A healthy vegan diet does not excuse you from drinking energy drinks. Still, you should carefully read the ingredients label of your favorite brand to see if it contains any animal-derived ingredients.
A typical 16-ounce can of Bucked Up Energy contains 300 milligrams of caffeine, zero calories, and no sugar. You’ll also get the essential nutrients that are present in almost every energy drink and supplement. But is this energy drink truly vegan, or is it merely a marketing ploy?
Bucked Up is not vegan-friendly. With the exception of deer antler velvet, none of the ingredients in Bucked Up are derived from animals, rendering the drink non-vegan. Deer antler velvet is commonly used to improve strength and endurance as well as rapid recovery.
Continue reading to learn why the inclusion of this ingredient violates the tenets of veganism.
What does vegan mean?
A vegan or plant-based diet excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs.
When followed correctly, vegan diets can be highly nutritious, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and promote weight loss.
Vegan diets are high in nutrients and low in saturated fat. A healthy diet, according to research, can improve heart health, prevent cancer, and lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
People who eat only plant-based foods, on the other hand, should be more aware of how to obtain certain minerals found in omnivorous diets, such as iron, calcium, and vitamin B-12.
Is Bucked Up Energy Drink vegan?
While the ingredient may benefit athletes, deer antler velvet renders Bucked Up inedible to vegans, primarily due to ethical concerns.
This means that if you are a vegan, you will be unable to consume Bucked Up. It is not derived from animal meat or a byproduct such as milk but rather from the body of a deer.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of great vegan energy drink options out there for you!.
Nutrition facts of Bucked Up Energy Drink
This is a list of the nutrients found in Bucked Up. You can see this on the back of the can if you have one in your hands right now.
| Content | Serving per 1 can | Recommended Amount |
| Calories | 0 | 1600-2400 |
| Total Fat | 0g | 44g-77g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g | 10% or less of your daily calories |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 300mg |
| Sodium | 0g | 2300mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 21-25g |
| Total Sugar | 0g | 30g |
| Added Sugar | 0g | 30g |
| Protein | 0g | 0.8g of your weight |
| Vitamin D | 0mcg | 10-20mcg |
| Calcium | 0mcg | 2500mg |
| Iron | 0mg | 17-20mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 25mg | 1.3mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 500mcg | 2.4mcg |
Based on this nutritional information, you can conclude that Bucked Up is more of a pre-workout supplement than a nutritious drink. Although this product contains no fillers, each dose contains 300mg of caffeine.
It does contain vitamins B6 and B12, which can help you focus and stay energized while studying, playing video games, or working out. This beverage is best consumed in the mornings before a workout because it contains no added sugar or salt.
What’s there in a single serving of Bucked Up?
The ingredients of Bucked Up Energy Drink have been given below.
| Name of the Ingredients | Functions | Is It Vegan? |
| Carbonated Water | It makes the water bubbly and gives it a tangy flavor | Vegan |
| Natural Flavors | Add tastes and colors to food. | Maybe |
| Malic Acid | Used as a flavoring agent to impart a tart flavor to food | Vegan |
| Beta-Alanine | It is used to produce carnosine, which aids in exercise performance. | Maybe |
| Taurine | Suffering from heart failure may benefit from it as well, as it lowers blood pressure and calms the nervous system. | Maybe |
| Caffeine Anhydrous | Provide people with a sense of alertness and energy. | Vegan |
| Sucralose | Commonly used as a sugar substitute. | Maybe |
| Acesulfame Potassium | Artificial sweetener that is highly versatile and is used in a wide variety of foods and beverages | Vegan |
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservatives are added to some sodas, packaged foodstuffs, and personal care products to prolong shelf life. | Vegan |
| Acetyl L-Tyrosine | They are primarily applied in regulating mood, sleep, and blood pressure. | Vegan |
| Theanine | Reduces stress and anxiety in people encountering stressful situations. | Vegan |
| Deer Antler Velvet | Used in foods as a performance enhancer (not proven). | Not Vegan |
| Korean Red Ginseng | believed it could boost memory and improve the immunity system. | Vegan |
| AlphaSize® | It serves as a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and supports the configuration of cell membranes. | Not Sure |
| Alpha GPC | It benefits your cognitive health by improving memory, understanding, and focus. | Vegan |
| Methylliberine (as Dynamine™) | Have an impressive array of advantages, including enhanced energy, mood, and focus. | Not Sure |
| Theacrine (as TeaCrine®) | Stimulates the central nervous system at higher doses and decreases the major nervous procedure at lower doses. | Vegan |
| Huperzine-A | It is used to treat depression, schizophrenia, and a variety of other disorders. | Vegan |
The beefed-up ingredients will pique your interest, given the purpose of an energy drink. While there are no fillers in this product, it does contain 300mg of caffeine per dose and a non-vegan component.
Beta-alanine and taurine are also present, aiding muscle growth and pumping. Because it contains no added sugar or salt, it is best to drink it first thing in the morning before working out.
Caffeine Content of Bucked Up
Bucked Up contains 300 milligrams of caffeine per 16-ounce can.
Most energy drinks contain 50 to 250 mg of caffeine, making Bucked Up a caffeine powerhouse.
This amount is typically found in pre-workout beverages designed for people who have a demanding training program, such as bodybuilding.
Because of the caffeine, Bucked Up is not for everyone. Keep in mind that everyone’s caffeine tolerance varies, so even a tiny amount of caffeine can be too much for you.
Furthermore, this research has recommended a daily caffeine limit of 400 mg. Although Bucked Up is still under this limit, you may be getting caffeine from other sources throughout the day.
Caffeine can also be found in chocolates and supplements, in addition to energy drinks and other beverages.
Caffeine overdose can result in a few health issues, such as
- Seizures
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle tremors
- Irregular heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
- Mood Swings
I have added a youtube video about caffeine for your benefit.
Deer Antler Velvet (Non-Vegan Ingredient)
The soft, fluffy hair that protects the bone and cartilage of newly formed antlers that haven’t yet calcified or hardened is known as deer antler velvet.
Deer antlers are unique in that they are among the animal kingdom’s fastest-growing bones. Deer and elk shed and regenerate their antlers every year.
Deer velvet contains the female sex hormones estrone and estradiol, among other things. It also contains substances that may help with cell growth and function.
IGF-1, also known as “insulin-like growth factor 1,” is a growth hormone found in the velvet of deer antlers.
Due to the properties of rapid cell-building power, it is used in energy drinks such as Bucked Up to support athletic performance by increasing energy levels, providing strength, and supporting the increase of eyesight and muscle improvement, as well as reliably boosting endurance and muscle regeneration.
It provides the following advantages to the human body:
- Boost strength and endurance
- Improve the functioning of the immune system
- Promote rapid recovery from an illness
- Treat asthma, indigestion, blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
- Protect liver from toxins
- Stimulate the circulation of blood
- Increase the production of red blood cells
- Increase the level of estrogen and testosterone
Is Deer Antler Velvet bad for you?
Deer Antler Velvet is not dangerous to your health.
Deer antler velvet is another traditional Chinese medicine staple that improves strength, endurance, and healing.
It’s so good that the NFL and PGA have banned it for giving some athletes an unfair advantage, owing to the presence of the prohibited drug IGF-1. IGF-1 has a few minor side effects, including headaches and the possibility of cancer.
Professional leagues and agencies, on the other hand, eventually removed deer antler velvet from their list of prohibited items.
What is Beta-Alanine?
Beta-alanine is an amino acid that aids in the prevention of lactic acid buildup in muscles.
High-intensity exercise raises hydrogen ions, causing fatigue and impairing performance by increasing acidity in the muscle (lowering muscle pH).
Carnosine (which is made up of amino acids and beta-alanine) modulates muscle acidity (pH), increases fatigue resistance, and may improve training capacity and performance by “soaking” up hydrogen ions.
The benefits of Beta-Alanine have been provided below.
- Muscle endurance has improved.
- Advantages of Antioxidants
- After-workout body stabilization
Is there taurine in Bucked Up Energy Drink?
Bucked Up contains 100 milligrams of taurine, which may help you improve your endurance and mental cognition.
Taurine is frequently misunderstood as a stimulant in the same way that caffeine is. This, however, is not the case. The chemical stimulates the brain by acting as a nervous system depressant.
Taurine may also help mitigate coffee’s adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.
The benefits of taurine are given below.
- It shields the eyes.
- It aids in muscle relaxation.
- Improves exercise performance
Alternatives to Bucked Up Energy Drink
If you don’t like the taste or effects of Bucked Up Energy, here are some alternatives.
Redline Xtreme Energy
Redline Xtreme Energy has the same amount of caffeine as Bucked Up Energy but is less expensive. This beverage can also be used as a pre-workout supplement.
A single bottle costs $2.70. Other nutrients include Vitamin C, electrolytes, and calcium. It is not only beneficial to your workout, but it can also help your hydration and skin.
Maw Energy Drink
A scoop of MAW Energy can provide you with hours of concentration and energy. Because it contains a moderate amount of caffeine, it is an excellent energy drink for gaming and working out.
Furthermore, it contains L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine, and B Vitamins, which may provide your body with an extra boost that it does not always have. However, because it is a powdered energy drink, you should double-check the scoops.
Each scoop contains 100mg of natural caffeine with no added sugar. If you stick to a scoop per serving, a tub of Maw Energy can make 60 servings. A tub will set you back only $35.
REIZE (The Best)
And we’ve arrived at REIZE, my favorite brand!
REIZE contains only 50 mg of caffeine, but it provides a substantial energy boost that will get you going without the risk of side effects.
Furthermore, it contains Taurine, Ginseng, and B-Vitamins, all of which are intended to improve your physical and mental performance. As if that weren’t enough, REIZE is also sugar-free and only has 11 calories, making it ideal for any diet.
What I also like about REIZE is that it comes in convenient 4g sachets that you can take with you wherever you go! Make a fresh glass of REIZE whenever your body needs a pick-me-up.
You can get REIZE for around $1 per sachet and have your orders shipped right to your door.
Other Notable Mentions
Final Verdict
- The presence of red deer antler velvet in Bucked Up energy drinks makes it not suitable for vegans to consume. It has a good mix of performance-enhancing vitamins and nutrients.
- It’s worth noting, however, that Bucked Up contains 300 mg of caffeine, which I believe is excessive. Most people would feel energized with just 100 mg. Consider how pumped you’d feel after taking 300 milligrams.
As a result, I would only recommend Bucked Up to people who regularly exercise and have a high caffeine tolerance.
I have added a few benefits of Bucked Up below.
- Provides energy before exercise
- Suitable for people who are on a strict diet