Amp Energy Drinks is yet another energy drink from the good people at Mountain Dew, with a more general focus in comparison to their gaming-focused Game Fuel Energy Drink.
But the question is, how good is Amp Energy, and should you really be drinking a can of Amp Energy every day?
In short, though it’s perfectly fine for you to have an Amp Energy Drink every once in a while, having one every day adds a lot of sugar to your diet, which isn’t exactly the healthiest thing.
For an in-depth explanation of why I think that’s the case, read on to find out everything you need to know about Amp Energy Drink.
Let’s get into it…
Amp Energy Nutrition Facts
| Typical Values | Amp Energy (16 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 220 calories |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Carbohydrates (Total Sugars) | 58g (58g) |
| Sodium | 140mg |
| Caffeine | 142mg |
| Protein | 0g |
| Vitamin B2 (Ribofolavin) | 0.7mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 4mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | 2mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2µg |
How Much Energy is In Amp Energy?
Each 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy Drink contains 220 calories, which is quite a considerable amount.
For reference, a 16 fl. oz can of Monster has 210 calories, so Amp Energy is definitely pretty high up there on the “energy drinks that can and will affect your diet” list.
As a reminder, the recommended daily caloric intake for healthy adults ranges around from 2000 to 2400 calories for women and 2400 to 3000 calories for men.
As such, a single can of Amp Energy has roughly 1/10 of your daily caloric intake, which, when factoring in meals and other drinks, is a lot of calories coming from a single can.
Too many calories a day can lead to weight gain and other side effects if you don’t actively burn those calories. Hence, it’s probably best that you don’t have too many Amp Energy Drinks.
If you’re looking for energy drinks that don’t have a lot of calories in them, take a look at the best zero-calorie energy drinks article I’ve written, which you’ll definitely find useful.
Amp Energy Ingredients
Here’s a list of Amp Energy Drink ingredients, with a more detailed look at the important ones further below
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Concentrated Orange Juice
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Benzoate
- Sodium Polyphosphates
- Caffeine
- Guarana Seed Extract
- Gum Arabic
- Niacinamide
- Ascorbic Acid (To Protect Flavor)
- Taurine
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
- Riboflavin
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract
- Yellow 5
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Natural Apple Extract
- Cyanocobalamin
Amp Energy Caffeine Content
A regular 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy has 142mg of caffeine.
For comparison, a similarly sized can of Rockstar and Monster both have 160mg of caffeine, so the caffeine content in Amp Energy Drinks is slightly less.
Personally, I prefer to have somewhere between 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving for my energy drinks because it’s enough to give me a nice boost, but not too much that I might get a headache or feel overwhelmed by too much caffeine afterward.
Based on that, Amp Energy has more caffeine than I’m used to, but if you happen to be someone with a high caffeine metabolism, 142mg of caffeine might be right up your alley.
Remember, the FDA approves a caffeine intake limit of no more than 400mg per day. Any more than that might lead to side effects such as:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
So as long as you don’t go over that limit, the caffeine content in most energy drinks (including Amp Energy) shouldn’t really give you any side effects, unless you’re caffeine-sensitive or have too many cans in one go.
Amp Energy Sugar Content
Each 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy Drink has 58g of sugar, which is on the higher end of the most sugary energy drinks spectrum.
For context, 58g of sugar roughly translates to 4 full tablespoons of sugar, which really isn’t something you want to have on a daily basis, especially since we all know how excessive consumption of sugar is bad for your health.
Given that the AHA recommends a daily sugar limit of no more than 25g for women and 36g for men, a single can of Amp Energy definitely goes way over that limit and then some.
Having too much sugar is definitely bad, and some of the more alarming potential consequences include:
- Weight Gain
- Type II Diabetes
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Tooth decay
- Kidney damage
- Acne
- Increased risk of depression
In the short-term, you’re also prone to suffering from a sugar crash, due to the sudden spike and fall in blood sugar levels after having an Amp Energy drink.
In any case, be sure to cut down on your overall sugar intake if you decide to have an Amp Energy drink, and moderate your intake so that you don’t have too many cans a week as well.
Worried about all the sugars in some energy drinks? I’ve written articles on the best low-sugar and zero-calorie energy drinks, which will hopefully be helpful for you.
B-Vitamins in AMP Energy
While it’s advertised on the front of the can, there are actually not a lot of B Vitamins present in Amp Energy in comparison to other energy drinks.
It contains a fairly reasonable amount, but not something utterly nutty like G Fuel having 7000% of the daily recommended Vitamin B12 value.
I’ve listed the relevant B-Vitamins in a table below and click here if you need a more detailed look at B-Vitamins from the Harvard resource.
Purpose | Amp Energy Drink (16 fl. oz) | Tolerable Upper Intake Level | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | Involved with the growth of cells, energy production, and the breakdown of fats etc. | 0.7mg | N/A |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Amp Energy Drink (16 fl. oz) | 4mg | 35mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Breaks down fatty acids and other metabolic functions | 2mg | N/A |
| Vitamin B6 | Store energy from protein and carbohydrates, formation of red blood cells | 0.3mg | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | Release energy from food, forms red blood cells, keeps nervous system healthy | 1.2µg | N/A |
Is Amp Energy Good?
Given the high amount of caffeine and sugar, a can of Amp Energy will definitely get you going when you need it, but again, be aware of the sharp dip in your mood and energy when the sugar crash hits afterward.
Amp Energy Drinks are pretty good in the sense that it certainly gives you a rush when you drink one, with the ingredients combining to form a pretty potent cocktail to elevate your mood and focus for a short period of time.
Plus, all that sugar means that Amp Energy has a pretty good amount of sweetness to it, which, depending on personal taste, might be a good thing.
From a health perspective, however, consistently consuming 58g of sugar will negatively impact your health, no matter the other ingredients present in Amp Energy.
Again, remember that the American Heart Association says that women shouldn’t have any more than 25g of sugar in an entire day and men shouldn’t exceed 36g of sugar from all sources all day.
You can see the problem here when it comes to Amp Energy…
How Many Cans of Amp Energy Can You Have A Day?
| AMP Energy (16 fl.oz) | Daily Max Limit (Female/Male) | |
| Calories | 220 calories | 2400 calories/3000 calories |
| Sugar | 58g | 25g / 36g |
| Caffeine | 142mg | 400mg |
I personally recommend that you only have one can of Amp Energy Drink every other day owing to the high sugar and calorie content of the drink.
It’s not so much Amp Energy’s caffeine content that is the problem (you can have two cans and still be fine in the caffeine department), but the really high amount of sugar in the drink makes it unsuitable for daily drinking in my mind.
Considering that the AHA recommends a max daily limit of 25g to 36g, a single can of Amp Energy goes well over that limit, and having two cans is just a pretty bad idea all around.
In any case, I would reserve Amp Energy as the end-all panic button energy drink you reserve for when you really need it.
So my advice is, to stick with other lower-calorie energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages such as tea or coffee for your daily caffeine hit, and be sure to watch over your health in general.
Can I Drink Amp Energy Every Day?
While you definitely could, it really isn’t great to drink Amp every day over the long run due to the long-term effects of having a lot of sugar in your diet.
Now that’s definitely not to say there aren’t energy drinks out there you can have daily. There are plenty of low-calorie, sugar-free energy drinks on the market which are great for daily consumption.
But Amp Energy is definitely an energy drink you probably shouldn’t be having multiple times a day, or even 5-6 days a week, especially if you live a relatively static lifestyle and aren’t constantly burning calories.
As with all caffeinated beverages, moderation is definitely key, so try not to have too much Amp Energy in a sitting, even if it’s a pretty tasty drink.
For more information on whether you can or should drink energy drinks daily, have a look at the video below:
Amp Energy Drink Alternatives
Looking for energy drinks that are similar to or perhaps even better than Amp Energy? Look no further than the list below:
Powdered energy drinks are usually more affordable than the above ready-to-drink options, and they’re also more convenient and customizable. Check out some of these:
- Gfuel
- Zipfizz
- Advocare Spark
- REIZE (my fav)
REIZE (10 out of 10)
If you want something with a lot less sugar and caffeine to keep your energy levels high throughout the day, REIZE has got you covered.
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, all of which combine to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterward.
On top of that, REIZE ships straight to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s outstanding value for money
Try REIZE today and I’m sure you’ll soon agree that it’s a smarter choice than Amp Energy.
Other Articles:
- Can You Drink Game Fuel Every Day? (Revealed)
- Best energy drink for you (finding the one for you)
- Best Energy Drinks with Less Sugar (Researched)