is 5 hour energy drink bad for you

Is 5-Hour Energy Drink Bad For You?

As popular as energy drinks like 5-Hour Energy are, there are also many negative comments and reports about them.

While you may not want to take everything you read at face value or as factual about energy drinks, if you are trying to make a rational decision about whether you should include them in your diet, you need to consider whether they are bad for you.

While it is not FDA-approved, there are many positives and negatives about 5-Hour Energy. The following article will discuss whether it could be better for you.

We will examine the ingredients that make up the proprietary formula for 5-Hour Energy and how it increases mental and physical Energy.

Understanding 5-Hour Energy Drink

5-Hour Energy drinks were launched by Living Essentials LLC, the company owned by Manoj Bhargava, in 2004.

Since then, it has achieved a stunning increase in popularity. By 2012, it was noted that it had reached sales up to approximately $1 billion.

Like many of the other energy drinks available on the market these days, one of the things that makes it so popular and attractive to those looking for energy boosts is the fact that it is sugar-free and calorie-free.

Instead of sugar, 5-Hour Energy improves your mental and physical Energy by using active ingredients like taurine, caffeine, and glucuronolactone.  

So, What Are The Ingredients?

The ingredients are the most vital information you need when deciding whether an energy drink is suitable for your diet and will provide you with the benefits you are looking for without harming you or causing unwanted health conditions.

There are a lot of consumers who blindly accept what the companies tell them themselves or don’t even bother understanding any of the science behind how these drinks are made.

As you consume and take the drinks into your body, it makes sense to want to know what is included. The thing that many find difficult when looking at the average energy drink ingredient list is that many of the names need to be explained to those not in the know.

This section will examine some of the ingredients in 5-Hour Energy drinks.

Glucuronolactone: This is a well-known stimulant to many people. There is a lot of evidence that supports that glucuronolactone has attention- and energy-increasing properties.

When combined with taurine and caffeine, glucuronolactone can be incredibly effective.

Taurine: Another ingredient that is common to energy drinks and found in 5-Hour Energy is taurine.

An amino acid, when combined with glucuronolactone and caffeine, has been shown to positively impact energy levels, both mentally and physically.

However, no official studies support taurine’s reported abilities on its own, and there have been reported issues with consuming the amino acid in drinks containing caffeine, particularly among children and adolescents.

Caffeine: The main feature of most energy drinks and 5-Hour Energy, caffeine is one of the most commonly used and widely understood stimulants that, because of its prominence, has been clinically studied thoroughly. It has been shown to increase physical and mental Energy in various trials and studies.

Care should always be taken when consuming caffeinated drinks, as they can have diuretic effects.

The daily recommended allowance for caffeine is 400mg and 200mg in each can of 5-Hour Energy Shot, the equivalent of two cups of coffee; you should limit yourself to just 2 cans of the drink.

Citicoline:This is another ingredient that has been clinically proven to improve memory issues in older adults.

The critical thing to remember is that the trials used 500mg doses of the ingredient, and 5-Hour Energy only contains 267mg per can.

Taking Your Health Into Consideration

There is one thing you need to think about before you go out and buy 5-Hour Energy, if the above has not put you off it, and that is personal factors and the importance of exercising moderation.

Let’s look at this in greater detail.

Personal Health and Well-Being

One of the most significant factors that should determine whether you use 5-Hour Energy or not is your overall well-being and health in general.

It’s crucial to note that we are all individuals and have unique challenges. So, even if many people you know and whose opinion you trust, like relatives, friends, colleagues, and people at the local gym, have a positive experience using 5-Hour Energy, you must consider your own situation.

Do you have any medical issues? Are you taking medications or suffer from allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients?

Speaking to your healthcare practitioner for any advice if you have uncertainties or concerns is always a good idea.

Caffeine Sensitivity

Caffeine is a factor you should consider with any energy drink or supplement, not just 5-Hour Energy.

As caffeine makes up a big part of why it is so effective at helping fight off fatigue and increase physical and mental Energy, you need to be careful and possibly even avoid it if you are sensitive to this stimulant.

You could experience unwanted and even severe health conditions and health risks if you fail to take sensitivities into consideration.

Drinking in Moderation

Moderation is something you will see mentioned a lot when it comes to energy drinks, and it is no different when talking about 5-Hour Energy.

The best way to get all the benefits of a drink like 5-Hour Energy without too many or any side effects and dangers is by drinking within the suggested daily dose or less.

It may even be a good idea to avoid drinking it if you are not participating in physical activities or strenuous exercise.

Final Thoughts

It is essential to use 5-Hour Energy, like other energy drinks, with an open mind to the positives and negatives of these beverages.

While it is not a flawless drink, as notable ingredients can have adverse effects, it is not the worst thing available on the market.

Consider your health condition and well-being, consider the negative effects, and decide whether it is right for you.