Energy drinks are excellent at what they do, which is to give you a boost of energy. They are extremely well-liked by people of all ages and from all over the world. Huge brands dominate the market as a whole.
The ingredient taurine is added to well-known energy drinks as a nervous system depressant that only stimulates the brain.
While it typically doesn’t have negative side effects, it also doesn’t offer many advantages.
Although it claims to have a number of dietary and health advantages, unlike its sugar and caffeine content, these benefits won’t be felt right away by you.
OCA, Jocko Go, Oxyshred, Bai Boost, Baya, Redline Xtreme, Spike Hardcore, Hi Ball, Runa, Bawls, and Brein Fuel are among the energy drinks that don’t contain taurine.
Continue reading to have a detailed knowledge of what taurine is and which energy drinks do not contain taurine.
What Is Taurine?
Foods contain the free-form amino acid taurine, which the body also produces from the amino acid cysteine.
Originally found in the bile of bulls, it is now produced synthetically in large quantities and is also present in food sources like scallops and other seafood.
However, since taurine is produced naturally by the body, all you need is a healthy diet.
It can be found in some parts of the human body, including the muscles, the retina, and the brain. Particularly in the development of the nervous system, it is very significant.
Benefits Of Taurine
Taurine is not a stimulant, despite what some people think. As a nervous system depressant, it can be found in energy drinks. In essence, it aids in muscle and nerve relaxation.
In addition, it might improve your physical performance by allowing glucose to reach your muscles.
This is why it’s popular among weightlifters because it promotes protein synthesis and the growth of large, bulky muscles in this way.
According to some studies, taking taurine supplements may enhance athletic performance.
In addition, one study found that congestive heart failure patients who took taurine supplements three times per day for two weeks had improved exercise tolerance.
Dangers Of Taurine
Taurine shouldn’t be harmful to adults when taken in the recommended dosages. Studies on the effects of taurine on adults have been risk-free. It has even undergone four months of child testing; there have been no side effects reported so far.
However, some people who consumed taurine as a supplement or as an ingredient in a product experienced side effects.
Its possible negative effects include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Liver pain
- Headache
- Stomach pain
Additionally, the negative effects of taurine are somewhat comparable to those of a caffeine overdose.
There is a very slim chance that you will consume more taurine than 6g. But just in case, it would act as a cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitor if you tried to experiment or if you were taking medication.
This substance may have unintended negative effects that might conflict with your medication.
Taurine In Energy Drinks
Taurine isn’t a stimulant like caffeine, despite the widespread belief that it is.
The ingredient, which is added to popular energy drinks as a nervous system depressant and only has a stimulating effect on the brain, actually has the opposite effect.
Taurine inhibits the neurotransmitter receptors in your brain that cause excitatory effects when you ingest it. In other words, it aids in your ability to relax.
In fact, taurine works similarly to the well-known GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter that calms the central nervous system.
Caffeine And Taurine
Caffeine stimulates your nervous system more effectively and makes you more alert. Taurine, on the other hand, can support fatigue management and muscle repair more.
So I guess you’ll find taurine to be much better than caffeine if you care more about your muscles than a little bit of alertness.
Caffeine and taurine each have their own functions, so there isn’t much that they have in common, in my opinion.
According to some studies, combining taurine and caffeine enhances mental function.
The efficacy of taurine in an energy drink, however, was disproved by a Red Bull study. It claims that only caffeine alone offers the boost and other advantages that taurine and caffeine should both provide.
Let’s look at the caffeine content of some famous energy drinks.
| Energy Drink | mg of Caffeine |
| Red Bull | 111 mg |
| Bang | 300 mg |
| Monster Energy | 160 mg |
| C4 | 200 mg |
| 5-Hour Energy | 200 mg |
| NOS | 260 mg |
| Reign | 300 mg |
| Xyience | 88 mg |
| Celsius | 200 mg |
| Rockstar | 160 mg |
Daily Recommended Intake Of Taurine
You may take as much as you want. You probably take in more or less 400 mg of taurine daily without even realizing it, in my opinion; that might sound like too much, but it’s not.
In fact, according to this study, you can consume up to 3 grams or 3000 milligrams of taurine each day without experiencing any adverse effects.
However, according to EFSA, you could even take 6g or 6000mg per day.
So, limit your intake of energy drinks to just one per day. The occasional consumption of energy drinks is unlikely to have negative effects on your kidney.
More than two carbonated sodas or energy drinks per day, according to some studies, may increase your risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Energy Drinks Without Taurine
Taurine is more of a muscle relaxant than a stimulant, so its absence from energy drinks won’t have a significant impact if caffeine is present.
An energy drink should contain caffeine because it is essential to the body’s regulation of how much energy is produced.
Let’s examine the following energy beverages without taurine:
- OCA
- Jocko Go
- Bai Boost
- Baya
- Redline Xtreme
- Spike Hardcore
- Hi Ball
- Runa
- Bawls
- Brein Fuel
- Rowdy
Spike Hardcore
Spike Hardcore belongs to the group of energy drinks that contain significant amounts of caffeine and other stimulants.
The beverage’s absence of both sugar and carbohydrates makes it the ideal choice for athletes and eSports fans who are sensitive to sugar.
Due to the high caffeine content—each serving contains between 10 and 15 calories and 350mg of caffeine—it truly is hardcore.
OCA
The energy in OCA, one of the few plant-based energy drinks, comes from tapioca, an extract of cassava root. However, OCA only uses natural ingredients, even though caffeine comes from plants.
Each serving contains 120mg of natural caffeine, 60 calories, and 9 grams of sugar. Despite being an energy drink made entirely of natural ingredients, OCA lacks the essential vitamins that most energy drinks contain.
Runa Clean
A clean and healthy source of energy is the main goal of the energy drink Runa Clean Energy. As a healthier substitute for sugary, artificially flavored energy drinks, it markets itself as such.
Runa Clean Energy boosts focus, clears the mind, and provides sustainable energy using carbonated water, organic Amazon guayusa, citric acid, and natural flavors.
While a 355ml can have 150mg of caffeine, this beverage has 10 calories, 16g of sugar, and 105mg of caffeine.
Hi-Ball
Hi-Ball Energy is a pioneer in creating energy drinks for consumers who care about their health. Hi-Ball Energy is a stimulating energy drink while also being refreshing.
Hi-Ball Energy’s formula is free of preservatives, sugar, and calories. Guarana, ginseng extract, and 160 mg of natural caffeine provide an energy boost.
Redline Xtreme
Redline Xtreme is a potent, quick-acting, ready-to-drink energy supplement.
It has 300mg of anhydrous caffeine and no added sugar. It contains B vitamins, a proprietary blend, and an electrolyte matrix.
Baya
The company’s first foray into the energy drink market has seen Starbucks officially launch a brand-new line of beverages in the US.
It introduced the Mango Guava, Raspberry Lime, and Pineapple Passionfruit flavors of the Starbucks Baya energy drink line.
In comparison, a 12-ounce Starbucks black coffee has 193mg of caffeine and only four calories while offering 160 mg of caffeine and about 90 calories.
Jocko Go
Numerous energy drinks are available, but today we’ll focus on the Jocko Go line. I initially thought of Jocko Go as a distinctive and healthy energy drink.
Jocko Go has 15 calories, no sugar, 95mg of caffeine, and ingredients like Bacopa and Alpha-GPC that are good for you.
Bawls
It can be challenging to maintain energy, focus, and attention throughout the day, but Bawls energy drink can help.
Bawls has 102mg of caffeine in a 16 fl. oz. can, making it a moderately caffeinated energy drink.
Bai Boost
Since 2016, Bai Boost has been a member of the Dr. Pepper family. It is a caffeinated beverage with fruit flavors and added vitamins.
The main ingredients in a single can of Bai Boost are erythritol, citric acid, coffee and tea extract, natural flavors, and 110mg of caffeine.
Brein Fuel
The energy and fitness supplement Brein Fuel contains caffeine as well as other ingredients to support mental and physical performance.
The Brein Fuel energy drink contains 360mg of caffeine, along with numerous vitamins, minerals, and amino acids as an added bonus. It also provides 4 energizing flavors for you to enjoy.
Rowdy
The specially formulated Rowdy energy drink will give you an immediate energy boost. It can replenish your depleted energy right away.
This caffeine-filled beverage also has 18g of sugar, electrolytes, amino acids, and vital minerals. All of these nutrients are contained in a single 473 ml can.
Conclusion
- The large family of amino acids includes taurine. It can be found in some parts of the human body, including the muscles, the retina, and the brain. Particularly in the nervous system’s development, taurine is very significant.
- The combination of caffeine and taurine found in energy drinks enhances cognitive function. Further study is required, and this finding—as well as the inclusion of taurine in energy drinks—remains debatable.
- Although taurine is generally safe in all doses, its inclusion in energy drinks makes it dangerous because of the other ingredients present, so its intake should be restricted.
- Numerous energy drinks, including well-known brands like Hi Ball, Runa, Baya, Oxyshred, and others, are taurine-free.