When Monster Energy first hit the retail market, it immediately grew popular and millions started drinking it for energy and caffeine. Since then, the company has released sugar-free Monster Energy drinks called Monster Energy Ultra, competing with other sugar-free energy drinks. Thankfully for fans of the original, Monster Energy Ultra contains the same amount of caffeine as the original. But how much does it contain? Let’s take a look at Monster Energy Ultra and how much caffeine it has:
Monster Energy Ultra & Caffeine
How Much Caffeine Does Monster Energy Ultra Have?
Monster Energy Ultra is a highly caffeinated beverage, topping off at around 150 mg of caffeine. It also has other stimulants in it, making it a strong source of caffeine and energy. While it may seem like one of the most caffeinated beverages on the market, it is crucial to know that the actual serving size is for two people. One serving of Monster Energy Ultra only contains 75 mg of caffeine instead of 150 mg, but many people forgo the serving size and drink the entire can.
Caffeine in Monster Energy Ultra vs Soda vs Coffee
Comparing coffee to Monster Energy Ultra, the caffeine content is higher than coffee at first glance. However, as we mentioned before, the serving size is only half a can. Since one serving is only 75mg, it has a lower caffeine content than coffee (around 95 mg per 8-oz serving). If you follow the serving size, coffee still has a higher caffeine content than Monster Energy Ultra. However, most people drink the entire can and completely ignore the serving size, which is why the caffeine content is higher than coffee.
When specifically looking at stimulants in both, the main difference between Monster Energy Ultra and coffee is that it contains more than one natural stimulant. It may give a bigger boost in energy and focus, but it can lead to moderate caffeine jitters if you drink the whole can. Although that may sound ideal and may make energy drinks seem like a better choice, coffee doesn’t contain the artificial flavors and sweeteners that energy drinks do.
Is Monster Energy a Good Source of Caffeine?
Monster Energy Ultra may have zero sugar and calories that make it seem like an ideal choice, but there are a few reasons to pass by the energy drink section at the store. Monster Energy Ultra contains artificial flavors, the first red flag that its ingredients are not ideal. Another issue is with the multiple no-sugar sweeteners, which could potentially easily upset the gut and throw off the balance bacteria. It also has flavors that contain food coloring, a hot topic of debate in the health world. If you’re in a pinch and need a quick caffeine fix, one Monster Energy Ultra should be fine. However, we recommend choosing coffee over energy drinks for a source of natural caffeine.
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What Other Stimulants Does Monster Energy Ultra Contain?
Taurine
Monster Energy Ultra not only contains caffeine, but it contains three other natural stimulants for an extra boost. Taurine is a popular ingredient in all Monster Energy drinks, an amino acid that can help with long-term memory function through ‘synaptic plasticity enhancement’ (Curran & Marczinski, 2018).
Ginseng
Ginseng is a root plant that has been used for its medicinal and stimulating effects, from immune system function to migraine headaches. Ginseng as a stimulant can help increase overall physical and mental energy, which can help fight off tiredness and fatigue. Too much ginseng can lead to insomnia, however, so it’s crucial not to overdo it. On the flip side, Ginseng has side effects like conventional medication and needs to be treated respectfully. Some side effects of ginseng include anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, headaches, migraines, nausea, increased heart rate, and even changes in the menstrual cycle.
Guarana
Guarana is a beautiful vining plant native to Brazil, containing the most caffeine in any plant. The seeds may contain more caffeine than coffee beans, nearly 3 to 4 times the amount. Guarana has the same benefits as caffeine, as well as additional possible health benefits: antioxidant density, improvement in brain function, and natural anti-diarrheal effects. It also has the same side effects as very strong coffee, so it’s important to take guarana with care.
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About Monster Energy & Monster Energy Ultra
What is Monster Energy Ultra?
Monster Energy Ultra is a zero-sugar, zero-calorie type of energy drink, a calorie-free version of their original Monster Energy drink. With the huge rise in popularity of ‘zero calorie’ drinks, the Ultra was unsurprisingly successful. Compared to their original recipe at around 110 calories and 27g of sugar per serving, having a zero-calorie option is ideal for those who want to avoid sugar-laden, calorie-heavy drinks. Some flavors of the Ultra do not contain artificial food coloring, but the original formula does contain a few different food dyes.
When was Monster Energy invented?
When it comes to caffeine, coffee reigned supreme for years until the energy drink was born. The energy drink skyrocketed to fame and millions started chugging down it down, hoping for a stronger stimulant effect than coffee. Multiple companies released their own version of an energy drink, including the famous Monster Energy company. The company that released Monster Energy was technically founded in 1935 under the name Hansen’s, though the actual drink itself was established in 2002.
In 2012, they rebranded the company and renamed themselves Monster Beverage, a name that nearly anyone could recognize today. By 2015, with a huge rise in popularity, Coca-Cola and Monster Beverage joined forces and have a symbiotic business relationship. Today, Monster Beverage continues to make Monster Energy and many variations of the original drink, including Monster Energy Ultra.
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Featured Image Credit: NeONBRAND, Unsplash
