Short Answer: Bang Energy Drink is sugar-free.
Bang Energy drinks have been advertised as ‘Potent Brain and Body-Rocking Fuel’, boasting zero sugar and no calories at all.
Yet for a sugar-free energy drink, it still tastes sweet and delicious. What could be Bang’s secret to maintaining the sweetness in their beverages?
If you’re looking for a quick answer, the answer is that there isn’t any sugar in Bang.
But if you’re curious as to what makes Bang sweet or if sugar-free energy drinks are good for you, read on as I dive into the details…
Does a can of Bang Energy drink contain any sugar?
Bang Energy is sugar-free.
Let’s take a look at the ingredients to prove our claim.
Every 16 fl. oz can of Bang energy drink has the following ingredients:
- 300mg caffeine
- 0 calories
- 0g total fat
- 0mg cholesterol
- 40mg sodium
- 85mg potassium
- 0g total carbohydrates
- 0g total sugars
- 0g protein
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium
- Niacin
- Vitamin B12
It also contains trace amounts of:
- Carbonated water
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Caffeine Anhydrous
- Sodium benzoate
- Potassium sorbate
- Potassium citrate monohydrate
- Acesulfame potassium
- Sucralose
- Natural flavours
- L-Leucine
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Magnesium chloride
- SUPER CREATINE (Creatyl-L-Leucine)
- L-Isoleucine
- L-valine
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium disodium EDTA
Just by going through this list, we know that a can of Bang energy drink indeed contains no sugar. But Bang does contain artificial sweeteners, which are sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
How much sugar is in a can of Bang energy drink?
If you check the nutritional label on the back of a can of Bang, you’ll see that it contains 0g of sugar. This means that it’s sugar-free.
However, you’ll find that Bang still tastes sweet despite being labelled sugar-free because it contains artificial sweeteners, namely sucralose and acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame K or ace-K).
Is drinking sugar-free energy drinks bad?
Sugar-free energy drinks aren’t bad for you when taken in moderation. In fact, they’re a healthier option if you’re looking to reduce your sugar intake.
Sugar-free energy drinks are great alternatives that’ll give you an energy boost without experiencing an unpleasant sugar crash.
Also, if you’re concerned about consuming too much sugar in your diet or if you’re a diabetic, switching to sugar-free energy drinks might be fitting.
Remember to discuss this with your doctor first before making a decision.
What do Bang energy drinks used in place of sugar?
Bang Energy use the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium in place of sugar. The amount of artificial sweeteners in a can of Bang isn’t stated.
Sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium are used as sugar substitutes to give Bang Energy a sweet taste that’s similar to sugar without the extra calories and side effects.
To understand why sucralose and acesulfame potassium are in Bang energy drinks, you’ll have to know what these artificial sweeteners are good for.
Sucralose
According to the FDA, sucralose is approved as a non-nutritive sweetener that can be used in foods and drinks. The common brand name for sucralose-based products that you’ll find available in the market is Splenda.
Sucralose is estimated to be 400 – 700 times sweeter compared to sugar. Furthermore, sucralose by itself supposedly only contains few or zero calories, but a packet of Splenda which contains glucose and maltodextrin, causes its calorie content to amount to 3.36 calories per gram.
Sucralose is used in reduced sugar/calorie foods like powdered drink mixes, ice cream, yogurt, and baked goods so the taste of these products isn’t compromised.
For beverages, you can find sucralose in fruit juices, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, coffee, and alcoholic drinks.
Acesulfame Potassium
Acesulfame potassium is also known as acesulfame K or ace-K. Another non-nutritive sweetener is typically sold under the brand names Sunett and Sweet One.
Acesulfame potassium is calorie-free and is around 200 times sweeter than sugar. But at high concentrations, it has a bitter aftertaste and is usually combined with other sweeteners.
As acesulfame potassium tastes sweet and has zero calories, it’s commonly used in reduced sugar/calorie food products like energy drinks, baked goods, dairy products, and sodas.
Benefits of Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium
The benefits of sucralose and acesulfame potassium are that both contain zero sugar and calories, so you won’t have to worry about consuming a lot of sugar or gaining weight.
Plus, both sweeteners taste delicious, making the experience of drinking Bang enjoyable.
Unlike sugar, sucralose and acesulfame potassium aren’t carbohydrate and usually won’t raise blood sugar levels.
Though, if you have diabetes, I advise seeing your physician or dietitian first before taking any sugar substitutes.
But you shouldn’t depend on artificial sweeteners to cut down on your sugar intake. It’ll be better if you reduced the amount of sugary food and beverages in your diet instead.
Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are also suitable as ingredients in food and drinks as they won’t cause tooth decay and cavities. But like most things we eat, it’s best to consume food and drinks containing artificial sweeteners only in moderate quantities.
Side Effects of Artificial Sweeteners
As much as these artificial sweeteners seem beneficial, in the long term, however, they may do more harm than good. Some side effects include increased blood sugar levels, increased cravings, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Both sucralose and acesulfame potassium are said to have little to no effect on blood sugar or insulin levels. However, some studies proved that this probably depends on you and whether you consume sweeteners regularly or not.
A 2013 study reported that sucralose raised blood sugar levels by 14% and insulin levels by 20% in obese people who didn’t regularly consume sweeteners.
You might also get hungrier and crave sugary foods after consuming artificial sweeteners. Some studies have discovered that artificial sweeteners may increase appetite and cravings for sugary foods.
That’ll make you want to eat more sugary foods, which will add to your calorie intake and probably cause weight gain.
However, other studies found that after replacing sugary food and beverages with artificially sweetened alternatives, the participants were less hungry and consumed fewer calories than before.
In the long term, the consumption of artificial sweeteners could lead to the potential risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. One particular study found that a high intake of diet sodas increased the risk for type 2 diabetes by 121%.
Are artificial sweeteners in Bang good for weight loss?
In my opinion, the artificial sweeteners in Bang can be good for weight loss if you consume them in moderate quantities. Though, I do believe that it depends on the individual.
There’ve been conflicting reports about whether artificially sweetened alternatives could help with weight loss. Some studies found that artificial sweeteners were linked to weight gain, but several other studies showed contrasting results.
A study performed on 21 participants found that the weight of the participants who consumed artificially sweetened alternatives decreased as they consumed fewer calories.
If you ask me, artificial sweeteners are good alternatives to sugar if you want to take the first step in reducing your sugar intake.
Ultimately the best way would be to cut down completely on sugar and artificial sweeteners and practice healthier eating habits.
What energy drinks have a lot of sugar?
There are a number of energy drinks that contain a lot of sugar.
The American Heart Association proposes the following intake of sugar:
- Men can take up 36g of sugar or 150 calories in a day.
- Women can take up 25g of sugar or 100 calories in a day.
List of energy drinks that contain a large amount of sugar:
| Energy Drink Brand | Sugar content (g) |
| Monster | 54 |
| NOS | 53 |
| Rockstar | 31 |
| Red Bull | 27 |
| Mountain Dew Kickstart | 20 |
Are Bang Energy Drinks Unhealthy?
If consumed in moderation, Bang Energy may not be unhealthy at all.
However, it is important that you do not overindulge in Bang or any other energy drink to avoid its detrimental side effects. Overconsumption of energy drinks can potentially lead to serious health conditions.
On the other hand, if you’re just looking to get that quick boost, Bang Energy is an “okay” energy drink to consume. It works and can certainly keep you energised for a little while.
Do Bang Energy Drinks raise blood sugar?
As Bang Energy is sugar-free, we can assume that it won’t raise blood sugar.
Still, it uses the artificial sweeteners acesulfame potassium and sucralose which can potentially create blood sugar spikes.
It is wise to consult your doctor before consuming Bang Energy especially when you’re diabetic.
For recommendations on the best energy drinks for diabetics, check my article here.
Other sugar-free energy drink options like Bang
There are many other sugar-free energy drink brands like Bang, such as:
- Monster Energy Zero Ultra (a sugar-free version of Monster)
- Red Bull Sugarfree
- XS Energy drink
- Xyience Energy drink
- Celsius Energy drink
- Advocare Spark energy drink
- MatchaBar Hustle Unsweetened energy drink
- REIZE
Alternatives to Bang Energy Drinks
REIZE
Let me tell you about my favourite energy drink, REIZE.
If you’re watching your weight or reducing your sugar intake, you’ll be glad to know that REIZE is both sugar-free and low in calories, with every sachet containing only 11 calories.
REIZE also has 50mg of caffeine, a sensible amount, mixed together with a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that’ll provide you with a much-needed energy boost without leading to any side effects or crashes.
What I like most about REIZE is its versatility. You can mix REIZE with any beverage you want, whether it’s coffee, tea, juice, or water. REIZE is also convenient to carry around as it comes in 4g sachets.
The best part is that REIZE only costs around $1 per drink, including SHIPPING costs. That’s great value for money right there.
Give REIZE a try and you might agree with me that it’s the perfect sugar-free energy drink and a smarter choice than Bang.