Full Disclosure: 5-Hour Energy works!
5-Hour Energy is a nifty drink to have when you need to push through mentally demanding tasks or stay up all night to study for an important exam.
5-Hour Energy is infused with 200 mg of caffeine and a proprietary energy blend in a tiny 1.93 fl. oz bottle. The combination results in a powerful energy boost that works immediately and effectively.
It provides a large boost of energy thanks to its higher-than-average 200 mg of caffeine that can last you 3-5 hours.
Keep reading to find out how effective is 5-Hour Energy!
5 Hour Energy Nutrition Facts
First things first, let’s take a look at 5-Hour’s nutritional information:
| 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?
Each shot of 5-Hour Energy contains just 4 calories, which is only a minuscule amount towards your total daily calorie intake.
Compared to other popular energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster, 5 Hour Energy is light on the calories, with only a tiny fraction of the calories from most energy drinks in each shot.
As a guide, the daily calorie limit for healthy adults is between 2000 to 2400 calories for women and 2400 to 3000 calories for men.
In other words, having a shot of 5-Hour Energy won’t affect your overall daily diet. That should spare you the worry of 5 disrupting your calorie count!
However, it’s important to remember that 5-Hour Energy isn’t a beverage you’ll want to have on a daily basis since it’s very high in caffeine.
If you still feel that 4 calories is too much, you can check out the best zero-calorie energy drinks article I wrote for some great recommendations.
Ingredients In 5-Hour Energy
Here’s a list of the ingredients in a 1.93 fl. oz of 5 Hour Energy Shots:
- 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
What Does 5-Hour Energy Feel Like?
After drinking 5-Hour Energy, you will feel energized and more awake.
The boost that you get is mainly from the caffeine.
Caffeine has plenty of benefits when consumed in moderation. It can improve your focus and even enhance your physical performance.
A moderate dose of caffeine can even lift your mood up during exhausting and mentally demanding tasks, thus it’s no surprise that energy shots and energy drinks are so popular.
Are You Supposed To Drink The Whole 5-Hour Energy?
The serving size of 5 Hour is 1.93 fl. oz which technically means the whole bottle but the label suggests drinking half a bottle for moderate energy and a full bottle for maximum energy.
Each 1.93 fl. oz shot of 5-Hour Energy has 200mg of caffeine, which is quite a lot when you take its small liquid volume into account.
My personal caffeine preference is between 50 to 100mg per drink. Depending on the brand, if I have any more than that, I’ll sometimes feel overwhelmed and unable to think straight.
Since 5-Hour Energy is an energy shot, it means you’ll be drinking a large amount of caffeine in a short period of time, which is more than you may be used to with regular energy drinks.
To be honest, I don’t think it’s very wise to down that much caffeine in a couple of gulps, especially if you have a lower caffeine metabolism.
5-Hour Energy may be more suited for you if you regularly drink caffeine and know that your body can tolerate the sudden large influx.
However, even if you have a high caffeine tolerance, you should still stay within the recommended caffeine guidelines.
For reference, the FDA recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of no more than 400mg for healthy adults.
If you have more than that, you might end up with notable side effects like:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Rapid heart rhythm
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
Moreover, having too much caffeine, in the long run, could lead to a caffeine addiction, which leaves you with symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and insomnia.
In short, you should have 5-Hour Energy in moderation and only consume it when it’s absolutely necessary.
How Long Does It Take For 5-Hour Energy To Kick In?
5 Hour Energy will most likely kick in around 15 minutes after drinking it.
With 200mg of caffeine in a small bottle, the effects may present much quicker than with regular energy drinks.
The caffeine from 5-Hour Energy causes a rapid spike in your energy levels which you’ll notice in the form of increased alertness and reduced fatigue.
This effect is rather instant as opposed to regular energy drinks that come in larger volumes, with the effects of caffeine more gradually building up in your system.
5 Hour Energy will last between 2 to 5 hours depending on your caffeine metabolism. You’ll feel the effects start to diminish as time passes because your body begins to eliminate caffeine from your system.
This is why it’s best to drink energy drinks a short time before you need the energy to experience the maximum effects.
For more information about when most energy drinks kick in, check out my other article which covers things in a lot of detail.
Does 5-Hour Energy Actually Work?
5-Hour Energy works!
Essentially, energy shots like 5-Hour Energy work because of the caffeine present, which stimulates your brain and nervous system to become more awake.
After taking a shot, I noticed that I became more awake rather quickly and managed to complete most of my tasks with full attention.
However, towards the end, I did experience some restlessness and had to take a breather before I could continue to focus on my work with a clear head.
Will 5-Hour Energy Help Me Lose Weight?
5 Hour Energy won’t directly help you lose weight but it can provide you with the energy to workout to lose weight.
Though a conventional pre-workout energy drink is probably more fitting if you’re on a weight loss journey, 5-Hour Energy can also help you with your workouts.
Since 5 Hour Energy has a high caffeine content, it’ll definitely benefit your exercise performance and give you the energy to perform longer and with more efficiency.
Besides that, caffeine also increases your metabolism and fat-burning activity, which causes you to easily burn a lot of calories during your workouts.
5-Hour Energy also contains taurine, a type of amino acid. Though it’s not necessarily beneficial for weight loss, it can boost exercise performance and help you to exercise longer.
However, like all caffeinated beverages and caffeine-containing products, you must limit your intake of 5-Hour Energy to avoid any negative repercussions.
Moderation is key, as always!
Is Red Bull Better Than 5-Hour Energy?
Red Bull is quite different from 5-Hour Energy in terms of caffeine, sugar, and calories. So whether Red Bull is better than 5-Hour Energy depends a lot on your caffeine metabolism, preferences, and needs.
| Red Bull (8.4 fl.oz) | 5 Hour Energy (1.93 fl. oz) | |
| Caffeine | 80mg | 200mg |
| Sugar | 27g | 0g |
| Calories | 110 calories | 4 calories |
Red Bull has a much lower caffeine content with only 80mg of caffeine compared to 5 Hour Energy which has 200mg of caffeine.
Red Bull may be more suited for you if you’re new to energy drinks and you’re not sure if you can handle that much caffeine.
Red Bull comes in an 8.4 fl. oz can, allowing you to sip and savor the taste until it’s finished. The energy boost that Red Bull gives you is a bit more mellow and gentle, and while it does cause a spike in energy levels, it isn’t as immediate as 5-Hour Energy.
However, the sugar content in Red Bull is a potential cause of concern. 27g of sugar is no small amount. I think 5-Hour Energy is better health-wise as it’s sugar-free.
Ultimately, it all boils down to your needs and preferences.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing one over the other if it works for you. But as with everything else, you must always consume Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy in moderation, whichever you choose.
Is 5-Hour Energy a placebo?
No, the effects of drinking 5-Hour energy are not a placebo. With its small container but a large quantity of caffeine, the 5-Energy shot will surely give you a boost in energy.
The drink contains 200mg of caffeine in a 1.93oz bottle which means that you will consume a large dose of caffeine very quickly in your body.
Although it is recommended to only drink half the bottle at a time for moderate energy, which for most people is enough.
It’s important to take note of your caffeine metabolism before gulping down on 5-Hour energy. That large amount of concentrated caffeine may do more harm than good for someone with low caffeine tolerance.
Take note as well that people have different caffeine metabolism rates. This means that despite what the name implies, the energy boost might not last the full 5 hours, nevertheless, it will take effect once drunk.
Alternatives to 5-Hour Energy
5 Hour Energy Shots are great when you’re in a hurry and need a quick boost of energy, but it’s not for everyone. Here are a few other awesome energy drink alternatives you can try:
- Celsius
- Red Bull
- Monster
- Bing
- Guru
- Reign
- Mountain Dew Kickstart
- Full Throttle
- Game Fuel
- Xyience
- 3D Energy
- Bang
Powdered energy drinks are also great if you prefer something more versatile and convenient. They’re also usually a lot more affordable too:
- Advocare Spark
- G Fuel
- Zipfizz
- REIZE (my fav)
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
A shot of 5-Hour Energy might be great for a quick energy boost, but how about something that you can customize and enjoy?
REIZE is a great powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets. You can add it to almost any beverage that you like, including sparkling water or juice.
With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is also sugar-free and has just 11 calories per serving.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that combine together to provide you with a smooth energy boost without the dreaded sugar crash afterward.
The best part?
REIZE ships 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 agree that REIZE is the smarter choice than 5 Hour Energy.