On occasion, coffee just doesn’t seem to do the trick.
It either doesn’t sound satisfying, or maybe a good coffee shop is hard to find.
When I want a burst of hype but need something different, this is when I gravitate towards energy drinks. They are fast, easy, and pretty much available everywhere.
I almost always gravitate towards the plethora of Monsters.
I can always find a flavor that suits my mood and satisfies the jolt meter that I am going for.
When choosing a Monster versus a coffee, a red bull versus 5-hour energy, it’s important to learn what to look for.
What gives you the jolt from a Monster, and what are the side effects these ingredients have on your body?
Consuming energy drinks and caffeine can be beneficial in the proper amounts, but too much can be dangerous.
I do often think about what is really in these energy drinks.
At the end of the day, is there a better choice between brands? Or, are any of them healthy for us to be drinking, to begin with?
I have done some research to answer these questions and help you determine which Monster beverage or other energy drink is the best to consume.
How Much Caffeine Is in a Monster?
There are so many varieties and flavors to choose from.
We will discuss a handful here but first, let’s start with the original.
Monster drinks usually come in 16oz cans.
There are two 8oz servings in each.
There is 80mg of caffeine per serving, hence 160 mg per can.
To give you some perspective, an 8oz cup of coffee contains 96mg of natural caffeine on average.
This, of course, varies pending on the brewing method and type of bean.
In comparison, an 8oz cup of black tea contains about 48mg versus green tea that has around 30mg of natural caffeine.
Let’s take a look at some other Monster drinks.
How Much Caffeine is in Monster Energy Ultra?
The Monster Energy Ultra drinks are for those watching their sugar intake as this particular line contains zero sugar.
It has 150mg of caffeine per can and 80mg per serving.
This is slightly lower than your classic Monster Energy.
The Monster Energy Zero Ultra has zero sugar but also has zero calories.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Blue Monster?
The original Blue Monster is a low-carb energy drink.
Also, in a 16oz can, it serves up only 45mg of caffeine per 8oz.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Purple Monster?
Part of the Hydro line, the Purple Passion, is similar to Gatorade because it contains electrolytes and B vitamins in addition to caffeine.
The caffeine content of Purple Passion Monster beverage rings in at 150mg.
However, this Monster drink comes in a 20oz bottle, meaning 2.5 servings.
Each serving, therefore, contains 50mg of caffeine.
Is Monster Energy a Good Source of Caffeine?
Technically speaking, Monster Energy will provide you with less caffeine per fluid oz than coffee.
However, if you like the flavors and prefer to drink carbonated beverages and more of them, you will get a higher caffeine content.
Many people drink these sports drinks for more than just caffeine.
Some drinks contain daily vitamins, and some substitute the drinks for their vitamin supplements.
Does Monster Use Natural Caffeine?
Though some Monster beverages, like Java Monster and Dragon Iced Tea, contain natural caffeine, the signature Monster Energy Blend is likely synthetically derived.
The Java Monster drinks contain actual coffee, but there is no other reference to plant-derived or natural caffeine anywhere on their website.
Do Monster Energy Drinks Aid Performance?
All of the Monster Energy drinks contain caffeine which may increase energy levels.
Some like the Hydro series contain electrolytes to aid in hydration, B vitamins, and BCAAs.
BCAAs or branched-chain amino acids help to reduce muscle breakdown, stimulate protein production, reduce fatigue and improve athletic performance.
Milk Thistle and Quercetin, which have antioxidant properties, are in the Rehab Monster drinks.
In addition, taurine is one of the original ingredients believed to improve your physical performance and support muscle maintenance.
What Energy Drink Has The Most Caffeine?
Not all energy drinks are equal.
Think back to when drinking a Mountain Dew was the way to get that extra burst of energy.
The soft drink Mountain Dew has 54mg of caffeine per 12oz can to give you some perspective.
Like some we’ve compared below, most energy drinks have almost three times that amount.
- Red Bull 80 mg Per Can, can is 8.4 fluid ounces
- Rockstar 160mg per can, can is 16 fluid ounces
- Monster Energy 160mg Per Can, can is 16 fluid ounces
These are the signature drinks of each brand.
However, each of these brands does have drinks that pack more caffeine than the ones above.
For example, the Loca Moca from Monster has a whopping 200mg of caffeine per 16 oz can.
This is because the Loca Moca contains Monster’s Energy Blend and the natural caffeine derived from the coffee.
Generally speaking, these three energy drinks have the same amount of caffeine per can.
Red Bull has a tiny bit less per fluid ounce because the can is slightly larger than 8oz.
Again to compare, an 8oz cup of coffee on average has about 96mg of caffeine.
Are High Caffeine Energy Drinks Dangerous?
Just like my mother always said, “everything in moderation.”
An average healthy adult may safely consume up to 400mg of caffeine per day.
That means you could drink two and a half original monster energy drinks a day, 4 cups of coffee, or 5 regular 8oz red bulls.
On that note, some people have a higher caffeine sensitivity.
They might not even be able to fathom caffeine consumption of that magnitude.
If you experience any of these side effects, you may need to reduce your caffeine intake.
Common side effects of too much caffeine include insomnia, headaches, frequent urination, irritability, nervousness, muscle spasms, and heightened heartbeat.
Downsides Of Energy Drinks
Can Increase Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
In addition to the side effects mentioned above, a high caffeine intake can increase your blood pressure and cause abnormal heartbeat.
This can lead to significant health problems like seizures, atrial fibrillation, or even heart attacks.
Overconsumption of energy drinks has even led to fatal heart attacks in teenagers.
May Increase Diabetes Risk
Just like soda, most energy drinks contain a very high amount of sugar, many as much as 14 teaspoons.
More sugar can also mean more calories.
A high caloric intake and too much sugar can cause obesity and lead to diabetes. High sugar intake is also linked to heart disease.
Many brands, including Monster beverages, offer sugar-free and calorie free choices.
This is the way to go if you consume these drinks frequently.
May Negatively Affect Kidney Health
Taurine is a common ingredient in energy drinks.
Overconsumption of taurine may cause damage to those with chronic kidney disease.
Energy drinks often have a high sodium content.
Consuming too much sodium in your diet causes kidney stones.
Drinking plenty of water is a way to combat this.
You should always ensure that you’re not replacing your water intake with anything, especially energy drinks.
May Increase High-Risk Behavior
More and more bartenders are making designer cocktails with energy drinks.
Alcohol and energy drinks together are a recipe for high-risk behavior.
People tend to consume more alcohol when mixed because the energy drinks falsely lead them to believe they are not as intoxicated.
Overconsumption can lead to a caffeine overdose or alcohol poisoning.
It can also just simply lead to bad decisions.
May Lead To Caffeine Overdose And Possible Toxicity
Caffeine overdose by coffee or tea is very uncommon; however, it has happened through overconsumption of energy drinks, caffeine pills, and energy shots.
For example, according to Caffeine Informer, a 1.93oz bottle of Five Hour Energy contains 200mg of caffeine.
Caffeine overdose symptoms may include dizziness, diarrhea, increased thirst, trouble breathing, vomiting, chest pain, convulsions, and hallucinations.
Overdose is usually treatable but can be fatal, especially for young adults.
According to a Consumer Reports article on caffeine toxicity, there are over ten thousand calls to poison control and emergency room visits a year because of overconsumption of energy drinks.
A few of these visits have caused heart attacks and have been fatal.
However, the majority of these calls have been because of teenagers.
Discontinued Monster Energy Drinks
Many different flavors of Monster drinks have been discontinued throughout the years.
These four types of Monster were just removed from the shelves recently in Ireland due to high levels of propylene glycol, which could be toxic.
Propylene glycol is a synthetic food additive safe in small amounts.
It is the same chemical class as alcohol.
The four types of Monster drinks are as follows:
- 500ml Ripper Juiced Monster Energy + Juice
- 500ml Lewis Hamilton Monster Energy
- 250 ml Espresso Monster Vanilla Triple Shot
- 250 ml Espresso Monster Salted Caramel Triple Shot
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions.
How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
A healthy adult should be able to consume up to 400mg of caffeine a day.
100mg is considered a safe caffeine intake for young adults between 12 and 18 years.
Pregnant women should limit their intake to 200mg or less.
Is Caffeine Healthy?
In small amounts, natural caffeine, like that found in coffee, provides many health benefits.
It can help you with weight management, alertness, and cognitive function.
In addition, coffee has many health benefits unrelated to its caffeine content, including preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s’.
Wrapping Up
Choose wisely when choosing a Monster Energy drink or Red Bull over coffee.
Opt for something with little to no sugar and the right amount of caffeine to be beneficial.
Limit your teenager’s intake and educate them on the harmful effects of too much caffeine.
You can enjoy Energy drinks safely and may even help you win that next race.
