Energy shots are fun-sized 2-ounce of concentrated energy drinks. They’ve become popular because of their convenience and the power they pack. After all, who wants to lug big bottles when you can get the same energy boost in a few quick gulps, right?
Not only do energy shots have fewer calories and sugar than your average energy drink, but they also contain around 80mg of caffeine which is guaranteed to energize you.
Interested? In this article, I’ll be doing a deep dive into energy shots and how effective their caffeine content is. Let’s see if they can hold their own against energy drinks!
Ingredients In an Energy Shot
An energy shot is basically an energy drink that has been compressed into a single shot.
Typically, these hyper shots offer the same amount of energy as a single can of energy drink, but without the calories and sugar.
Here are the key components you’ll get from them:
- Caffeine
- Taurine
- Vitamin C
- Niacin
- Vitamin B6
- Folic Acid
- Yerba mate extract
- Garcinia cambogia extract
- Polyphenols
- Riboflavin
How Much Caffeine Is in An Energy Shot?
Energy shots usually contain about 80 mg of caffeine in a typical 50ml bottle. This caffeine level is roughly equal to a cup of coffee.
Like energy drinks, they provide caffeine that can energize you throughout the day. However, energy shots are packaged in much smaller bottles, not glossy cans or sachets.
The caffeine content in energy shots can also vary depending on the brand. Certain energy shots include as little as 50 milligrams of caffeine, while others contain up to 500 milligrams.
Side Effects of Caffeine Overdose
Anxiety and restlessness are just a few of the critical side effects of consuming too much caffeine.
It’s best to restrict your intake to the FDA-approved 400mg or fewer in a day – approximately three to four cups of coffee – and avoid excessive caffeine use. Other adverse effects include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- rapid or irregular heart rhythm
- Muscle Tremors
- Upset Stomach
- High blood pressure
- Bad Sleeping Patterns
How Many Energy Shots Can I Have in A Day?
Two energy shots are the maximum quantity of energy shots you should consume in a day if you want to have them daily.
Taking just 400mg of caffeine per day is safe for an adult who is in good physical and mental condition. It is possible that taking the maximum recommended dose of caffeine-containing substances may result in potentially hazardous consequences.
However, caffeine affects us all differently, so if you’re caffeine-sensitive, I suggest that you start with low-caffeine beverages or consume energy drinks in small amounts only.
Are Energy Shots Bad for You?
Not necessarily! Energy shots are not bad for you if you know how to limit yourself with the servings you take per day.
Being knowledgeable about these matters makes you a healthy consumer.
However, side effects will show up if you have regular, excessive energy shots because it can lead to heart problems and many more illnesses associated with caffeine overdose.
Most experts recommend that minors, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people who are intolerant to caffeine avoid consuming energy shots.
Do Energy Shots Work?
Indeed, it does work by supporting you with the energy you need to get through your day.
Studies show that caffeine in energy shots works by stimulating your central nervous system to make you active, which can also lead to improved concentration in some instances.
Energy shots also contain sugars, and nutrients such as organic extracts, and some also have vitamins such as vitamins B and C. These are all common ingredients found in energy drinks that can enhance your performance.
However, because of the negative consequences of sugar, some energy brands have shifted their focus to diet and sugar-free variants. Similarly, energy shots also use calorie-free artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium and sucralose.
Best Selling Energy Shots
In consideration of these, the following are some of the most popular energy shots, along with their respective caffeine content.
| ENERGY SHOTS | CAFFEINE | REVIEW |
| 5-Hour Energy | 200mg | HIGH |
| Rockstar Energy Shot | 200mg | HIGH |
| Bang Energy Shot | 300mg | VERY HIGH |
5 Hour Energy
5-Hour Energy Shot has 200mg of caffeine, b vitamins, taurine, antioxidants, and amino acids, all condensed in a small 1.93 fl oz bottle.
This energy shot brand, led by a man named Manoj Bhargava, shows no signs of stopping, for they just recently released new flavors and new variants including the Extra Strength and Zero Sugar.
Rockstar Energy Shot
If you’re familiar with Rockstar Energy Drink, then its energy shot variant might pique your interest.
With 200mg of caffeine in a 2.5 fl. oz. bottle, I highly doubt it will not give you the boost in energy you need. Rockstar Energy Shots are available in two flavors – Wild Berry and Tropical Punch.
Bang Energy Shot
With a whopping 300mg of caffeine, Bang Energy Shots has the highest caffeine content on this list.
But Bang is not all about caffeine, it also contains BCAAs, Coenzyme Q10, and trace amounts of b vitamins in every 3 fl oz bottle. I like how it has 7 different fruity flavors that can leave you energized and satisfied for the whole week.
Alternative To Energy Shots
Energy shots may probably not yet be available in your area. If that’s the case, some energy drinks with low caffeine and more vitamins and nutrients might do the job.
Zevia Zero Calorie
Every 12-ounce can of Zevia Energy Drink is calorie-free, sugar-free, and only has 120 milligrams of caffeine.
Zevia also has a range of intense flavors, and the reduced caffeine content will undoubtedly be a plus if you are a caffeine-sensitive individual.
Reign
Even though a 16-ounce can of Reign has no calories or sugar, it includes a high amount of caffeine at 300mg. But it has vitamins and minerals, electrolytes, and BCAAs, making it an excellent choice for anybody who enjoys physical fitness.
Other notable brands:
REIZE (10 out of 10)
REIZE is a remarkable energy drink that can go toe-to-toe with energy shots. It has a reasonable 50mg of caffeine and just 11 calories per serving.
It is a delightful powdered energy drink that comes in 4g sachets, making it simple to carry with you wherever you go or when you need a pick-me-up in the morning. Also, REIZE is entirely sugar-free so that you won’t have to worry about a sugar crash.
Additionally, REIZE is filled with a unique mix of vegan-friendly substances such as vitamin B, and taurine, that help in giving you a gentle energy boost that doesn’t leave you feeling jittery or groggy afterward.
It can also be taken hot, cold, with juice, or with anything you want. That’s the beauty of having powdered energy drinks.
And for just around $1, you can have all these! You can even have your orders conveniently shipped to your door.
So what are you waiting for? Hurry and grab yourself a REIZE!
Bottomline
Energy shots have substantial amounts of caffeine that can boost your energy and improve your concentration. It contains many of energy drinks’ ingredients and achieves the same effects. The only difference is that energy shots come in much smaller quantities than energy drinks.
But the advantage is that energy shots are very convenient to carry around and consume, and you’ll wind up getting a smaller amount of calories and sugar compared to regular energy drinks too.
However, like energy drinks, energy shots contain caffeine and can cause some nasty side effects too. You may be tempted to try energy shots with more than 500mg of caffeine because of severe exhaustion or because of curiosity. Don’t be fooled by the tiny amount, you can still very much feel the high caffeine content.
Energy shots aren’t always superior to energy drinks, but they are more practical if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to lug about a large container. Since many different types of energy drinks provide essentially the same benefits, choosing one comes down to personal choice.