You could be an energy drink connoisseur. But have you ever wondered what’s the right time to consume an energy drink and when you should avoid them?
Keep reading to find out!
Key Takeaways:
The best time to drink energy drinks is after breakfast, in the afternoon, or in the early evenings when you need an instant energy boost. However, you should avoid its consumption on an empty stomach and during the night before you sleep.
Read on to learn more about energy drink consumption at different periods of the day and more.
Drinking Energy Drink At Night?
Caffeine is one of the primary ingredients in energy drinks.
And research regarding the dose-response relationship between caffeine and sleep disruption has consistently shown that increasing levels of caffeine taken within a few hours of bedtime are linked with significantly disrupted sleep.
Avoiding caffeine in the hours before the night is a piece of regular advice for better sleep hygiene (therefore, avoiding energy at night is recommended).
Caffeine, a naturally occurring psychoactive chemical, is present in a wide variety of foods and drinks across the globe.
In addition to coffee beans and tea leaves, other plant sources of caffeine include cacao pods, kola nuts, and energy drinks. Because of its stimulating and alerting qualities, caffeine is synthesized and utilized in pharmaceuticals and energy drinks.
When we ingest caffeinated beverages and meals, the stomach and intestines rapidly absorb the caffeine. Caffeine’s peak effects often appear 30-60 minutes after ingestion; however, this time window may greatly vary from person to person.
Caffeine, if ingested, is rapidly transported throughout the body and enters the brain through the blood-brain barrier. Caffeine acts by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain.
The brain produces adenosine, a sleep-inducing chemical, when we are awake. So, normally, the longer we’re awake, the more adenosine accumulates in the brain.
As it accumulates, it causes us to feel sleepier and sleepier. However, because caffeine prevents this process, we can maintain our awake state and be more watchful.
Caffeine has been shown to delay sleep onset if eaten around bedtime because it disrupts circadian melatonin rhythms. (Our sleep-wake cycle is an example of a 24-hour biological cycle known as a circadian rhythm).
Is An Energy Drink More Or Less Effective On An Empty Stomach?
Energy drinks are not alternatives for meals, and consuming them on an empty stomach might influence your body.
Hydrochloric acid generation issues have been linked to consuming energy drinks on an empty stomach. This is because it immediately influences your metabolism and your body’s response to the food you ingest.
Drinking energy drinks immediately without having a decent breakfast affects the activities of your hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid aids digestion; therefore, if you consume an energy drink on an empty stomach, it may cause issues breaking down the food you eat.
And it may mess with your energy levels and even cause you to gain weight. Without a good lunch, consuming energy drinks may harm the lining of the stomach. Drinking excessively might also lead to heartburn.
It might also induce anxiety and hamper your attention and focus. Caffeine plays a crucial part in raising your energy levels.
But you’ll be disappointed if you try to use it on an empty stomach. It might harm your digestive system and destroy your appetite. It might also raise the possibility of dehydration.
Another undesirable side effect of consuming energy drinks on an empty stomach is their influence on the heart rate.
In addition to raising blood pressure, it also produces an erratic pulse. So when it comes to fueling your body, there’s nothing better than a hearty lunch.
The addition of regular exercise would be fantastic.
Energy Drinks Before Or After Meal?
A post-meal energy drink might aid with digestion. Caffeine causes increased contractions in the intestines. Faster disposal of waste and distribution of food are two results.
Your body will acquire more weight as food stays in your digestive system for longer.
Therefore, by increasing the rate at which food moves through your digestive system, you may aid your body in losing weight by preventing the food from sitting in your digestive tract for an extended period.
Caffeine reduces the body’s ability to absorb iron and other nutrients from your diet. For example, caffeine, included in coffee and other caffeinated beverages, has been shown to inhibit the body’s ability to absorb iron.
Research indicated that iron absorption was decreased by 39% when coffee was added to a meal, including hamburgers.
It’s possible that caffeine also has a little negative effect on calcium absorption.
To summarize, waiting at least two hours after lunch is best before having an afternoon energy drink.
Drinking Energy Drinks In The Morning?
Drinking energy drinks in the morning is not a common practice compared to coffee. But still, if you wish, you can have a can of energy drink anytime after breakfast.
Consuming any caffeine-loaded beverage before breakfast (on an empty stomach) is not a good idea, as we saw earlier. However, you can consume energy drinks anytime after your stomach has at least some food.
The optimal time to consume an energy drink varies greatly from person to person and depends on the quantity of caffeine and other substances in the drink.
In general, you should consume an energy drink similar to how you would have a cup of tea or coffee. That is, anytime you feel like you could use a little additional pep in your step to get through the day, the exercise, the gym, the night shift, or whatever else you’re doing.
Avoid caffeine during the first hour of the day, particularly on an empty stomach, but have an energy drink whenever you want up until approximately six hours before you plan to go to sleep.
What Do Reddit Users Think?
In general, Redditors don’t have a positive opinion about drinking energy drinks in the morning, which is understandable. Some of them highlight that drinking an energy drink in the morning is like drinking unhealthy coffee daily.
Another user highlighted coffee as a better and healthier alternative to energy drinks as a morning beverage since energy drinks have a lot of sugar.
[Source: Reddit Thread]
How Do Energy Drinks Affect The Body?
You would expect to feel more alert after chugging an energy drink. After all, it is an energizer beverage.
Furthermore, you will likely feel a temporary increase in energy. Caffeine and sugar, the two main ingredients in energy drinks, may provide a short burst of energy.
The additional effects of using an energy drink are what you should be thinking about.
It’s been shown that consuming an energy drink before bed may increase the risk of hypertension, insomnia, weight gain, diabetes, tooth decay, and other health problems.
Within 10 minutes of chugging down an energy drink, caffeine entered the system and raised heart rate and blood pressure.
Caffeine peaks in the blood between 15 and 45 minutes after consumption. A person’s sense of alertness and ability to focus will increase as a consequence.
The effects of caffeine will wear off within an hour, and a sugar crash might follow. A lack of enthusiasm and fatigue will set in.
It takes the body around 5-6 hours to reduce the quantity of caffeine in the bloodstream by half, which is the half-life.
Depending on the person, it might take anywhere from six to twelve hours for the body to flush the caffeine out of the system.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as headache, irritability, and constipation, may appear 12-24 hours after consuming an energy drink in a person who frequently consumes these beverages.
It takes the body around 7-12 days to adjust to a steady stream of caffeine found in energy drinks. Once a person’s body grows habituated to the drinks, they are unlikely to have any effect.
If you are a newbie when it comes to energy drinks, we highly recommend checking our energy drinks beginner’s guide.
Which Foods Pair Well With Energy Drinks?
#1. Savory Sandwiches With Energy Drink
Do you need a satisfying meal to eat around lunchtime? An excellent combination is savory sandwiches and energy drinks. A delicious sandwich with a delectable all-natural drink is a sure bet, whether it’s stuffed with salami or ham.
#2. Chocolate Brownie With Energy Drink
There’s no need for a knife and fork when you can have a coffee-flavored energy drink and a chocolate brownie.
This refueling set-up mimics the fullness and energy of a meal, so you can tackle your day without feeling hungry.
#3. Almonds With Energy Drink
If you’re looking for a healthy alternative, you’ll begin to rely on this pair.
A handful of almonds and a square of dark chocolate are good for your heart and make for a satisfying snack while you’re on the go.
Energize and refresh yourself for the rest of the day with this delicious combination.
#4. Smoked Salmon With Energy Drink
Energy Drink is best enjoyed with a bold flavor. That’s a must, and smoked salmon meets it. However, you may successfully counter the salty, fishy taste with a jolt of energy from a can of energy drink.
Put some smoked salmon on a bagel gently toasted, then wash it down with the energy drink for a sensation that will last longer.
#5. Grilled Cheese With Energy Drink
All the other snacks mentioned above go very well with energy drinks, but the grilled cheese sandwich is another combo you can’t miss out on.
It pairs well with tasty, high-caffeine energy drinks. The beverage pairs splendidly with the crunchy bread that encases the lovely melting cheese.
Which Is A Better Source Of Caffeine: Food Or Drinks?
| Caffeine Sources | Caffeine Content |
| Tea | 1 cup (of black tea) = 47 mg |
| Energy Drink | 1 cup (8 ounces) = 85 mg |
| Supplements | 1 tablet = 200 mg |
| Chocolate | 1 ounce (dark chocolate) = 24 mg |
| Soda | 1 can (12-ounce regular dark cola) = 40 mg |
| Coffee | 1 cup (8 ounces brewed coffee) = 95 mg |
Natural caffeine sources include coffee, chocolate, and guarana. And it’s not only in the food and drink; it’s in the supplements, too. Soda and energy drinks, which include caffeine, are dangerous to consume in excessive quantities since they are consumed coldly and absorbed rapidly.
You may get anywhere from 20 milligrams to 40 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce can or bottle of soda. Caffeine intake in the United States is dominated by soft drinks, which account for around 16% of the total.
You should drink them in moderation because of the high sugar content.
When comparing coffee to energy drinks, coffee is the superior source of caffeine for daily use.
Caffeine levels in an 8-ounce black coffee range from 85 to 120 mg. Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine in every 8.4-ounce can.
By volume, coffee and energy drinks have almost the same amount of caffeine. However, remember that the average energy drink is 12-16 ounces, which means it contains much more caffeine.
Caffeine has numerous benefits, but consuming too much of it may cause anxiety, headaches, jitters, etc. Caffeine intake’s upper threshold is 400 mg per day, recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people in good health.
So, which beverage is more effective in helping you remain awake? Coffee is the best beverage for those who need to remain awake for long periods.
In comparison to energy drinks, coffee’s caffeine concentration is often higher. The initial boost of energy drinks may be undone by the sugar crash brought on by drinking them. Black coffee is your best choice if you need a drink to keep you going all day.
Energy Drink Empty Stomach: Reddit User’s Perspective
Different Reddit users have different thoughts on energy drink consumption on empty stomachs. However, the overall crux of their discussions seems like the profoundness of energy intake on an empty stomach varies based on the individual’s caffeine sensitivity.
Some users say that they did notice the effect (the kick) from the energy drink more when they drank it on an empty stomach compared to the normal scenarios.
Other users highlight that they drink many energy drinks on an empty stomach but still don’t experience any significant difference.
[Source: Reddit Thread 1, Reddit Thread 2]
