Mother Energy Drink is a leading brand in Australia. With its sweet taste and energy-boosting capabilities, it definitely goes toe-to-toe with other notable energy drink brands.
But what exactly goes into a can of Mother Energy Drink anyway?
In brief, a standard 500ml can of Mother Original has 228 calories, 160mg of caffeine, and 51g of sugar, while a 500ml can of Mother Sugar-Free has 23 calories, 159mg of caffeine, and 0g of sugar.
And have I mentioned that Mother contains taurine and guarana as well? So, read on to find out more about the caffeine and ingredients of Mother Energy Drink and how they might affect you.
Let’s get started…
Mother Energy Drink Nutritional Facts
Mother Original has 228 calories per 500ml can, while Mother Sugar-Free has 23 calories per 500ml can.
I’ve compiled the table below if you’re interested in having a closer look at Mother’s nutrition info.
| Typical Values | Mother Original (500ml) | Mother Sugar-Free (500ml) |
| Energy | 228 calories | 23 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0.3g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 51g (51g) | 0.5g (0g) |
| Sodium | 240mg | 240mg |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 159mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 9mg | 9mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | 3.3mg | 3.3mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1mg | 1mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.5μg | 0.5μg |
| Taurine | 2g | 2g |
How Many Calories Are In A Can of Mother Energy Drink?
Each 500ml Mother Original has 228 calories, while the same size Mother Sugar-Free only has 23 calories.
Given that the average adult needs around 2000 to 2500 calories per day, a single 500ml can of Mother Energy Original has around 1/10th of your daily caloric intake, which is definitely a lot for an energy drink.
Hence if you’re watching your diet and want to stay on the healthier side of life, it’s recommended that you don’t have too many cans of Mother Energy Original in a single day.
I wouldn’t suggest Mother Original if you want to get in shape, but the additional calories may be easily burned off if you lead a very active lifestyle and have it in you to exercise often.
That said, your cells do require some calories to function, so a can of Mother can perk you up if you’re feeling a bit down.
However, you shouldn’t ever replace your meals with energy drinks, because, after all, energy drinks cannot offer you the same nutrients that a full meal can.
All-in-all, so long as you have them in moderation, the calorie content of Mother Energy Drink shouldn’t be too much of a worry for you.
If you want to have the great taste of Mother without the calories, then Mother Sugar-Free is definitely a lot better in my book, with only 23 calories per 500ml can.
If you’re looking for other energy drinks that are a lot lower in calories, check out the article I’ve written on the best zero-calorie energy drinks for some healthier alternatives.
Mother Energy Drink Ingredients
There’s nothing particularly fancy in a can of Mother Energy Drink, having only two notable ingredients, namely taurine, and guarana extract.
Have a look at the ingredients of both Mother Original and Mother Sugar-Free in the lists below.
Mother Energy Original
- Carbonated Water
- Sugar (Sucrose)
- Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate)
- Taurine
- Colour (Caramel IV)
- Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Caffeine
- Flavour
- Vitamins [Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12]
- Guarana Extract
Mother Energy Sugar-Free
- Carbonated Water
- Sweeteners (Acesulphame Potassium and Sucralose)
- Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate)
- Taurine
- Colour (Caramel IV)
- Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Caffeine
- Flavour
- Vitamins [Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12]
- Guarana Extract
Mother Energy Drinks Ingredients Analysis
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid that’s often found in energy drinks and is often claimed to have a multitude of benefits.
Taurine is a pretty common ingredient in various energy drinks and is present in the more popular global brands such as Rockstar and Red Bull.
As for the potential benefits of taurine, the list includes:
- Promoting healthy metabolism
- Improving exercise performance
- Protecting the muscles
Despite this, the science doesn’t really prove that there are any immediate benefits of having taurine in your diet, so take the potential benefits with a pinch of salt.
Guarana Extract
Similar to V Energy, Mother includes guarana extract in their energy drink formula, although it’s not specified how much guarana is present in the drink.
Hailing from Brazil, guarana is most well-known for its large array of antioxidants and stimulants, the most notable of those stimulants being caffeine.
As such, guarana offers the same benefits as caffeine, helping to reduce fatigue levels and improve alertness, which is a positive in any energy drink.
That being said, it’s not explicitly stated on the can how much guarana extract is actually present in Mother Energy, so be aware of that before you dive in.
B-Vitamins
A staple ingredient for any energy drink, B-Vitamins are present in Mother Energy, as well, to make it just that bit healthier.
B-Vitamins play an essential part in bodily functions, so having any amount of them is definitely helpful for your diet.
Of course, if you actually need a more substantial volume of B-Vitamins in your diet, you should probably be going for supplements instead of getting them from energy drinks.
In any case, here are the B-Vitamins present in Mother, and for a more in-depth look at each specific B-Vitamin and what they do, click on the link here.
| Purpose | Mother Energy Drink (500ml) | Tolerable Upper Intake Level | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Helps body release energy; keeps skin healthy. | 9mg | 35mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Builds and breaks down fatty acids, other metabolic functions. | 3.3mg | |
| Vitamin B6 | Store energy from protein and carbohydrates; formation of red blood cells | 1mg | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | Release energy from food; forms red blood cells; keeps the nervous system healthy | 0.5μg | – |
How Much Caffeine Is In Mother Energy Drink?
Caffeine is the critical ingredient in Mother, as it gives you that energy boost, helping you stay awake as well as improve your cognitive functioning and reaction times while its effects last.
At 160mg of caffeine per serving, Mother Energy Drink isn’t exactly the strongest energy drink you can find off the shelf, but it still packs a pretty hefty punch and is a bit more than you’re regular cup of coffee.
As I prefer my energy drinks to only have around 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving, Mother Energy’s caffeine content is higher than what I would prefer.
However, that’s not to say that I wouldn’t indulge in it every now and then.
Depending on your caffeine metabolism and how used you are to caffeine in your day-to-day life, Mother’s 160mg of caffeine per can might be the right amount to give you the boost you need.
While everyone’s caffeine needs vary, you should still keep your caffeine consumption within a reasonable level.
In general, the American FDA approves a caffeine intake limit of no more than 400mg per day, as any more than that might lead to side effects such as:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
Furthermore, consistently having too much caffeine might lead to some notable dependency issues, which might make you crankier in the morning if you don’t get your caffeine hit.
But as long as you know how to moderate your caffeine intake and not have too many cans of Mother Energy a day, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about potential caffeine-related side effects.
How Much Sugar Is In Mother Energy Drink?
Mother Original has 51g of sugar per 500ml can, while Mother Sugar-Free is, unsurprisingly, absent of sugar.
For context, 51g of sugar is equivalent to almost 3.5 tablespoons of sugar, which is definitely not the healthiest thing when put into that perspective.
Given that the AHA recommends a maximum daily added sugar intake of no more than 25g for women and 36g for men, a can of Mother Energy Original is definitely far, far more than what anyone should be having in an entire day.
While having sugar every now and then as a treat is perfectly fine, consistently having excessive sugar in your diet can lead to health complications such as metabolic syndrome.
Some of the other notable risks of having a high-sugar diet include:
- Weight Gain
- Type II Diabetes
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Acne
- Increased risk of depression
You also run the risk of suffering from a sugar crash with sugary energy drinks such as Mother, which isn’t something you want out of an energy drink if you happen to be working long hours.
While Mother Energy Original may have a pretty great taste due to all the sugar, you should be conscious of how much sugar you’re actually putting into your body when you have one.
So be sure to keep your Mother Energy indulgences to a minimum, and if you’re still craving it, the sugar-free option is a pretty good choice.
Does Mother Energy Drink Use Artificial Sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are only present in the sugar-free version of Mother Energy, having both Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose instead of the normal sugar that’s used in the original mix.
Being zero-calorie sweeteners, Sucralose, and Acesulfame Potassium work to give you a sweetness 200 to 600 times that of sugar, with none of the nutritional guilt that’s usually associated with it.
As both Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium have been approved for general use by the FDA, and health agencies around the world, they work as a healthier alternative to sugar that won’t add any additional calories to your diet.
That being said, there’s still quite a bit of uncertainty regarding the long-term use of artificial sweeteners, so it’s probably for the best that you don’t constantly consume too much food or drinks with artificial sweeteners present.
If you’re not too fond of artificial sweeteners, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best all-natural energy drinks for some healthier alternatives to enjoy.
How Long Does Mother Energy Drink Last?
A can of Mother Energy should give you a pretty good boost for the first couple of hours, although you might have to contend with the sugar crash once your body has processed that sugar and the effects begin to wear off.
Given that the average half-life for caffeine is around 5 hours (the time it takes for your body to process half of the total caffeine consumed), it should take roughly 10-12 hours before all of the caffeine is completely clear of your system.
Of course, there is going to be plenty of variance on how long a can of Mother Energy will last for you, especially when you take into account factors such as metabolism, overall weight, and genetic caffeine sensitivity, which differ from person to person.
As a rough estimate, a can of Mother should at the very least give you a solid hour or two of focus and energy once the caffeine starts kicking.
My advice is, be sure to plan your schedule around it so that you don’t end up giving yourself a mild case of insomnia afterward. I recommend avoiding all caffeine within about 6 hours of planning to try to sleep.
Mother Energy Drink VS Monster Energy Drink
| Mother Original (500ml) | Mother Sugar-Free (500ml) | Monster Energy (473ml) | |
| Calories | 228 calories | 23 calories | 210 calories |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 159mg | 160mg |
| Sugar | 51g | 0g | 54g |
Given that they’re both sugary energy drinks, neither Mother nor Monster Energy is all that good for you from a health perspective, although Mother does inch out as being just that little bit better.
A quick comparison between Original Mother and Monster Energy will tell you that there isn’t really a big difference between the two, as they have similar amounts of sugar and caffeine.
Mother Energy does have 3g less sugar, but considering that both energy drinks far exceed the AHA recommended daily sugar intake limit, 3g isn’t that big of a difference.
Still, if you’re looking for a quick boost without worrying too much about the consequences, both energy drink brands will serve you fairly well, with Mother Energy being just a smidgen better for your health in my opinion.
But if you’re not too keen on all the sugary stuff, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best energy drinks with less sugar. You’ll definitely find it informative.
Is Mother Energy Drink Good For You?
So long as you live a healthy lifestyle and only open a can when necessary, indulging in Mother Energy Drink every now and then should be perfectly fine.
While you still have to worry about the short-term effects of caffeine with Mother Sugar-Free, it’s still a lot better than juggling with the sugary nature of Mother Original in my view.
As stated earlier, too much sugar in your diet is pretty bad for you, so definitely try and keep the Mother Energy Original’s to a bare minimum if you want to stay on the healthier side of life.
In any case, while Mother Energy definitely works in a pinch to wake you up and give you a quick boost, as with any caffeinated beverage, moderation is key.
So, be sure to keep your Mother Energy intake to a tolerable level, and try not to have too many sugary foods if you plan on having a Mother Original.
Mother Energy Drink Flavours
Mother Energy Drink has a pretty small selection of flavours, which include:
- Frosty Berry
- Sugar-Free
- Original
- Passion
- Tropical Blast
- Epic Swell (Australian exclusive)
It’s definitely not as extensive as Monster or Bang’s selection of flavours, but if you like fruity energy drinks, Mother Energy has that covered in spades.
Mother Energy Drink Alternatives
If you enjoy the taste of Mother Energy, here are some other energy drinks that you might also like.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
Looking for an energy drink that’s lower in sugar and calories? Then REIZE just might be the ticket you’re looking for.
REIZE is a great powdered energy drink with each 4g sachet having a sensible 50mg of caffeine and no sugar, with only 11 calories per serve.
It also contains a bunch of other beneficial ingredients such as taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins. All come together in a smart blend to give the perfect boost without the dreaded crash.
The best part?
You can get REIZE home delivered right to your door for only about $1 per drink, which is amazing value for money.
Try REIZE today and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a better option than Mother Energy Drink.