Everyone needs a little pick-me-up sometimes to go through the day. Generally, we might find ourselves reaching out for a cup of coffee. But, if you feel it is not enough, it might be the best time to have an energy drink.
That said, if you are a newbie in the realm of energy drinks and haven’t picked a favorite go-to drink yet, you might be wondering: what are the top energy drinks you can have?
For the short answer, some determining factor of whether an energy drink is top-tier lies in its caffeine and sugar content, and the addition of other beneficial ingredients, such as B-vitamins. On top of that, there is the price factor to consider, of course.
If you’d like a closer look at each ingredient of a common energy drink and what it does, check out the article here. Otherwise, read on as I guide you through the top energy drinks you can have.
What is an Energy Drink?
Let’s start with the basics. An energy drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that aims to boost your energy, helping you to be physically and mentally alert for a specific amount of time.
Energy drinks are rich in stimulants like caffeine, taurine, B-vitamins, and other extracts. This enhances your senses and keeping you active throughout the day.
Energy drinks are now becoming commonplace, being a trusty companion when you need a boost in your workplace, when you’re studying, and even during workouts.
There are a lot of options out there for energy drinks, so it might be difficult to choose just one. To put your mind at ease, I stocked up on top-shelf energy drinks from the most reputable companies.
What Do Energy Drinks Offer?
All energy drink has its own blend of ingredients that make you feel energetic and focused. Here are some of the common ingredients of an energy drink:
Caffeine
Caffeine is the natural booster that makes and defines an energy drink. Surely, it won’t be an energy drink without caffeine. You can also have this in your coffee and tea. However, you better watch out for your caffeine consumption because too much might trigger side effects.
Taurine
It is a chemical that helps your body build amino acids. Taurine helps you overcome any stressor that you might encounter throughout the day. It kicks you to perform effectively with your tasks.
Some benefits of taurine includes:
- Improve overall immune and central nervous system
- Regulate the minerals within your body
- Regulate antioxidants function
- Create bile salts that are vital for the digestive system
- Maintain the hydration and electrolyte levels in your blood cells
Guarana Extract
It is mostly found in the islands of the Amazon. It is rich in antioxidants that neutralize the harmful molecules in your body. Guarana extract also helps you focus and maintain your physical and mental capacity, so it’s a beneficial ingredient to have in an energy drink.
That said, a large part of guarana is actually caffeine, so do take note that if guarana is present, the caffeine content of your energy drink may be slightly higher than what is stated on the label.
B Vitamins
Though this ingredient isn’t as common as the others, it’s a great addition to have in an energy drink because it helps your body convert the food that you eat into energy. It also helps you regulate your cells, making them healthy.
For reference, here are some common B-vitamins and its functions:
| Types of B-Vitamins | Function of B-Vitamin | Tolerable Upper Intake Level |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | Converts carbohydrates into energy, keeps the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy | 35mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin or Niacinamide) | Involves in the process of production and repairing DNA cells, protects the body cells from harmful substances by being an antioxidant | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | Maintains healthy blood and nerve cells, involves in the process of DNA production | – |
Harvard wrote a detailed article on the purpose and benefits of each B-Vitamins, which you can have a look at for further explanation.
Sugar
Ever thought about why a kid is oozing with energy? Then that’s probably because of the sugar. It plays an important role in your health because it is the food for your brain. Though, you better watch out because you might suffer from the risks of having too much of it.
Moderation is the key!
L-Theanine
This ingredient is helpful when you need a boost in concentration. Besides that, it also assists you in coping with your anxiety and stress.
What are the Benefits of Drinking Energy Drinks?
There are lots of benefits to drinking energy drinks, giving you a boost in energy and alertness through their mix of ingredients.
While energy drinks are beneficial, you can have too much of a good thing, so be sure to consume them in moderation to enjoy their maximum effects.
For reference, here are some situations that would be perfect to grab a can of energy drink:
- When you’re doing important tasks: It keeps your body active and aware of your surroundings, keeping you aware of what you’re doing, and avoid mistakes
- When you’re staying up: Energy drinks help you function well and stay alert even if you’re feeling sleepy
- When you’re working out: It gives your body enough energy to do physical activities.
Energy drinks are a reliable source of energy whenever you need them. Just make sure you don’t consume them excessively, or you may suffer from some side effects.
What are the Things to Consider in Choosing an Energy Drink?
With the different variety of energy drinks available in the market, you might find it difficult to decide which energy drink to get. To ensure that you get the energy drink that suits you, here are the things that you should consider:
Minimal Sugar Content
Despite the energy that you can get from sugar, it’s always best if you consider the sugar content in a can as it can lead to adverse effects on your health.
For reference, the AHA suggests a daily sugar limit of 24g for women and 36g for men. Having any more sugar than that can cause health issues such as:
- Acne
- Tooth decay
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
If you’d like energy drinks that completely do without the sugar, you might find the article on the best sugar-free energy drinks to be what you’re looking for.
Caffeine Content
While caffeine is a great ingredient to have in an energy drink as it claims to improve cognitive functions on top of energizing you, the FDA recommends that healthy adults should not consume more than 400mg of caffeine daily.
Any more than that could lead to side effects, such as:
- Jitteriness
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure
As your caffeine metabolism and sensitivity are the keys to knowing how much caffeine you can handle, I suggest that you have a good understanding of your limits before getting an energy drink with high caffeine content.
On the other hand, if you’re a trained caffeine junkie and are looking for energy drinks with a high caffeine content, you can refer to my previous article on the strongest energy drinks.
Price
As each energy drinks have its own unique blend of ingredients, this could lead to a difference in price. Contrary to what we’re used to, an expensive energy drink isn’t always the most effective. So, I would suggest that you choose something that can give you enough benefits for the day and is kind to your budget.
To kickstart your search for affordable energy drinks that fit your budget, take a look at the article on the cheapest energy drinks available. I’m sure you’ll find it wallet-friendly.
Top Energy Drinks that you Should Definitely Try
There is an upward trend in the energy drink industry as energy drinks are now becoming essential in increasing productivity.
Now, the holder of the crown of energy drink (in terms of revenue) is Red Bull, and it’s followed by Monster in the ranking.
| Rank | Brand | Revenue (In USD) |
| 1 | Red Bull | 6.13 Billion |
| 2 | Monster Beverage | 3.37 Billion |
| 3 | Rockstar | 918 Million |
| 4 | NOS | 107.79 Million |
| 5 | Lucozade | 501.8 Million |
1. Red Bull
It is the top and the best energy drink that is available in the market.
Red Bull is one of the original energy drinks available in the market. It is a popular choice for work, studies, and even gym workouts. For just $1.99, you can enjoy the original and sugar-free flavors of Red Bull.
Red Bull started in Austria in 1987. You can consider it the Mother of All-Energy Drinks because of its time in the industry set the bar for its $6.13 billion sales throughout the year.
There are also a variety of flavors to choose from in Red Bull. If you are on a diet, you can have a can of sugar-free Red Bull, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try the original flavors that can give you a refreshing kick like grapefruit and blueberry.
In short, Red Bull can really provide you with the wings to fly.
2. Monster
Monster Energy Drink comes with a recognizable and distinct logo feature. It totally captures the second spot on the top energy drinks list.
Monster Energy drink started in 1935 and is known for its unique blend of caffeine, glucose, Panax ginseng, and taurine. It emerged victorious with its $3.37 billion in sales.
If you want a boost of sugar and energy, Monster will not fail you. Some pros of Monster are that it’s affordable, priced around $2 for a 16 fl.oz can, and offers a variety of flavors to choose from.
Monster is a good source of energy, but pay close attention to its calories and caffeine content, as a can of Monster has 210 calories and 160mg of caffeine, which would definitely energize you, but can also destroy your diet if you drink it excessively.
Overall, Monster energy drink is a pretty classic choice of energy drink, its accessibility and dominance in the market tell a lot of stories.
3. Rockstar
Rockstar is ranked 3rd in the Top Energy Drink available in the market, leaving a huge impact on the industry despite being set up in 2001.
Rockstar Energy Drink is now managed by Pepsi Co. and it offers more than 20 flavors in the market. Its classic flavor has a refreshing blend of citrus and it provides 122 calories, keeping you awake and alert, making it perfect when you need to get a job done.
A can of Rockstar costs around $2, so it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
4. NOS
If you are looking for a kick that will definitely boost your energy, NOS energy drink is another option you can consider.
NOS is part of the top energy drink brands in the market. It generated $107.79 million. It is one of the biggest energy brands known for its quality and even refreshing flavors.
NOS offers various flavors like GT Grape, Sonic Sour, Nitro Mango, Turbo, Power Punch, and even the Original Blend. Surely, you will know what you want to drink with these refreshing flavors, and you can have them for around $1.70 per can.
NOS is rich in caffeine and taurine, having 210 calories, 160mg of caffeine, 54g of sugar, and different vitamins in just a 16 fl.oz can.
Given the number of calories, caffeine, and other substances NOS has in a can, moderate consumption is advised if you’re regulating your weight.
With the kick and boost that you can get, you will surely acquire enough energy for the day with NOS!
5. Lucozade
The refreshing flavors of Japan is combined in one with Lucozade energy drink.
Next on the list of the top brands of energy drink is Lucozade. In terms of revenue, it generated a total of $501.8 million for its sales alone.
Lucozade is a go-drink, especially for athletes, as it gives you the boost you need to accomplish your task and manage your day-to-day activities.
Within a can of Lucozade, it contains 116 calories and 15g of sugar. The only odd thing about this energy drink is the limited information about its caffeine content.
That said, it would be best if you consume it moderately as its calorie content may not be ideal if you’re looking to manage your weight.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
If you’d notice, most of the top energy drink brands started early and small, building their reputation, and continuously improving their product.
That’s the same with REIZE! It’s now taking a big part with the beverage industry, not just with the quality but also with its affordability and convenience as it is packed in the form of sachets.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets so you can enjoy it anywhere, anytime, having a special blend of healthy ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B-vitamins, which can give you the perfect energy boost without the crash afterward.
With REIZE, you won’t have to worry about any additional sugar or carb intake as it contains zero sugar and only 11 calories. To add on, it has a sensible 50mg of caffeine, which is perfect if you’re not a fan of high caffeinated energy drinks.
Besides that, with only $1 per sachet, you can get REIZE shipped straight to your doorstep. That’s outstanding value for money!
So, have this chance to try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it belongs on the list of top brands of energy drinks.