For healthy adults, up to four to five 250ml cans of Red Bull per day (around 400mg caffeine) is generally considered safe, according to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), but it's best to moderate intake, ideally sticking to no more than one or two as an occasional boost to avoid jitters, anxiety, or sleep issues, especially if you have heart conditions. Pregnant women, people with high blood pressure, or heart problems should limit caffeine much more, ideally to 200mg/day or less.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in its 2015 scientific opinion on the safety of caffeine that an intake of up to 400 mg per day (equivalent to five 250 ml cans of Red Bull or five cups of coffee a day) does not raise safety concerns for healthy adults.
The bottom line. If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, avoid energy drinks. If you are healthy and need a quick surge of energy, it is okay to consume an occasional energy drink — no more than one a day — but this shouldn't be a daily or long-term practice.
However, the consumption of EDs, particularly in large quantities, is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events such as cardiac arrhythmias, chest pain, hypertension, and even sudden cardiac death (2). As such, the safety of the long-term consumption of EDs is questionable.
The analysis shows a significant prevalence of adverse effects, particularly on the cardiovascular and neurovegetative systems.
There's no single "worst" energy drink, but those high in sugar and caffeine like Monster, Rockstar, and Red Bull are often cited due to risks of crashes, weight gain, and potential severe side effects (like seizures or heart issues in extreme cases) from excessive consumption, especially when mixed with alcohol. Drinks like 5-Hour Energy are also flagged for their concentrated stimulant load, despite being sugar-free, and even "healthier" ones still pack high caffeine.
Red Bull stays in your system for about 12 hours due to caffeine's half-life of 5-6 hours. Effects peak 30-50 minutes after drinking, with energy lasting 1-4 hours before a crash. Factors like body weight, metabolism, and tolerance affect duration.
Caffeine addiction: Energy drink addiction and caffeine addiction are closely linked since energy drinks primarily contain caffeine, which is a stimulant. Overconsumption of caffeine leads to dependence, with symptoms such as headaches, irritability, and fatigue when consumption is reduced or stopped.
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There's no single "number 1" healthiest energy drink, as it depends on your needs, but top contenders for healthier options use natural caffeine (green tea, coffee bean), minimal sugar/sweeteners (like stevia), and added benefits (electrolytes, adaptogens), with ZOA, Zevia, Nooma, Celsius, and Mati frequently cited for being cleaner alternatives to traditional drinks by avoiding artificial ingredients and offering functional nutrients.
1. Soda. It should come as no surprise that soda is one of the worst beverages you can choose for your body, whether you're drinking regular or diet. Both have been linked to weight gain and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Too much caffeine in children and teens can cause increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and lead to sleep problems, digestive problems and dehydration.
Drinking too much caffeine can show up as fatigue, jitters, headaches, heart palpitations, and more. Experts recommend capping your caffeine intake at 400 milligrams a day. If you spot these warning signs, cutting back gradually and switching to caffeine-free options can help you feel better.
Summary. Caffeine is a drug that stimulates (increases the activity of) your brain and nervous system. Caffeine is found in many drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks.
What are caffeine overdose symptoms?
In most cases, half of the caffeine is cleared in 4 to 6 hours. View Source , but in any specific situation the half-life can range from 2 to 12 hours. Because caffeine can persist in a person's system, consuming it too late in the day can make it more difficult to sleep well at night.
That's why it's recommended that you consume any energy drinks between 9-11:30 a.m. (or a couple hours after waking) when your cortisol levels have lowered, and you can get the energy-boosting effect from your drink rather than the stress-inducing one.
Three early warning signs of heart failure include persistent fatigue/weakness, shortness of breath (especially with activity or lying down), and swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles, and feet, often accompanied by rapid weight gain from fluid buildup, all signaling your heart isn't pumping efficiently enough. Other key indicators are a chronic cough (sometimes with pink mucus) and heart palpitations.
Still, Levine believes “it's potentially dangerous stress on the heart for anyone with heart disease to drink these concoctions of caffeine and sugar and a perfect storm to induce palpitations.” He notes that's especially true for anyone trying to get a little pick-me-up.
The worst energy drinks for you are generally those with extremely high caffeine (like some Bang or Reign), excessive sugar (like original Monster, Rockstar, or Lucozade Energy), or artificial sweeteners and high vitamin doses that can exceed daily limits, leading to heart issues, anxiety, sleep disruption, and metabolic problems; brands like Monster, Rockstar, Bang, and C4 often come up due to their potent ingredients, but any drink with high caffeine/sugar is a concern.
If you're concerned about sugar and calorie intake, Red Bull's smaller serving size naturally means fewer calories and less sugar per can. However, both brands offer sugar-free versions that eliminate these concerns while maintaining the same caffeine content.
Companies that align their strategies with these trends are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for energy-boosting beverages.