Is G Fuel Bad for You?

G Fuel is one of the many energy drink brands in a fast-growing market. Designed with gamers in mind, the bright and flashy packaging stands out on the shelves.

Also popular with eSports athletes, G Fuel has become the official energy drink of Esports® giving it a status above many rival brands.

There has been some controversy surrounding energy drunks. In this article we will be looking at the ingredients in G Fuel, and discussing whether or not it is a healthy option.

The answer to the above question is that G Fuel is not bad for you if you follow the manufacturers guidelines on usage.

However, there is a large quantity of caffeine in this product – we’ll cover that in more detail – so if caffeine is not for you then this sort of product should be avoided.

Furthermore, children and pregnant women should not use G Fuel or other energy drinks, and if you are on medication or have a medical condition it is wise to talk to your doctor before using such a product.

Let’s begin by talking about the factors that make G Fuel different to many of its rival brands.

What is G Fuel?

Energy drinks tend to be favored by people who like to exercise. The ingredients are designed to provide an energy boost.

Many people use energy drinks as a pre-workout. G Fuel can be used this way, yet it is important to understand this is not what it was created for.

G Fuel came about when the makers recognized a niche in the market. Gamers often play for many hours. A drink that provided added stamina and mental focus was the intention of G Fuel.

We’ll talk in more detail about the ingredients in G Fuel Energy Drink shortly, but first we want to highlight the importance of what is not in the drink.

Energy drinks are often criticized for high sugar content. This is where G Fuel becomes interesting – it is entirely sugar-free.

It also provides zero calories. This makes G Fuel the preferred energy drink for gamers, athletes, and fitness lovers who also want to diet.

G Fuel also includes a combination of natural ingredients that are antioxidants.

It is marketed as a healthy drink, but can it really be so? Before we go on to look at the ingredients here’s a little bit of background about the brand.

History of G Fuel

The people who brought G Fuel to the market are Gamma Labs, a business based in New York. They saw the gap in the market for an energy drink aimed at the growing gaming community.

Launched in 2012, G Fuel has gone from strength to strength and is now the official energy drink of Esports®.

Originally sold as a powder to be mixed with water in various sizes of tubs, the makers soon opted to introduce carbonated canned versions which were an instant success.

By way of collaborating with film production companies, candy brands, and game studios, G Fuel is able to keep its name in focus by issuing limited edition special flavors and packaging.

There are in fact two distinct ranges. The original G Fuel is the caffeinated version plus the ‘hydration’ drink which is caffeine-free.

So, who uses G Fuel?  

What G Fuel is Good for

As we mentioned earlier, G Fuel is aimed at the gaming market. It is used mainly to enhance concentration and stamina.

We asked the question ‘is G Fuel bad for you’ in the title. In this section we want to talk about why G Fuel is essentially safe, and also what to look out for that may not be so positive.

First, there’s taurine. Taurine is present in most – if not all – energy drinks. It is one of the active ingredients in G Fuel. Is taurine safe?

As with all the ingredients in G Fuel taurine is a natural amino acid formed in the body. Taurine is essential in the body and is part of the energy production process – hence its use in energy drinks.

Taurine is safe in the quantities in G Fuel. However, some research has shown that taurine and caffeine combined can have an adverse effect for some. Users report becoming jittery, for example. Always check the ingredients of your chosen G Fuel flavor as they may differ slightly across the range.

Next, we want to talk about one of the most controversial ingredients in energy drinks: caffeine.

Caffeine is a pick-me-up; if you drink coffee you will know of the effects it has. G Fuel is notable for high caffeine content at 300mg. Few energy drink brands contain this much caffeine.

The recommended daily dosage of caffeine for a healthy adult is around 400mg. It follows that drinking two regular cans of G Fuel will exceed this.  The effect is not dangerous in healthy persons but can be if you are not tolerant of caffeine.

Also remember to factor in the caffeine content in other products you may ingest during the day. If you are averse to caffeine, try the G Fuel Hydration range which is caffeine free.

Caffeine does come with potential side-effects including nausea, insomnia, increased heart rate, plus headaches and anxiety. A healthy adult ingesting less than 400mg a day should not feel the effects.

If you do suffer any after effects associated with caffeine, then G Fuel is not for you. Otherwise, healthy adults should have no problem.

These are the two ingredients that you should be concerned about. Ingredients across the range may differ. For example, ginseng – a popular compound in many food and drink products – is in some, and there are other amino acids that you should investigate if you are concerned.

Before we move on to talk about the many flavors and varieties in the G Fuel range it is important we remind you that this product is intended for use by healthy adults.

Children should not use energy drinks (indeed there are age restrictions on the sale of these products in many states) and nor should pregnant women.

If you are taking medication or suffer from chronic medical conditions, we strongly recommend you consult with a medical professional regards the safety of G Fuel and other energy drinks.

Unique Flavors and Varieties

If you are a fan of ‘classic’ energy drink flavors, you are well catered-for with the G Fuel range. Watermelon is a favorite as are citrus fruit flavors, yet it is the collaborations – especially with film production companies – that appeal to the gamer crowd.

Film collaborations often see G Fuel issuing ‘special edition collectors’ boxes.’ Film tie-ups have included blockbuster Hollywood hits such as Mortal Kombat (based on the game of the same name) plus Resident Evil, Pac Man, and more popular films and games.

They also issue special editions of the regular flavors. Marketing such as this keeps G Fuel in the public eye and appeals to the gamer crowd as well as others.

Customer G Fuel Reviews

G Fuel gets regular 5-star views across social media platforms. There are some negative posts, and we’ll look at some of those too.

One user simply says ‘I recommend this product’ when talking about the ‘Resident Evil’ special edition. Another gives the ‘Power Pellet’ limited edition 4-stars describing it as ‘goo flavor, nice box, but a little overpriced.’

In fact, many of the comments refer to the artwork as being the major appeal.

The major complaints include ‘too expensive’ and ‘poor flavor’ but suffice to say 89% of reviews recommend G Fuel.