
Besides that, 5 Hour Energy has a pretty small fluid content, so it’s not the most hydrating or enjoyable product to have; you’re definitely meant to drink it down as quickly as possible.
Of course, it’s pretty convenient to have a 5 Hour Energy instead of a usual 16 fl.oz can of energy drink if you’re pressed for time, so it does win points in that regard.
In any case, it’s really up to you and if you think the effects of 5 Hour Energy are worth it for you.
As with any caffeinated beverage, moderation is key, so watch your daily caffeine intake, and enjoy 5 Hour Energy (or at the very least its effects), responsibly.
5 Hour Energy Flavors
5 Hour Energy Shots have a pretty fair variety of flavors. Here are a few of them:
- Berry
- Blue Raspberry
- Cherry
- Cool Mint
- Grape
- Lemonade Tea
- Orange
- Peach Mango
- Pink Lemonade
- Pomegranate
- Raspberry Tea
5 Hour Energy Alternatives
If 5 Hour Energy Shots don’t sound like they’re up to your alley, here are some other regular energy drinks you might enjoy instead:
- Celsius
- Bang
- Monster
- Reign
- Rockstar
- Red Bull
- C4 Energy
- Game Fuel
- Adrenaline Shoc
- 3D Energy
- Full Throttle
- NOS Energy
There are also some awesome powdered options such as:
- Advocare Spark
- Zipfizz
- REIZE (my favorite)
Powdered energy drinks are more convenient, and versatile and they’re also usually much more affordable than their ready-to-drink counterparts.
REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)
5 Hour Energy may have all you need in a compact package, but how about an energy drink that’s even more portable than that?
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in a convenient 4g sachet. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, it’s completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, which work together to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterward.
Best of all, you can get REIZE shipped right to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s amazing value for money.
Try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll soon agree that it’s a smarter option than 5 Hour Energy.
Other Articles:
- 5 Hour Energy Shot Review
- Best Energy Drinks with Less Sugar
- Strongest Energy Drinks Ranked
- Caffeine Pills (How do they compare to energy drinks?)