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AMP Energy Drink Exposed: Separating Fact from Fiction

AMP Energy Drink Exposed: Separating Fact from Fiction

Given the trend towards healthier energy drinks, AMP Energy Drinks, which is brought to you by the same folks as Mountain Dew, might seem a bit old-fashioned, with all the sugar present.

Of course, all that sugar makes AMP a pretty delicious energy drink; add on a healthy serving of caffeine and B-Vitamins, and you got a pretty addictive recipe for a quick sugary energy rush.

But if you’ve clicked on this article, you’re probably wondering just how bad AMP Energy is for you.

For the short answer, AMP Energy Drink isn’t the healthiest energy drink on the market, given its high sugar content and usage of high fructose corn syrup, so moderation is key when it comes to AMP.

For the much longer, detailed answer, read on below where we’ll dive into the nutritional value of AMP Energy Drink, to determine the acceptable amount of AMP Energy Drink for you to have.

Amp Energy Nutrition Facts

Here’s a quick look at the nutritional facts of AMP Energy Drink, which you can find on the back of the can:

Typical ValuesAmp Energy (16 fl.oz)
Energy220 calories
Total Fat0g
Carbohydrates
(Total Sugars)
58g
(58g)
Sodium140mg
Caffeine142mg
Protein0g
Vitamin B2 (Ribofolavin)0.7mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)4mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)2mg
Vitamin B60.3mg
Vitamin B121.2µg
Nutritional value of a can of Amp Energy Drink.
AMP Energy Drink Nutrition Label
Always look at the back of the can!

AMP Energy Drink Calories

Each 16 fl. oz can of Amp Energy has 220 calories, which is definitely quite a bit for an energy drink,

AMP Energy has a pretty hefty amount of calories, having about the same amount of calories as a 16 fl. oz can of Monster (which has 210 calories).

Given that you only really need around 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day (dependent on lifestyle and other factors), a single can of AMP Energy Drink has roughly 1/10th of your daily caloric intake.

As such, having a can of AMP will definitely put a dent in your diet, not to mention most likely ruining your appetite for any actual meals you might have if you happen to drink it too close to your mealtime.

You’d be better off eating an actual meal than drinking AMP Energy Drink since, despite its large caloric content, it lacks some of the key nutrients that a regular meal would provide.

And if you’re relying on exercise to burn off those extra calories from AMP, be aware that you might need up to 30-minutes of exercise time to burn off at least 200 calories.

So if you would like to save yourself some exercise time, I suggest sticking to a lower-calorie energy drink, especially if you plan on having energy drinks daily, and save AMP for occasions when you really need it.

If you need an energy drink that’s a lot lower on calories, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best zero-calorie energy drinks, where I’ve listed some great alternatives.

AMP Energy Drink Ingredients

Here’s a list of Amp Energy Drink ingredients, with a more detailed look at the important ones further below:

  • Carbonated Water
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Citric Acid
  • Concentrated Orange Juice
  • Natural Flavors
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Sodium Polyphosphates
  • Caffeine (142mg)
  • Guarana Seed Extract
  • Gum Arabic
  • Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
  • Ascorbic Acid (To Protect Flavor)
  • Taurine
  • Calcium Disodium EDTA
  • Riboflavin
  • Calcium Pantothenate
  • Panax Ginseng Root Extract
  • Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
  • Cyanocobalamin
A quick look at the ingredients of AMP.

AMP Energy Drink Caffeine Content

A usual can of Amp Energy Drink has 142mg of caffeine per 16 fl.oz, which is only slightly lower than average.

For reference., a similarly sized can of Rockstar and Monster both have 160mg of caffeine, and given that energy drinks can reach up to 300mg of caffeine per serving, AMP seems slightly mild by comparison.

Of course, it’s usually not about so much about the amount of caffeine present in an energy drink, but how well your body can tolerate and utilize it, whether it be keeping you awake or improving reaction times.

For example, I personally prefer my energy drinks to have around 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving, which is enough to give me a decent boost, but not too much that I might start feeling a bit jittery afterward.

Based on that, Amp Energy has more caffeine than I’m used to, but if you happen to be someone with high caffeine metabolism, 142mg of caffeine might be right up your alley.

Remember, the FDA approves a caffeine intake limit of no more than 400mg per day. Any more than that might lead to side effects such as:

  • Insomnia
  • Restlessness
  • Headaches
  • Stomachaches
  • Dizziness
  • Dehydration
  • Anxiety

As long as you don’t go over that limit, the caffeine content in most energy drinks, including Amp Energy, shouldn’t give you any side effects unless you’re caffeine-sensitive or have too many cans in one go.

AMP Energy Drink Sugar Content

Each 16 fl.oz can of Amp Energy Drink has 58g of sugar, which is definitely a lot for an energy drink of its size.

Given that the AHA recommends a daily sugar limit of no more than 25g for women and 36g for men, a single can of Amp Energy definitely goes way over that limit and then some.

Having too much sugar is pretty bad for you, and some of the more alarming potential health consequences include:

  • Weight Gain
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Increased risk of heart disease
  • Tooth decay
  • Kidney damage
  • Acne
  • Increased risk of depression

In the short term, having too much sugar can lead to a sugar crash due to the sudden spike and fall in blood sugar levels.

As such, you’re going to have to weigh out your options of having a quick sugary energy boost against the possibility of you having a hitch in your work output due to the crash you might experience.

Keep your daily intake of sugary meals to a minimum if you intend to have an AMP Energy Drink, and do your best to limit your overall AMP Energy consumption.

AMP Energy Drink and High Fructose Corn Syrup

High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is an artificial sugar and isn’t exactly the healthiest thing you can find in an energy drink.

As a sweetener, HFCS definitely works to improve the taste of AMP, but there are plenty of side effects of having too much HFCS in the long-run, such as:

  • Adding an Unnatural Amount of Fructose to Diet
  • Increasing the risk of fatty liver disease
  • Increasing the risk of obesity
  • Increasing the risk of weight gain
  • Linked to diabetes
  • Contains no essential nutrients.

Given that AMP Energy already has a fairly high amount of sugar, the inclusion of HFCS seems a bit excessive for my tastes.

Fortunately, there isn’t an unsafe amount of HFCS present in a single can of AMP, but if you want to keep your health in check, sticking to having one can every now and then might be the best idea.

And if you would like to find out more about HFCS and how exactly it came to be, have a look a the video!

All the different kinds of sugar add up to your daily sugar intake.

Does AMP Energy Drink Work?

AMP Energy Drinks should definitely work in a pinch, given the moderate amount of caffeine and sugar present in the drink.

While there are plenty of ingredients in AMP Energy Drink that combine to give you energy-boosting goodness, the main ingredients that exhibit this property are definitely caffeine and sugar.

To explain, caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors in your brain, which prevent you from feeling tired and keeps you awake for longer, along with other positive benefits such as improving cognitive function.

As for sugar, it’s both a mood booster and an easy source of energy for your cells to use if you happen to need a quick boost to your blood sugar levels.

Of course, most energy can work perfectly fine without sugar present, although with the downside of containing far more caffeine (Reign and Bang come to mind), as well as the use of artificial sweeteners.

Considering that AMP Energy Drinks have ample amounts of both caffeine and sugar, there’s little doubt that AMP works and tastes pretty good while giving you an energy boost as well.

That being said, just because something works, it doesn’t automatically translate as something good for you. This is the same for AMP Energy Drink as well, as it contains far more sugar than what you should have in a day.

How Many AMP Energy Drinks Should You Have A Day?

NutritionAMP Energy
(16 fl. oz)
Daily Max Limit
(Female/Male)
Calories220 calories2000 calories/2500 calories
Sugar58g25g / 36g
Caffeine142mg400mg
Comparing a serving of AMP Energy against healthy daily limits.

Personally, I recommend that you only have one can of Amp Energy Drink every other day owing to the high sugar and calorie content of the drink.

While you’re not going to run into too many caffeine-related problems with caffeine, it’s the high sugar content that makes it pretty unsuited for daily use in my opinion.

Considering that the AHA recommends a max daily limit of 25g to 36g, a single can of Amp Energy already has 58g of sugar per serving, which is definitely far over the limit.

As such, having more than one can per day is adding an unnecessarily excessive amount of sugar into your diet, not to mention that AMP also contains High-Fructose Corn Syrup, which isn’t a healthy sweetener either.

Therefore, I would reserve Amp Energy as a final resort option; for when you really need a caffeine and sugar rush to keep yourself going for just a little longer when there’s no other option available.

So my advice is better to stick with other lower-calorie energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages such as tea or coffee for your daily caffeine hit and be sure to watch over your health in general.

Is AMP Energy Drink Healthy?

Although energy drinks aren’t exactly known for complementing a healthy diet, AMP Energy does perform a lot poorer in the health department due to the high amount of sugar present.

From a pure health standpoint, nothing out there is healthier than good old water, so energy drinks and carbonated drinks fall short of that ideal.

That being said, AMP Energy Drinks aren’t particularly great for your health, especially if you consistently have one every day, as the sugar content is far too high for even a casual indulgence.

So while AMP Energy may be pretty tasty, there are definitely other energy drinks out there that can do a lot more with a lot less sugar.

And if you’re looking for energy drinks that contain natural ingredients instead of the usual sugar or artificial sweetener dichotomy, have a look at the article here for some notable examples.

AMP Energy Drink Flavors

There are not a lot of flavors of AMP Energy Drink, with only four fairly basic fruity options for you to choose from, so if you’re looking for something fresh and exciting, you’re a little out of luck with AMP.

  • Original Dew
  • Tropical Punch
  • Strawberry Limeade
  • Cherry Blast

AMP Energy Alternatives

If you find that AMP Energy has a bit more sugar than you’d like, here are some alternatives below that might be more suited to your taste:

Also, have a look at some great powdered energy drink options, their easily customizable servings may be a better suit for you if you enjoy fine-tuning your energy drinks to your preferences:

REIZE (10 out of 10)

Sachet of REIZE being poured into a shot glass.
REIZE, the ideal energy drink.

If you prefer an energy drink that’s low in sugar yet high in energy, then I would recommend that you try out REIZE.

REIZE is a brilliant powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, it’s completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.

REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, all of which combine to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterwards.

Best of all, REIZE ships straight to your door for only about $1 per drink, which is outstanding value for money.

So try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a smarter choice than AMP Energy. Drink

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