Top Recommendations: REIZE Energy!
Whether you’re working, gaming, or doing chores at home, you definitely need something to keep your energy levels high to stay on track and complete your tasks.
And what better and quick way to do it than to have an energy drink?
While energy drinks are more often known for work at the office or exercise sessions, you can also have them at home to provide you with a refreshing boost.
Thus, in this article, I’ll be discussing energy drinks for home, from what to look out for to a list of brands that tick all the boxes.
So stick around to find out.
What To Look For In An Energy Drink For Your Home?
Caffeine
The key ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine. It is the ingredient responsible for supplying you with a boost that increases your alertness and wakefulness.
Most energy drinks have a caffeine content that ranges from between 50mg to 300mg depending on the brand.
For comparison, an average cup of coffee has around 95mg of caffeine.
Since you’re at home, you probably wouldn’t need a lot of energy, so you can tone it down with the caffeine a little.
Of course, the amount of caffeine you would need before the effects kick in depends on your caffeine metabolism.
That said, more doesn’t mean better, and the same applies to caffeine.
For guidance, the FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 400mg for healthy adults. Any more than that might lead to adverse effects like:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
To sum up, keep track of how many energy drinks you consume daily, and don’t go overboard on the coffee, tea, energy drink, etc., either, or you risk going over your recommended daily caffeine consumption.
Sugar Content
In moderate amounts, sugar is okay to have once in a while, as it can improve your mood and provide your body with quick and easy energy to work with.
The problem with sugar is that it’s often used excessively and is extremely common in our daily diets, which leads to many health issues like obesity and high blood pressure.
Given that the AHA advises a daily sugar limit of 25g and 36g for women and men respectively, it’s safe to say that you should be going for energy drinks with a much lower sugar content than maintains your health.
Plus, energy drinks with a lower sugar content would make you less prone to sugar crashes and you can spend the day without feeling extremely sluggish or sleepy.
After all, with low-sugar energy drinks, your energy levels will remain high for quite a long time, and you definitely don’t want to pile up on too many calories while you’re at home too.
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are something you might want to consider when you’re picking out a prospective energy drink to enjoy at home.
Crucially, these sweeteners are technically healthier for you than sugar, since they leave no caloric impact on your overall diet.
The most common ones in energy drinks are sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which are artificial sweeteners approved for use and consumption by the FDA.
That said, artificial sweeteners are best consumed in moderate amounts, as they’re often surrounded by many health concerns, especially regarding their potential side effects due to long-term use.
Calories
Calories make up a big part of our daily diet and overall health, as the amount you consume contributes to your energy levels for the day.
For reference, the daily calorie intake is between 2000 to 2400 calories depending on your age, lifestyle, and other factors. Having a sufficient calorie intake can make a huge difference in your well-being.
Considering that you are at home, you wouldn’t need a lot of calories, unless you intend to burn them through exercise.
Thus, low-calorie energy drinks are definitely the way to go since you need to consider other foods and drinks that would contribute to your calorie intake; there are healthier calories available anyway.
If you would like to take it a step further, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best zero-calorie energy drinks for some great calorie-free alternatives.
Can Energy Drinks Improve Concentration?
Energy drinks can certainly improve concentration as well as other cognitive functions.
The caffeine present in energy drinks carries other benefits aside from enhancing physical performance, namely increasing mental performance.
A 2016 study reported that low to moderate dosages of caffeine could improve cognitive functions like alertness, vigilance, attention, and reaction time.
Plus, a review discovered that energy drinks can maintain or enhance mood and performance during mentally demanding tasks.
Of course, there aren’t any fixed doses of caffeine that will definitely improve your concentration. It all boils down to your own caffeine tolerance and settling on a personal tolerable limit.
Additionally, having a higher level of mental concentration while you’re focusing on household chores, work, or studies at home would be extremely helpful and beneficial, as you won’t get distracted easily and complete your tasks in a shorter period of time.
That said, do keep in mind that energy drinks still come with loads of caffeine and sugar that aren’t entirely ideal for a long and healthy lifestyle.
If you would like to know more about how energy drinks may help improve your concentration, take a look at the article I’ve written on the best energy drinks for concentration.
Are Natural Sweeteners Healthier Than Sugar?
The quick answer is, not all the time.
Some natural sweeteners like honey, cane sugar, and fruit juice have the same nutritional value as sugar and often undergo a lot of processing and refining.
Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s completely better, so be mindful of this when you’re going through the ingredients list of a product you’re considering trying.
However, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying energy drinks with natural sweeteners every now and then for personal enjoyment.
If you’re looking for natural sweeteners that give you the sweet taste without the calories, I’ve listed several healthier natural sweeteners below that can be found in energy drinks.
If you need to know more about all-natural energy drinks, have a look at the article I’ve written on all-natural energy drinks for an in-depth guide.
Stevia
Stevia is a non-nutritive sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of stevia plants native to North and South America.
It’s around 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, with the benefit of having zero calories, carbs, and other artificial ingredients in the final product.
In brief, stevia is the nearly-perfect substitute for sugar available in the market and it’s included in numerous natural or organic energy drinks.
Another perk of stevia is that it naturally contains a special ingredient that carries certain benefits, especially in terms of weight control and blood pressure management.
Erythritol
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol, though there isn’t any actual alcohol in erythritol itself.
While erythritol is a type of sweetener, it does have a small number of calories. It’s also generally safe for use and consumption and carries a lot of health benefits.
However, like all foods and drinks, you should consume erythritol in moderation.
Can You Make Energy Drinks At Home?
You can easily make energy drinks at home with powdered energy drinks like Zipfizz, G Fuel, and REIZE.
While canned energy drinks need a trip to the store, powdered energy drinks can be easily made and enjoyed at home.
Powdered energy drinks come in many forms, such as small tubes, tubs, and even pocket-sized sachets. They’re designed to be light, convenient as well, and easy to pack and bring around.
Generally, powdered energy drinks are also healthier since they use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, have fewer calories, and more beneficial ingredients.
They’re also customizable, giving you the flexibility to adjust your drink based on your preferences.
The downside of powdered energy drinks is that they’re usually a tad more expensive, although REIZE is only about $1 per serving, which is very affordable, but more on that later.
Of course, you can make natural energy drinks at home yourself with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices. But, making these will take more effort and time – so why trouble yourself when powdered energy drinks are available for your convenience?
That said, just because powdered energy drinks are slightly healthier than regular energy drinks, that doesn’t mean you can give up water completely.
All in all, as with any energy drink, it’s about finding a good balance in getting a nice boost in the comfort of your home.
How Can I Make My Own Energy Drink?
You can easily make natural energy drinks at home. In fact, you don’t even need to leave the house as everything you need can be found in the kitchen.
I have recently discovered the cherry lemonade energy drink. It is the perfect drink to have before going on a workout or exercise session.
Cherry and lemon juice are a good source of vitamins and minerals. With the recipe that I follow, I also add some coconut water and green tea which are good for balancing electrolytes and sourcing natural caffeine.
Best Energy Drinks To Enjoy At Home
| Energy Drinks | Amount | Caffeine | Sugar | Calories |
| Guru (Original)/ Guru Lite (Sugar-free) | 12 fl. oz | 98mg 100mg | 21g 0g | 80 calories 10 calories |
| Celsius Energy | 12 fl. oz | 200mg | 0g | 10 calories |
| RUNA | 12 fl.oz | 150mg | 2g (organic cane sugar) | 10 calories |
| REIZE | 4g sachet | 50mg | 0g | 11 calories |
In no particular order, here are some great energy drinks that you can enjoy at home whenever you’re itching for a nice and smooth boost.
Celsius
While it was originally formulated as a pre-workout, you can still enjoy Celsius, a sugar-free energy drink with refreshing ingredients.
Each 12fl.oz can of Celsius Energy Drink has 200mg of caffeine, 10 calories, and lots of beneficial ingredients like Vitamin C and electrolytes.
While the caffeine content may be quite high to be enjoyed at home, it would definitely provide you with a nice boost to get you through your list of chores or indoor workouts.
Plus, Celsius offers a wide selection of fruity flavors to suit your taste, which is a bonus, especially if you like switching between flavors.
If you want to know how well Celsius works, I’ve written my take on it in my Celsius Energy Drink Review article.
Guru/Guru Lite
As one of the healthier energy drinks on the market, you may want to have Guru on your radar if you want something light with a decent boost.
Every 8.4fl.oz can of Guru contains 80 calories, 21g of sugar, and 98mg of caffeine derived from green tea and guarana extract.
Plus, Guru is certified USDA-organic, non-GMO, and vegan-friendly.
While the original version is pretty good, Guru Lite, their sugar-free alternative, has the same benefits with only 10 calories, zero artificial sweeteners, and a slightly higher caffeine content of 100mg.
For an in-depth discussion on the organic ingredients in Guru, check out the article I’ve written on the caffeine and ingredients of Guru Energy Drink for a more detailed explanation of what they do.
RUNA
Runa is another good choice if you want something that keeps it low with caffeine and calories.
Made with health in mind, Runa is brewed with organic ingredients like guayusa (caffeine) and cane sugar, topped with a delicious finish that might remind you of chilled tea.
A single 12 fl. oz can of Runa Energy Drink contains 10 calories, 150mg of natural caffeine, and 2g of organic cane sugar.
While RUNA has a higher price than most energy drinks, it’s free of artificial sweeteners and certified USDA-organic, which is perfect for you to enjoy at home without worrying about potential health effects.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
If you’re looking for a tasty and low-calorie energy drink that gives you a decent energy boost, then REIZE could just be the pick-me-up you’re looking for.
Unlike the rest of the beverages in this list, REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in light and convenient 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is also sugar-free and has only 11 calories.
Plus, REIZE contains a smart blend of beneficial ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that work together to supply you with the perfect energy boost without the dreadful sugar crash afterward.
The best part is REIZE ships to your doorstep for only around $1 per sachet, which is great value for money.
Give REIZE a try, and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s the best energy drink to enjoy at home.