Energy drinks have long been used by stressed-out and tired workers and students since they offer a quick energy boost with lesser sugar and fewer calories as compared to their full-sized counterparts.
But when it comes to energy shots, one brand comes to mind, 5-Hour Energy got you covered delivering an all-in-one burst of energy fitted in a 1.93 oz bottle.
5-Hour Energy Nutrition Facts
As the popular saying goes: “best things come in small packages”, 5-Hour Energy would keep you up and awake with a great amount of caffeine packaged in small bottles.
For most parts, these are safe to drink energy beverages that are sometimes likened to soft drinks, but after taking a look at the long list of ingredients and nutrition facts, you would think differently.
Listed below is 5-Hour’s nutritional information:
| Calories | 4 calories |
| Protein | 0g |
| Fat (Saturated) | 0g (0g) |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 15mg |
| Carbohydrate (Sugars) | 0g (0g) |
| Potassium | 15mg |
| Caffeine | 200mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) | 30mg |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) | 50mg |
| Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) | 500mcg |
| Choline | 2mg |
Note: Perfect Daily Value (D) informs us of the number of nutrients in a food serving that contributes to our daily meal. As a reference, a daily calorie count of 2,000 is used for general nutrition.
How Many Calories Are in 5-Hour Energy?
Being in the same competitive industry as other famous energy drinks such as Monster Energy and Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy on the contrary is a low calorie-drink having both zero sugar and fat.
The different companies vary in their ingredients but they do have B Vitamins, taurine, and most especially, caffeine in common, as well as artificial sweeteners and flavorings to add. A 2-ounce 5-Hour Energy bottle contains 4 calories which is only a small portion of our daily calorie intake, meaning, it is safe to drink one bottle a day.
For comparison, an 8-ounce Red Bull bottle has calories up to 100, while its sugar-free version contains 10 calories.
Although these vary depending on age, gender, lifestyle, physical activity level and metabolism, the recommended daily calorie intake for adults ranges between 2,000 to 2,500. Healthy adult women are recommended to take at least 2,000 calories daily while men are required to consume 2,500 calories per day.
Quick Fact: As a result, drinking a shot of 5-Hour Energy would not affect your daily diet but do keep in mind as these are high in caffeine, which means that you will still need to control your daily intake.
Ingredients in 5-Hour Energy
For the past few years, research has shown that consuming too much can become hazardous as many of these fizzy beverages contain high levels of caffeine that can cause negative effects on a person’s cardiovascular system.
Despite these stated facts, major manufacturers continue to market their drinks, especially to young individuals such as students, who are at major risk of developing serious health problems in the future.
They also continue with making erroneous claims about the health benefits these beverages give, but ever wonder what exactly makes these drinks harmful in the first place?
As marketed to the public, many of these drinks have quite common ingredient lists plus the use of different artificial sweeteners and flavors to enhance their taste.
Surprisingly, B Vitamins are on top of the list, although dubbed as essential for health, having too much isn’t always good as these are known for causing gastrointestinal problems, nerve damage, bad skin condition, and even fuzzy vision.
Another common ingredient is Taurine, which is an amino acid that supports neurological development, increases metabolism, and controls the blood’s water and minerals. Combining taurine and caffeine can have harmful effects on a person’s brain.
High amounts of sugar or any of its substitutes can also lead to obesity as it negatively affects a person’s blood sugar level. Although some brands have presented alternative versions such as diet or sugar-free drinks, these do not make these beverages healthier as promoted since they are likely to do more harm than good.
On average, a cup of coffee would you believe contains less caffeine than most energy drinks although these drinks use synthetic caffeine, a relatively cheaper alternative to plant-based caffeine. And because of this, companies mass produce these, which can lead to detrimental health problems.
What Does 5-Hour Energy Feel Like?
Largely due to the huge amount of caffeine in a bottle of 5-Hour Energy, it works as a stimulant that will instantly give you a full burst of energy. Though caffeine is known to have lots of benefits, it is recommended to consume it moderately as it can enhance physical performance and help improve focus.
It can also help lift your mood during mentally exhausting and draining tasks which is what makes these energy shots and drinks popular. However, these small shots do contain large amounts of caffeine, which would trigger side effects such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
Be sure you know what you’re getting into before drinking a whole bottle of 5-Hour Energy, especially if you’re relatively new to energy drinks.
Does 5-Hour Energy Actually Work?
Generating a huge sum of revenue annually, 5-Hour Energy boasts of its energy shots that guarantee an instant boost in energy with no side effects. The only thing the company warns is that one should take no more than one bottle daily.
To answer the question, yes it works as it has a high caffeine content that will enhance cognitive functions such as attention, vigilance, and reaction time as well as improve performance physically.
Quick Fact: Based on experience, once a shot is taken, you’ll instantly become awake with full focused attention but afterward, restlessness will quickly kick in which forces you to take a breather before proceeding with a clear mind.
Conclusion
Being around the market for so long, 5-Hour Energy is here to stay despite the negative feedback it has been getting. We cannot truly measure the risks of taking energy shots and drinks as it is only rendered valid once all information has been gathered.
As an old saying goes, If something sounds too good to be true, well, in that case, it probably might be. So despite the healthy claims these companies are making, researchers still call if it is possible to avoid them.
