Due to the presence of caffeine and taurine in them, some of the well-known energy drink brands that I suggest for people who want a significant energy boost are Red Bull and Monster.
Since coffee and energy drinks are frequently consumed first thing in the morning, for some people it can be challenging to do so.
However, if you’re trying to stay fit and healthy, excessive consumption of both, caffeine and taurine might be a cause for concern.
A biologically occurring amino acid with sulfur is taurine. Your heart, muscles, eyes, brain, and eyes are particularly concentrated with it and it has been proven to enhance athletic routines. Some of the energy drinks that have taurine are Rockstar, NOS, AMP, and REIZE.
Keep reading to know more about taurine and the energy drinks that contain it.
What Is Taurine?
An amino acid called taurine, which contains sulfur, is crucial for cardiovascular health as well as the growth and operation of the brain, retina, and skeletal muscle. Taurine is not concerned with protein synthesis.
The liver produces a small amount of taurine through the metabolism of cysteine (which is derived from the essential amino acid methionine).
Additionally, some foods like beef and dark meat poultry can provide it directly, but shellfish like scallops and mussels provide most of it.
It is regarded as a nutrient with conditional essentiality. The typical adult does not need to be concerned about overt symptoms of taurine deficiency because it can be produced by the body.
According to its constant presence in the body, taurine serves a variety of physiological purposes, including:
- Osmoregulation
- Endoplasmic reticulum stress
- Cell membrane stabilization
- Conjugation of bile acids
- Calcium homeostasis
- Energy metabolism
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions
Benefits Of Taurine
Taurine has attracted attention primarily due to its potential advantages over cardiovascular risk factors and athletic performance.
The ability of taurine to treat heart failure patients’ symptoms, as shown by an improvement in cardiac output and stroke volume, sparked research to see if it had any additional cardioprotective effects.
Taurine appears to be more effective in people who already have prehypertension or hypertension, according to more recent research, which also shows that it modestly lowers blood pressure.
Additionally, taurine may lower levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol.
Side Effects Of Taurine
Taurine supplementation has not been associated with severe negative effects.
The longest human trial lasted 12 months and used a dose of 0.5-1.5 grams per day, with the highest dose used in a human trial being 10 grams per day for 6 months.
According to the evidence that is currently available, up to 3 grams per day can be consumed without running the risk of experiencing negative side effects.
Taurine Recommended Amount
A range of 1-6 grams per day has been used in studies for various purposes. The most popular blood pressure-lowering regimen involves taking three doses of 0.5 grams each, totaling 1.5 grams per day.
Taurine should be taken 60–120 minutes prior to exercise to achieve peak bioavailability for athletic performance. It’s also important to remember that taking taurine regularly does not guarantee performance advantages.
Participants in studies that used taurine supplements to speed up recovery had to take them multiple days before and after exercise.
Other Ingredients In An Energy Drink
Energy drinks that contain taurine typically have heightened sugar content as well. A high-sugar diet is harmful to your health.
The majority of energy drinks also have a lot of caffeine in them. As a result, drinking too many energy drinks can make you drowsy from the caffeine.
Let’s have a detailed look at each of the aforementioned ingredients.
Caffeine
Although the amounts can vary, the majority of energy drinks have 100–300 milligrams of caffeine per serving. For the majority of adults, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is regarded as safe.
The health effects of caffeine vary from person to person and are dose-dependent. It has been demonstrated to enhance alertness, reaction time, concentration, and vigilance.
Additionally, it can lessen the negative effects of lack of sleep. Its consumption is linked to a lower risk of gout, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and alcoholic cirrhosis.
However, the consumption of caffeine is also linked to anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and panic attacks. Anxiety disorders may make people more vulnerable to these effects.
Overdosing caffeine, which is defined as consuming more than 400 milligrams per day, can result in palpitations, tremors, agitation, and digestive upset.
An increased risk of other addictive behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, is also linked to heavy caffeine use.
Sugar
The top sources of foods and beverages in the American diet contain sugar, which has both positive and negative effects on health.
Men should consume no more than 36 grams of sugar daily, while women should consume no more than 25 grams, according to this study.
It is harmful to consume too much sugar, especially added sugar. There is a study that states that excessive added sugars contribute to type 2 diabetes, accelerated aging, and dental decay.
Dr. Hu and his colleagues discovered a connection between a high-sugar diet and a higher risk of dying from heart disease in a study published in 2014 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Energy Drinks With Taurine
Taurine acts as an essential ingredient of an energy drink.
It may improve exercise performance in some individuals, despite the paucity of research in the field.
In a 2013 study, researchers looked into whether taurine dietary supplements would help trained runners perform better during exercise.
Let’s have a look at the energy drinks which contain taurine.
| Energy Drinks With Taurine | Caffeine | Sugar |
| Redbull | 80mg | 27g |
| Monster | 160mg | 28g |
| Rockstar | 160mg | 0 |
| NOS | 160mg | 27g |
| AMP | 142mg | 58g |
| Full Throttle | 160mg | 55g |
Red Bull
Premium energy drink Red Bull has 37 grams of sugar and 80 milligrams of caffeine per can.
Its revitalizing properties come from the combination of caffeine, sugar, and B vitamins. Red Bull contains additional additives, such as taurine, to enhance mental alertness in addition to its high sugar and caffeine content.
Monster
Nothing is as instantly recognizable as Monster Energy can. With its recognizable logo and a black can that is almost universally associated with energy drinks, Monster Energy is undoubtedly a popular choice for people who are new to the category.
A 16 fl. oz. can of Monster Energy has 54g of sugar and 160mg of caffeine in addition to a few other ingredients like taurine, guarana, and Panax ginseng extract.
Rockstar
Since 2001, Rockstar has been a participant in the energy drink industry. With their 20 years of knowledge, they were able to refine their formula and create a wonderful drink.
A 16-ounce can with 122 calories, 24 grams of sugar, and 160 mg of caffeine, Rockstar Energy provides a potent boost. Along with taurine, it also provides a variety of B vitamins, ginseng, and guarana extracts.
NOS
Since NOS has been around for a while, it has experienced many changes and had competitors come and go, just like us, and has persevered despite everything.
The 210 calories, 54g of sugar, 160mg of caffeine, and their renowned complex 6, which includes healthy ingredients like B vitamins, taurine, and guarana extract, are all found in a 16 fl. oz. can of NOS energy drink.
AMP
Since its introduction more than ten years ago, the beverage has grown in popularity. It was first sold under the Mountain Dew brand name before being renamed AMP.
AMP is made with the same basic flavor formula as regular Mountain Dew and contains a delicious fusion of citrus flavors along with taurine, B vitamins, ginseng, and guarana.
REIZE
My favorite energy beverage is without a doubt REIZE. I value the fact that it comes in a 4g sachet most of all.
It might be inconvenient to have a can in your backpack, especially if you don’t want to carry a bag at all.
Even though it’s small, it’s packed with vitamins, including the B complex, taurine, and ginseng. They are all beneficial for your fitness and health objectives. So, give REIZE a try!
There won’t be any sugar or caffeine crashes during the trip because it has only 50 milligrams of caffeine and no added sugar.
Conclusion
- Overall, famous energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, NOS, AMP, Rockstart, and REIZE contain taurine as their ingredient. It helps enhance athletic performance and improve brain function.
- Although, taurine in excess can lead to harmful effects that should be avoided. Therefore, it’s always safe to have energy drinks in moderation. A can or two a day can usually work fine for you.
- Taurine-containing energy drinks are found to be rich in sugar quantity; however, sugar can be harmful to your health. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other health risks.