Which Energy Drink Has The Most Caffeine?
Energy drinks are a convenient way to power through mornings or afternoons when you feel tired or drowsy. Most energy drinks contain many different ingredients, including carbonated water, sugar, flavorings, and supplements like B vitamins and taurine (via US News). The main ingredient you can find in virtually every energy drink is caffeine. According to the US Food & Drug Administration, most adults can consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day safely. Some energy drinks contain almost this much in a single container, which means you'll have to limit your caffeine consumption for the rest of the day if you enjoy one.
According to Caffeine Informer, an 8-ounce Redline Xtreme Energy Drink contains 316 milligrams of caffeine, which is almost your entire daily limit in a single drink. However, a 12-ounce bottle of Hyde Xtreme takes the cake with a full 400 milligrams of caffeine in a single drink. There are many other energy drinks that have 300 milligrams of caffeine per serving. It's fine to enjoy these drinks, but you'll need to be mindful of your caffeine intake for the rest of the day.
Ingredients to avoid in energy drinks
Caffeine isn't the only ingredient to watch out for when consuming energy drinks. Energy drinks are not regulated by the FDA and because of that, it can be confusing to know exactly what you're consuming (via US News). Even if ingredients are explicitly stated on the nutrition label, it is not required that amounts of each ingredient are also listed on the label. "That's the biggest problem I see: It's not required on the label, and in most cases, they are not disclosing the total stimulant dose in the product for people to make an educated decision," said Ruth Litchfield, an associate professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at Iowa State University in Ames.
Because of this confusion, it is important to know what ingredients to look out for and what they do. B vitamins are often found in these products, but these are generally safe, even when consumed in high doses (via Eating Well). Watch for high doses of sugar in energy drinks, as they can contain as much as 62 grams per serving. You should also watch for ingredients like guarana and green coffee extract which act as natural sources of caffeine. When drinks contain multiple sources of caffeine, that dosage can quickly add up to unhealthy levels.