Short Answer: Yes, Monster is vegan!
Monster Energy is a well-established energy drink product and is, in fact, the second most popular energy drink brand in the US after Red Bull.
The brand invites you to “unleash the beast” as you pick up a can from its captivating range of flavourful products.
But as appealing as a can of Monster Energy might be, you might be concerned whether drinking it will compromise your vegan diet.
Well, that’s what this post is all about, so please join me as we get into the details to find out if Monster Energy Drink is vegan or not.
Before we proceed though, I’d like to make it clear from the start that we’ll be keeping it simple for this post and limiting our discussion to the regular range of Monster Energy drinks only.
Can I Drink Monster Energy If I’m Vegan?
The short answer here is yes, you can enjoy Monster Energy drink because it is vegan.
The beverage doesn’t contain any animal-based ingredients.
The manufacturer, Monster Beverage Corporation has also stated that ingredients such as taurine and L-carnitine are vegan.
However, please note that the Monster Energy drink hasn’t been vegan-certified.
Despite the absence of animal by-products in Monster Energy, there are still several ingredients in the drink that may raise concerns for some vegans. Hold that thought though. I’ll be addressing these issues in the upcoming sections.
Also worth noting is that there are certain variants of Monster Energy drinks that are clearly not vegan. A good example would be Java Monster as it contains cow’s milk.
But that would be going beyond the scope of this article so I won’t be discussing it any further at this point.
To be on the safe side, I would advise you always to read the ingredients and nutrition information provided on the product label before you purchase any Monster Energy drinks.
It would also be wise to constantly stay up-to-date on the latest news about the Monster brand as well as any science-related discoveries that would affect the vegan status of Monster Energy.
In order to give you a better understanding of where Monster Energy stands in terms of its vegan status, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients list for this popular energy drink.
What Are The Ingredients In Monster Energy Drink?
In a 16 fl. oz (473ml) can of Monster Energy drink, you’ll find:
- 190 calories
- 160mg of caffeine
- 54g carbohydrates
- 54g sugars
- 370mg sodium
- Vitamin B2 / Riboflavin*
- Vitamin B3 / Niacin*
- Vitamin B6 / Pyridoxine*
- Vitamin B12 / Cobalamin*
* 230% of the recommended daily intake
There are also smaller amounts of:
- Carbonated Water
- Sugar
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavours
- Sodium Citrate
- Colour Added
- Sorbic Acid
- Benzoic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Sucralose
- Salt
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Cyanocobalamin
Monster Energy drinks also feature a special energy blend that includes these ingredients:
- Glucose
- Taurine
- Panax ginseng extract
- L-carnitine
- L-tartrate
- Caffeine
- Glucuronolactone
- Vitamin B8 / inositol
- Guarana extract
- Maltodextrin
A quick glance at this list would have shown you that none of the ingredients was derived from animals.
However, please bear with me as we run through the items one by one below as it will help you become more aware of what these ingredients are there for:
| Ingredients | Purpose | Where does it come from commercially? | Is it vegan? |
| Riboflavin (vitamin B2) | increases energy production | bacterial, fungal, or synthetic. | Yes |
| Niacin(Vitamin B3) | convert carbs and fat from food into energy | synthetic | Yes |
| Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) | has a key role in energy metabolism | synthetic | Yes |
| Cobalamin (vitamin B12) | boosts energy levels | bacterial, fungal or synthetic. | Yes |
| Sugar | used as sweetening agent | vegetable | Yes |
| Citric Acid | used as a sweetening agent | vegetable, bacterial, fungal, or mold. | Yes |
| Natural Flavours | used as a flavour additive | plant | Yes |
| Sodium Citrate | acidity regulator, anti-coagulant. | fruits | Yes |
| Colour Added | colour additive | synthetic | Yes |
| Sorbic Acid | mold and yeast inhibitor | synthetic | Yes |
| Benzoic Acid | preservative | synthetic | Yes |
| Niacinamide | support the function of the nervous system. | synthetic | Yes |
| Sucralose | artificial sweetener | synthetic | Yes |
| Salt | replenishes electrolyte loss in the body | mineral | Yes |
| Pyridoxine hydrochloride | maintains healthy red blood cells, nerves, and skin | synthetic | Yes |
| Cyanocobalamin | boosts energy production | fungal, bacterial, or synthetic | Yes |
| Glucose | used as a sweetener, stabilizing agent, texturizer, moisture conditioner, bulking agent, crystallization inhibitor, or fermentation substrate | corn starch | Yes |
| Taurine | enhances physical performance when used in combination with caffeine | usually synthetic | Yes |
| Panax ginseng extract | increases energy, prevents fatigue, relieves stress, promotes memory, and boosts immunity | plant root | Yes |
| L-carnitine | help the body produce energy from fat, speeds up metabolism, increase energy levels, and are thermogenic | bacterial | Yes |
| L-tartrate | increase sports performance and enhance fat loss | synthetic | Yes |
| Caffeine | stimulant | coffee beans, tea leaves | Yes |
| Glucuronolactone | prevents glycogen depletion | usually synthetic | Yes |
| Inositol | help in blood sugar control, boost metabolism, and enhance the ability to focus | usually synthetic | Yes |
| Guarana extract | enhances mental and physical performance | fruit seeds | Yes |
| Maltodextrin | texturizer, sweetener, crystallization inhibitor, fermentation extract, or bulking agent | corn starch | Yes |
So there you have it. From the above list, you can see even more clearly why we are able to conclude that Monster Energy drinks are in fact vegan.
Is The Caffeine Content In Monster Energy Drink Safe?
Yes, the caffeine level in Monster Energy is safe.
You’ll find 160mg of caffeine in a can of Monster Energy. This caffeine is synthetic. In other words, not derived from animals, and therefore, it’s vegan.
That’s actually quite a lot of caffeine though, in my opinion. Personally, I like to limit my caffeine intake to 50mg to 100mg per serving only.
I find that this is just the right quantity I need to enhance my concentration, yet not too overwhelming to the point that it makes me feel hyperactive and gives me a tingling sensation in my hands and feet.
Based on the guidelines given by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you can actually consume up to 400mg of caffeine per day.
Effectively, this means you can afford to drink about two cans of Monster Energy without exceeding your daily limit.
Keep this in mind whenever you reach for a can of Monster Energy because you wouldn’t want to face the side effects of consuming too much caffeine.
Is The Sugar Content In Monster Energy Drink Safe?
The straight answer is a big NO. The caffeine content in Monster Energy is way too much and way past the level of intake as suggested by health experts.
For reference, each 16 fl. oz can of Monster Energy drink contains 54g of sugar. Frankly, that’s a lot of sugar to have in just one drink and it’s definitely not ideal.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has determined that the maximum quantity of sugar that you should take daily is 37.5g for men and 25g for women. Monster Energy’s 54g of sugar is definitely much more than this.
Too much sugar intake may cause a whole lot of health issues including obesity, skin damage, fatigue, and diabetes.
One way to avoid this problem is to opt for the sugar-free, zero-calorie version of Monster instead. Try Monster Energy Ultra!
Alternatively, if you do decide to drink the regular Monster Energy drink, just remember that you’re consuming MORE THAN the recommended sugar intake from all sources in a single can.
Kinda scary...
Are There Any Additives And Preservatives In Monster Energy Drink?
Yes, Monster contains additives and preservatives.
It contains some unnamed additives and preservatives, and this includes food colouring (listed as “colour added” in the ingredients list) and natural flavours.
While artificial colours usually don’t contain any animal by-products in them, some members of the vegan community will want to avoid products with such colouring because it has been tested on animals.
Meanwhile, natural flavours can be obtained from either animal or plant sources, according to FDA regulations. But in the case of Monster Energy drinks, since the company has stated that none of their ingredients contains animal by-products, we can assume that the flavours they have used are vegan.
Does Monster Energy Drink Work?
Yes, Monster Energy Drink does really work.
It’s not surprising that you’ll feel an energy boost given the amount of caffeine, sugar, and other ingredients inside the can.
Indeed, there’s nothing much unique or different about Monster compared to most other energy drinks. You’ll get a good energy boost from just about any drink that contains caffeine.
From personal experience, Monster kicks in around 15 minutes after drinking it and gives you a pretty solid kick for about 90 minutes before energy levels quickly sag and a sugar crash takes over.
That’s why I prefer sugar-free energy drinks. No sugar equals no sugar crash.
How Many Monster Energy Drinks Can I Drink In A Day?
Don’t drink more than one can of Monster Energy a day.
This is so that you can stay well within your daily recommended limits for caffeine and don’t go too crazy on the sugar.
Personally, my advice to you would be to drink Monster Energy moderately and to always be mindful of your personal limits (like your caffeine tolerance level, for instance).
If it suits your diet better, you can consider choosing the sugar-free, zero-calorie Monster Energy Ultra drink instead. That way, you won’t have to worry about consuming as much sugar as you would if you were drinking a regular can of Monster Energy.
You should pay close attention to how your body reacts each time you drink Monster Energy. Stop consuming it if you start experiencing any adverse side effects.
If you’d like to read more about what’s good and/or bad about Monster Energy and how it affects you if you drink it every day, click on this link.
Is Monster Energy Drink Good For Your Health?
Monster Energy drink is good for you in the sense that it increases your level of concentration and alertness, boosts your energy levels, improves your memory, and puts you in a better mood.
It’s an especially useful beverage to have when you are battling fatigue or tiredness in the middle of the day.
Many of the ingredients in Monster Energy drink are meant to complement your health and fitness needs. For example, taurine helps with muscle contractions, lowers cholesterol, regulates your heartbeat, and improves blood flow.
However, it can become a bad thing if you take one too many Monster Energy drinks. Some of the health issues you might face as a result include:
- cardiovascular issues including elevated blood pressure
- obesity
- insomnia and/or poor sleep quality
- stomach discomfort
- dental issues
- anxiety and other mental health problems
- type 2 diabetes
If you’d like to find out more details about the side effects of consuming energy drinks, you might want to check out my other article on this topic.
So whether Monster Energy will have a good or bad impact on your health depends on how much you drink of it and what the rest of your diet looks like.
Remember to exercise caution when you’re drinking Monster and be careful not to have too much of it at a time to avoid the side effects.
Where Can I Buy Monster Energy Drink And How Much Does It Cost?
Given the popularity of Monster Energy drinks in the US, you should be able to grab a can or more from your nearby convenience stores, gyms and fitness centres, or even Walmart or Target.
However, you can also buy Monster Energy drinks online. You may even be able to enjoy some cost savings whenever there are special online promotions going on.
The only downside is that you may end up having to spend extra for shipping charges.
On average, expect to be charged around $3 for a 16 fl. oz can of Monster Energy, but prices vary depending on where you get them.
Alternatives To Monster Energy Drink
If you’re looking for other vegan-friendly energy drink options, here’s a list of alternatives that you can try:
- Pure Bio Energy Drink (100% natural ingredients and certified vegan)
- Coca Cola Energy
- Red Bull
- Rockstar
- REIZE (the best option)
REIZE (10 out of 10)
REIZE is a great alternative to Monster Energy drink that is more affordable, more convenient and tastes better in my opinion.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that offers you the flexibility of enjoying your energy boost just the way you like it.
All you need is a sachet of REIZE. You can then take your pick of whichever beverage you prefer and turn it into an energy drink instantly by adding REIZE energy powder to it.
You can even have the liberty of adjusting the strength of the drink to suit your personal preference. (Although our recommendation is for you to add 8.4 fl. oz to one 4g sachet of REIZE for best results.)
With a sensible 50mg of caffeine per serving and a smart mix of other ingredients including ginseng, taurine, and B vitamins, REIZE gives you a great energy boost that lasts for hours – without the crash.
You can rest assured that REIZE is completely vegan too.
For only around $1 per drink, you can have REIZE sent right to your doorstep.
So if you’re looking for a great vegan-friendly energy drink, pick REIZE and you’ll soon see why I think it’s the best vegan-friendly option out there.