The end of the summer triggers the sale of energy drinks, and even more with the music festivals and the return to the classes or the work of many, where an energy push is always good. But not all are equally healthy or recommended for consumption. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has published a comparison where he chooses the most healthy of all. According to the OCU analysis, Reign Melón Manía drinks, Nocco Juicy Melba and Monster Energy are the three worst energy drinks that you can find today in the supermarkets and neighborhood stores.
According to a OCU report made in 2023in collaboration with the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), these drinks share the same negative fact: they are 500 ml cans with more than 150 mg of caffeine, sugars that exceed 50 % of the daily ration advised and additives without proven benefit. A can be enough for a 50 kg teenager to exceed the safe limit of 3 mg of caffeine per kilo established by the EFSAraising the risk of insomnia, tachycardia and dependence.
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The 3 worst energy drinks, according to the OCU
Due to the high dose of caffeine, some energy drinks do not have the appropriate values for consumption, highlighting a list that includes drinks such as: Monster Juiced Monster, Energy Drink, by Mercadona, Furious Energy Drink, by Mercadona (500 ml container): 160 mg of caffeine or original Burn, among others. But especially 3 brands of sale in stores and supermarkets stand out:
- Reign Melón Manía (500 ml container): 200 mg of caffeine.
- Nocco Juicy Melba (330 ml container): 181.5 mg of caffeine.
- Monster Energy (500 ml container): 160 mg of caffeine.
The 3 most recommended energy alternatives
Although no energy drink is “healthy”, the report does highlight options with less caffeine and without added sugar:
- Red Bull Sugarfree (250 ml): 80 mg of caffeine and zero sugars.
- Booster (330 ml). Small can and only 66 mg of caffeine.
- San Benedetto Fruit & Power Zero (250 ml)
If consumed moderately, caffeine increases alertness and reduces drowsiness, it could even have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. But excessively consumed, these benefits become risks: in the short term it can interrupt sleep, cause anxiety and produce behavioral alterations; In the long term, cause cardiovascular problems.
On the other hand, energy drinks are not the only source of caffeine: it is necessary to know that tail drinks and, more specifically, coffee, have high levels of caffeine, so the combination between them can worryingly increase the levels of this stimulant in the body. Hence its consumption cannot exceed certain levels of daily.