Highly caffeinated energy drinks are a popular choice for athletes, shift workers, and anyone looking for a quick pick-me-up in their daily routine. Instead of reaching for coffee or tea, many people opt for energy drinks for a quick boost. Monster Energy drinks are just one of hundreds of potent energy drinks on the market, encouraging people to ‘pound down’ their flavor of choice to enjoy a powerful buzz. But are Monster Energy drinks bad for you? And what exactly do these energy drinks contain?
Monster Energy Drinks: Nutrition Facts and Key Ingredients
The active ingredients in monster energy drink are caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana, and B-Vitamins. Each 8 oz. serving contains:
-100 calories
-27 grams of carbohydrate (all from sugar)
-100% DV Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12
-8% DV of Sodium
-1000 mg Taurine
-200 mg of Panax Ginseng
-2500 mg of the Monster Energy Blend (L-Carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, insoitol, glucuronolactone, and maltodextrin)
Essentially, Monster Energy drinks are a blend of sugar, caffeine, and vitamin suppleents that provide a boost of energy. It’s the 2500 mg of ‘Energy Blend’ that sets Monster Energy drinks apart from the rest; while it’s not clear how much of this is pure caffeine, you will experience a strong buzz that is probably equivalent to about 2-3 cups of coffee per serving.
Monster Energy Drinks: Taste and Quality
Each 16 oz. can of Monster Energy drink contains two servings, and it has a fairly strong citrus flavor. It’s a carbonated mix that can be guzzled down easily, but the acidic flavors do take some time to get used to. You can expect the buzz to kick in within 15-20 minutes of consumption.
Monster Energy fans who post their feedback directly on the site claim to drink up to 4 cans per day, which is a significant amount of caffeine.
Other products from Monster include Monster Lo Carb Energy with less sugar; Monster Assault that doubles up on the energy; Monster Khaos that contains fruit juice; Monster Java that includes coffee and milk for a creamy beverage; and Monster M-80 that is made with tropical juices.
Monster Energy Drinks: Costs
Each 16 oz. can of Monster Energy drinks cost an average of $1.99 at most grocery stores, and can be purchased in a 4-pack or a case in some markets.
An XXL can is also available, and this ranges from $2.50 – $3.00 per can.
Bottom Line: With thousands of energy drinks on the market, it’s hard to determine which energy drinks are safe, and which energy and sport drinks may result in adverse side effects. Monster Energy drinks do pose a number of health risks when combined with other stimulants, drugs, and medications. Even though they contain vitamins that provide an energy-boost, the energy rush still comes from the high caffeine content in each serving.
Starting a Monster Energy drink habit is likely to lead to caffeine dependency, especially if you are consuming more than one drink per day.
