December 2, 2023

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8 Best Energy Drinks of 2023, According to Dietitians

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1

Best Stevia Energy Drink

Zevia Zero Calorie Energy Drink

Amazon’s Choice

Zero Calorie Energy Drink

1

Best Stevia Energy Drink

Zevia Zero Calorie Energy Drink

Now 22% Off

Credit: Zevia

Zevia, known for its tasty stevia-based soda alternatives, has brought its same sugar-free mentality to the energy drink space. This Non-GMO Project-verified pick has zero grams of sugar and offers 120 mg of organic caffeine per can. Each tropical flavor is refreshing, and the sweetness comes from organic stevia leaf extract. Free from artificial colors and preservatives, this health-conscious pick is one of our top choices.

Learn more:

Caffeine 120 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 0 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 mg sodium, 0 g total carbs, 0 g sugar, 0 g protein

2

Best Tasting Energy Drink

ZOA Zero Sugar Health Warrior Energy Drink

Zero Sugar Health Warrior Energy Drink

2

Best Tasting Energy Drink

ZOA Zero Sugar Health Warrior Energy Drink

Credit: Zoa

Created by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, this energy drink contains 160 mg of caffeine from all-natural sources like green tea extract and it comes in a variety of tasty flavors. The completely sugar-free choice has only 15 calories and packs in 250 mg of branched-chain amino acids. One can meets 100% of your daily vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 needs, too.

Learn more:

Caffeine 160 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 15 calories, 0 g total fat, 200 mg sodium, 3 g total carbohydrate, 0 g total sugars, 0 g added sugars, 0 g protein

3

Best Energy Drink Tablets

Nuun Energy

On Sale

Energy

3

Best Energy Drink Tablets

Nuun Energy

Now 16% Off

Credit: Nuun

Our pros love the convenience of Nuun Energy, which are dissolvable drink tablets that deliver a powerful blend of organic green tea, ginseng, B vitamins and electrolytes for a quick energy boost. With 80 mg of caffeine and 20 mg of adaptogens, these tablets give fast-acting, sustained energy and focus. Flavors include Berry Blast, Tropical Punch, Ginger Lime Zing and Watermelon Burst.

Learn more:

Caffeine 80 mg
Nutrition facts (1 tablet) 15 calories, 4 g total carb, 2 g total sugars, 2 g added sugars, 100 mg sodium

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4

Best Organic Energy Drink

Sambazon Amazon Energy

Amazon Energy

4

Best Organic Energy Drink

Sambazon Amazon Energy

This antioxidant-rich energy drink comes in at just 40 calories and 7 grams of sugar but packs in 150% of your daily vitamin C needs. Our nutrition experts love the nourishing combo of acai berry and pomegranate and that this choice is USDA Organic. The 120 mg of caffeine come from green tea and yerba mate sources.

Caffeine 120 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 40 calories, 0 g total fat, 70 mg sodium, 19 g total carbohydrate, 7 g total sugars, <1 g protein

5

Best Energy Drink for Focus

LIFEAID FOCUSAID Clean Energy

FOCUSAID Clean Energy

5

Best Energy Drink for Focus

LIFEAID FOCUSAID Clean Energy

Credit: FOCUSAID

This refreshing pick comes complete with a dose of energizing B vitamins. The boost of 10o mg of natural caffeine comes from green tea and yerba mate. The certified gluten-free option is certified vegan, too, and it’s low in calories. Free from sucralose, this popular pick uses organic agave nectar and organic stevia leaf extract for the perfect amount of sweetness.

Learn more:

Caffeine 100 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 40 calories, 9 g total carbohydrates, 7 g total sugars, 7 g added sugars, 0 g protein

6

Best Sugar-Free Energy Drink

Alani Nu Sugar-Free Energy Drink

Sugar-Free Energy Drink

6

Best Sugar-Free Energy Drink

Alani Nu Sugar-Free Energy Drink

Credit: Alani Nu

You’ll find a hefty dose of 200 mg of caffeine in each can of Alani Nu for only 15 calories. Our dietitians like that it has 0 grams of sugar and is boosted with a variety of B vitamins including biotin. The sugar-free product gets a dose of sweetness from erythritol and comes in unique flavors like Cosmic Stardust and Electric Tye Dye.

Learn more:

Caffeine 200 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 15 calories, 0 g total fat, 6 g total carb, 0 g total sugar, 0 g added sugar, 0 g protein

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7

Best Low-Calorie Energy Drink

Rowdy Energy Rowdy Energy Drink

Rowdy Energy Drink

7

Best Low-Calorie Energy Drink

Rowdy Energy Rowdy Energy Drink

Credit: Rowdy

Rowdy boasts 160 mg of caffeine from green tea per can and comes in a variety of unique flavors like blue raspberry, strawberry lemonade, cherry limeade and more. The sugar-free offering utilizes allulose, erythritol, monk fruit and stevia for sweetness. Plus, you’ll find L-Theanine, vitamin C and a variety of other electrolytes and minerals in each can.

Learn more:

Caffeine 160 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 5 calories, 0 g total fat, 50 mg sodium, 2 g total carb, 0 g total sugar, 9 g erythritol, 0 g protein

8

Best Kombucha Energy Drink

Remedy Kombucha Good Energy

Amazon’s Choice

Good Energy

8

Best Kombucha Energy Drink

Remedy Kombucha Good Energy

Credit: Remedy

Kombucha meets energy drink in this fusion from Remedy that gets its boost from green coffee beans and ginseng to deliver 60 mg of caffeine per can. This USDA Organic pick features raw kombucha as the first ingredient and has a refreshing blackberry flavor. The beverage has zero sugar and uses a bit of erythritol and stevia extract for sweetness.

Learn more:

Caffeine 60 mg
Nutrition facts (1 can) 5 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 mg sodium, 4 g total carb, 0 g total sugar, 4 g erythritol, 0 g protein

How we evaluate energy drinks

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Our registered dietitians evaluated dozens of energy drinks, zoning in on added-sugar content, ingredient lists and caffeine sources. We selected picks with lower added-sugar counts and prioritized options with natural sources of caffeine as opposed to synthetic caffeine. Our pros say to limit consumption to no more than one can a day. Try to cap added sugar counts at 8 grams (the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of sugar) per can and do not mix energy drinks with alcohol.

Ultimately, energy drinks provide only a temporary burst of energy. For more sustained effects, our experts recommend prioritizing a balanced diet, adequate hydration and regular physical activity to optimize energy levels in the long term.

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Who should avoid energy drinks?

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Energy drinks are not recommended for children and adolescents and should be avoided by these individuals as per the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Adults with caffeine sensitivity should avoid the consumption of energy drinks as well.

Since high doses of caffeine may exacerbate cardiac conditions, individuals with a known history of heart disease should avoid energy drinks. Those who are pregnant and breastfeeding should limit energy drink usage as well.

What is the difference between natural and synthetic caffeine?

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Natural and synthetic versions of caffeine are almost identical, chemistry-wise. The natural variety is found in the leaves and seeds of many plants and shows up in coffee, tea and chocolate. Some companies add caffeine sourced from coffee or cacao beans or yerba mate leaves to their products.

The synthetic kind is made in a lab or pharmaceutical plant and is often added to beverages like soda and energy drinks to enhance the stimulant effects. There is nothing wrong with either version of caffeine, but typically products with synthetic caffeine contain a lot of other additives and sugar.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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As deputy director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab for the past three years, Stefani Sassos handles all nutrition content, product testing and evaluation. She stays up-to-date on the latest research to provide evidence-based reporting on all things diet and nutrition, and she also runs large-scale tests and analyses for products ranging from protein bars to supplements. Stefani also has expertise in the fitness industry for the last 10 years as a cycling instructor and NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and oversees all fitness content for Good Housekeeping.

Headshot of Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT

Nutrition Lab Director

Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where she handles all nutrition-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from NYU. She is also Good Housekeeping’s on-staff fitness and exercise expert. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.

 

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