When Monster Energy Drink hit the shelves in 2002, it quickly emerged as a drink of choice for people who are looking for a flavorful drink and sizeable energy boost.
However, the drink’s popularity has made people wonder whether its contents can be addictive, especially compared to other brands in the market with relatively lower sugar and caffeine content.
In this article, I will discuss why Monster can be addictive and how you can avoid caffeine dependence.
Relying on energy drinks to cope with stress or anxiety, is one of the common reasons for a person to develop caffeine addiction. There is a difference between simply enjoying the energy because of how it stimulates you and how it tastes, and taking it regularly without fail.
Moreover, excessive and repetitive consumption of energy drinks can develop and raise your tolerance level. This leads to you wanting more energy drinks for it to take effect in your body.
How Much Caffeine Does Monster Energy Drink Have?
A 16-ounce can of Monster Energy drink contains 160 mg of caffeine.
The brand’s caffeine content is higher than average, which means it will give you a noticeable energy boost. But you also have to be careful because excessive caffeine consumption can lead to side effects like addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
The table below shows the comparison of caffeine contents per can between Monster Energy and some of the most popular energy drinks in the world.
Energy Drink Brand
fl. oz
Caffeine Content
Monster Energy Drink
16
160 mg
3D Energy Drink
16
200 mg
*Celsius Energy Drink
12
200 mg
Red Bull
8. 46
80 mg
OK Energy Drink
8. 45
80 mg
**REIZE
8.46
50 mg
Caffeine contents are based on the labels printed by the manufacturers.
Monster Energy Drink Ingredients
The drink contains high amounts of sugar and other additives, including B vitamins, amino acids (e.g., taurine), and herbal stimulants such as guarana.
Below is a more comprehensive list of Monster Energy Drink’s Ingredients.
Monster Energy Drink is known for its wide range of flavors. Think of any typical energy drink flavor in your mind, and I’ll bet you a dollar that Monster has it.
Regular Monster
Rehab
Ultra
Juice
Punch
Java
Muscle
Hydro
Espresso
X-Presso
Mutant
M-100
Maxx
Is Monster Energy Drink Bad for Your Brain?
When consumed moderately, Monster Energy is not bad for your brain function.
In fact, caffeine stimulates our brain to fire on all cylinders, making sure that we’re alert and able to concentrate. It binds adenosine receptors in our nervous system so that we won’t feel fatigued.
The problem is when people get used to taking high amounts of caffeine per day. While its effects can be refreshing, too much of a good thing can bring negative effects to your body.
What Happens If You Consume Monster Energy Drink Daily?
Increased intake of caffeine can also lead to elevated blood pressure.
Side effects of daily consumption of energy drinks vary depending on your tolerance. However, a daily intake of more than 400 mg can trigger restlessness, elevated heartbeat, and insomnia in most people.
Moreover, increased intake of these drinks can also lead to:
What Are The Long-term Effects of Drinking Monster Energy Drink?
Long-term consumption of Monster Energy Drinks may affect your body’s metabolism, cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and weight since energy drinks contain a high amount of sugar.
Energy drinks, in general, could also lead to addiction to more potent stimulants, particularly after you stop drinking energy drinks and suffer caffeine withdrawals.
This is why it’s important to keep your energy drink consumption in moderation. Energy drinks’ primary role is to provide an energy boost, and oftentimes that can be unhealthy for our bodies.
What Makes Monster Energy Drink So Addictive?
The culprit is caffeine, which enhances and fortifies dopamine signals in the brain.
Energy drink ingredients vary significantly from brand to brand, but caffeine is one of the key ingredients in all energy drinks, including Monster.
The high caffeine and sugar content of energy drinks nudges your brain to release more dopamine when drinking. When you make it a habit, you can build up a tolerance and you’ll be craving more and more caffeine in the long run.
As mentioned earlier, Monster contains higher-than-average caffeine and sugar, so when consuming this particular brand, it’s best to always be careful.
How Do I Stop Energy Drink Addiction?
Reducing your energy drink consumption gradually until you can stop drinking altogether can help you with your problem. While it takes longer, this strategy can help you avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Moreover, the simplest way to beat energy drink addiction is to switch to other safer alternatives such as coffee (preferably decaf), herbal teas, or plain water.
For more details, check out my article on effective ways to quit caffeine. At the end of the day, your health is the priority no matter the benefits you enjoy from energy drinks.
Monster Energy Drink Alternatives
Now that you’re aware of the potential side effects of Monster, you may be wondering if you should just quit caffeine altogether.
Don’t worry, there is still hope!
Here are some energy drink alternatives you may want to try!
Monster Energy Zero Ultra
If you’ve tried Monster’s energy drinks and thought they were a tad too sweet, you might want to try the Monster Energy Zero Ultra.
The sugar-free drink contains only 5 calories, so you get that signature Monster Energy taste without the potential side effects. There is no sugar and only five calories in this drink, so it’s more like sparkling soda than a can of energy drink.
Reign
If you’re looking for an affordable energy pack, look no further. Reign Total Body Fuel may be the answer to your problem. This drink contains a whopping 300 mg of natural caffeine.
It is sugar-free, has no artificial flavors or colors, and has only ten calories per sachet. You can also choose from a wide selection of flavors.
Guru
Guru contains 100 mg of caffeine and 80 calories, which is not bad at all considering that all its ingredients are naturally derived such as green tea leaf extract and echinacea.
It’s definitely milder than most energy drinks, so if you’re looking to take it easy, Guru is a great choice.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
REIZE Energy Drink
With only 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is at the top of our list. You don’t have to worry about potential side effects or developing caffeine addiction. Furthermore, it’s well below the recommended daily caffeine limit, so you can safely consume more than one REIZE packet per day.
What REIZE can give you is a solid and unadulterated energy boost that will keep you going throughout the day. Ingredients like ginseng, B vitamins, and taurine, have been added to further improve your performance.
REIZE comes in 4g sachets that are very convenient to carry around. Just add water and you can enjoy REIZE no matter where you are.
And have I mentioned the price? For only around $1 you’ll get all these benefits and the delicious goodness of REIZE. You can have it shipped right to your door!
That’s outstanding value for money.
Try REIZE today and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a smarter choice than Monster.
Bottomline
Monster is a popular energy drink because of its high caffeine content which can give consumers a strong energy boost. However, it’s because of its caffeine component that excessive consumption of these can quickly take a turn for the worse and increase the risk of several adverse effects.
All energy drinks contain caffeine, and therefore also carry the risk of caffeine dependence and withdrawal. However, Monster’s higher-than-average caffeine content can make you more susceptible to caffeine addiction in the long run.
If you plan to drink Monster regularly, make sure to explore possible benefits and drawbacks and consult your doctor for medical advice, especially if you have preexisting medical conditions.
The best thing to do is to err on the side of caution. Know your body’s limits and enjoy Monster without going overboard.
