Monster Energy Drink Review

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There is a wide variety of energy drinks on the market today. It’s tough enough trying to find one that tastes good, let alone one that you can afford and doesn’t pose risks to your health. Monster Energy Drink truly isn’t good for you. If you insist on drinking it, you should do so in moderation.

It does successfully, in most cases, provide the energy boost that people are looking for. However, it comes with a sugar crash, jitters, and 100 calories. The calorie count may not seem high, but it cuts into your daily recommended intake, and if you’re not someone who pays attention to calories, you could be setting yourself up for weight gain.

Caffeine is an addictive substance and it’s very easy to become addicted to Monster. If you’re consuming too many, it can have adverse effects on your health, including your brain. It can also cause insomnia, anxiety, dehydration, and more. If you plan to drink in moderation, and you’re healthy, Monster Energy Drink may be what you’re looking for.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros

Energy Boost

Smooth Flavor

Competitive Price

Cons

Too Much Sugar

High-Calorie Count

Addictive

Shipping Issues

Caffeine

Caffeine is so effective at boosting energy and performance that it was actually banned from professional sports for some time. The officials decided it wasn’t fair that those who consumed caffeine had a leg up on others. However, after realizing that being properly hydrated was a better way to stay energized, they began to allow others to drink caffeine. If you didn’t consume caffeine then you better have drunk enough water.

In today’s society, caffeine is everywhere you look. It’s even in some medicines. Bikers report the caffeine improves their time trials and endurance. Runners have more endurance and rowers have more power. Caffeine is proven to increase accuracy, agility, performance, speed, and power.

However, caffeine doesn’t always come to the rescue, especially if you’re using it wrong. If you’re in an event or doing a workout that only lasts between 15 seconds and 3 minutes, caffeine will have little to no influence in your performance.

Caffeine does play a role in the functioning of your metabolism, kidneys, muscles, hormones, cardiovascular components, the central nervous system, and the respiratory system. It can help decrease fatigue, increase alertness, improve moods, clear focus, and provide energy when consumed responsibly.

This energy drink has 160mg of caffeine in each can. On some scales, this amount is considered to be between low and moderate. It’s safe for most people. However, if you have any cause for concern or any health conditions, you need to consult your doctor before consuming any energy drink. For an energy boost with a lower caffeine content, try this.

Sugar

It is said that everything is fine in moderation but is that really true? Table sugar is definitely harmful to your health when you consume too much. It can cause tooth decay, weight gain, a compromised immune system, and diabetes.

Because simple sugars like table sugar and juice sugar are made up of just 1 or 2 molecules of sugar, the body converts it into blood glucose more quickly than it would more complex carbs like those in vegetables and whole grains. It then goes to the liver and encourages fat storage.

The AHA (American Heart Association) claims that men should only consume 37.5g (9 teaspoons and 150 calories), women should only consume 25g (6 teaspoons and 100 calories). What’s hard to wrap your head around is the fact that, on average, people are consuming around 22 teaspoons of sugar in one day.

Monster Energy Drink contains 54g of sugar. 54g is equal to about 14 teaspoons. That is 5 teaspoons more than a man should consume in an entire day and 8 teaspoons more than a woman should consume in an entire day. Imagine people who “survive” on energy drinks. Imagine what all of that sugar is doing to their bodies.

Calories

This energy drink contains 230 calories in each can. Many of those calories are coming straight from the sugar. This many calories may not seem like too much when the daily recommended intake is 2000. However, 230 calories are a little over 10% of 2000. With that 10%, you could have a satisfying snack instead.

It is usually true that you only need to worry about calories if you’re going above your daily limit, however, when most of the calories are coming from sugar, they’re not good for you. Instead, get your energy from water and have a healthy snack.

Nutrition Facts

Monster Energy Drink does not contain any fat or protein. It has 370mg of sodium (15% DV), 58g of carbs (15% DV), and 54g of sugar! Each can contains 200% DV of riboflavin (Vitamin B2), niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.

Ingredients include carbonated water, glucose, sugar, natural flavors (doesn’t disclose what they are), citric acid, taurine, sodium citrate, L-Carnitine, Panax ginseng flavor, L-Tartrate, sorbic acid (a preservative), caffeine (doesn’t disclose source), benzoic acid (a preservative), Vitamin B3, added colors, salt, sucralose, inositol, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B12.

Ingredients are not monitored by the FDA. Monster doesn’t disclose the amount of many ingredients included in the drink, they don’t have to, legally. This is why you need to be extra careful when consuming energy drinks and always consult your doctor first.

Addictive

The central nervous system is stimulated by caffeine. That’s why caffeine is able to boost moods, improve concentration, and increase metabolism. Most of the world consume caffeine in one form or another; whether it be from soda, coffee, tea, or some medications. The average American is consuming, on average, 200mg of caffeine each day. That’s equal to two 6oz coffees or five 12oz cans of soda.

Usually, consuming caffeine is relatively safe. But, when you’re using it all day, every day, you’ve now formed a habit and your body is used to the caffeine. It can very easily, and quickly, become an addiction. Caffeine actually changes the chemicals that are produced in the brain after consumption. Very quickly the body builds up a tolerance. It is the same thing that happens with alcohol or drugs. After so much time, the user needs more caffeine every day to give them the same results.

Effects the Brain

Most people don’t realize what side effects caffeine has. People only know what they care to know, and that means that they are focused on the benefits. Caffeine is addictive not just because of brain chemicals, but because of what it does for the user. The feeling of being alert is what people crave, which is because most of us don’t get enough sleep.

The small intestine is what absorbs the caffeine. It then goes into the bloodstream to be dissolved. Caffeine is fat, and water, soluble. This means that it’s able to enter the brain through the blood/brain barrier. Caffeine is very similar to adenosine, which is naturally in the brain. Because of this, the caffeine blocks those molecules.

Adenosine is the chemical that lets you know that you’re tired. When the receptors become blocked, they’re not able to let you know you’re tired. That’s why you feel more alert and energized. At least, until the caffeine has been metabolized. Other brain chemicals will work more efficiently when the adenosine receptors aren’t blocked.

Additionally, having the extra adenosine tells your adrenal glands that they need to make more adrenaline. This is another stimulant. It amplifies feelings of alertness and reduces fatigue. Your brain tries to repair itself by growing more receptors for adenosine. And this is how you develop a tolerance for the caffeine in a Monster Energy Drink.

Sleep Problems

Most adults don’t get the amount of sleep they’re “supposed” to. The fast-paced lifestyle of modern society is partly to blame. The side effects of the caffeine consumed to get through a fast-paced day is partly to blame. A couple of side effects beings anxiety and insomnia.

Anxiety and insomnia go hand in hand. Caffeine causes anxiety, anxiety causes insomnia, insomnia causes more desire for caffeine, and the cycle continues. Consumed in moderation, caffeine is typically safe. But if you have any health concerns, you need to speak to your doctor before adding caffeine to your diet.

Caffeine can both cause and relieve migraines, so what works for one may wreak havoc on another. There are B vitamins in this energy drink which will help combat fatigue, but it doesn’t solve the core issue. If you need to get your sleep back on track, limit your caffeine intake, and use tools to help. You can use a smartwatch to track your sleep cycles.

Health Risks

You could be putting your health at risk if you’re drinking too many energy drinks. Too much caffeine can lead to hypertension. That means your blood pressure is abnormally high. It can also cause tachycardia, which is when your heart rate is abnormally fast. Caffeine is even linked to causing irregular heart rhythms which are dangerous.

If you only consume energy drinks and don’t drink any water, you could be chronically dehydrated without even knowing it. Every time you feel thirsty you just drink more caffeine. It may take your thirst away for a short time, but you’ll soon feel thirsty again.

Caffeine can cause seizures, chest pain, heart attacks, and even sudden death. It can also cause migraines, stomach issues, and psychiatric disorders that are triggered by caffeine. For an energy source with less caffeine, try this.

Price

Monster Energy Drink is appealing to customers because it is widely advertised and even endorsed by many athletes. It also comes at a pretty competitive price depending on the retailer and quantity purchased. From one seller on Amazon, you can purchase a 24-pack for $1.33 per can.

Other retailers may have their monster drinks for sale at a different price. They tend to range the price from $1.88 to $2.77 per can. This is one case where it is definitely beneficial to shop online.

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when enough fluid has been lost from the body that it can’t function properly. Symptoms start occurs as soon as the fluid is lost. If you’re not producing less urine than normal, have a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, experience seizures, difficulty breathing, or chest/abdominal pain, you need to seek medical care. Treatment for dehydration includes consuming more liquids, specifically those with carbohydrates and electrolytes to replenish what you’ve lost. Sometimes, IV fluids are needed in order to reverse dehydration.

Symptoms can be minor or severe. The symptoms for mild and moderate dehydration include drowsiness, decreased urine production, intensified thirst, abnormally yellow urine, headache, dizziness, dry skin, and decreased tear production.

Severe dehydration presents itself with dark urine, trouble walking due to lightheadedness, sudden drops in blood pressure when standing up, fever, tachycardia, confusion, shock, coma, etc. It’s extremely important to hydrate your body. Conveniently carry water with you with one of these backpacks.

Verdict

Consumers are reporting that, when purchased from amazon, the cans are often damaged. Some have even burst or been missing entirely from the package. There’s even been mold found in the boxes the Monster is shipped in. People also report that they taste flat after being shaken in the delivery trucks.

Consumers that didn’t have issues with shipping have reported that the price is better than buying them individually at the grocery store or gas station. They love the sweet, smooth flavor. And they report that Monster is effective at providing the energy boost they’re looking for.

Bottom Line

Monster seems to be the most popular energy drink on the market. It has a huge variety of flavors in order to appeal to as many people as possible. And there really may be a flavor for everyone. However, many people don’t take the time to consider whether they should be drinking them or not.

While Monster can give you the boost you’re looking for, it comes at a cost that you should be aware of before you pay. You can easily become addicted to the caffeine, it’s loaded with sugar, it doesn’t disclose the volume of all of its contents, it causes sleep problems and dehydration, and affects your health in many other ways.

Monster Energy Drink may be offered at a pretty competitive price and come in a large variety of flavors, but before you start consuming even one a day, take the time to review the contents, do some research, and/or consult your doctor. It’s easier to be safe than sorry.