Redbull energy drink

By Kristen Carli

June, 25, 2023

Is Red Bull Bad for You? Ingredient List Break Down

Discover the truth about Red Bull's impact on your health. Explore the ingredient list breakdown and make an informed decision about its effects.

Red Bull is one of the most popular energy drinks next to Monster. Many people love Red Bull for its quick burst of energy, but are the ingredients bad for you?

Red Bull isn’t necessarily bad for you when consumed in moderation. When you drink them every day or drink multiple energy drinks in one day, there may be some potential negative side effects. 

In this article, we’ll break down the ingredients in Red Bull, plus we’ll discuss whether there are any healthy alternatives to this popular energy drink. 

Understanding Red Bull Ingredients Like Taurine & More

Caffeine is the main ingredient in Red Bull, as it is for most energy drinks. One standard-size Red Bull (8.4 fl oz) has 80 mg of caffeine, a little less than one cup of coffee. This is a healthy and safe dose of caffeine. (1)

That same size can of Red Bull has 27 grams of added sugar from glucose and sucrose. These added sugars are one of the concerns when it comes to whether Red Bull is bad for your health. 

Consuming too many added sugars has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health conditions. Most Americans consume too much added sugar from the foods they eat, so sugar-sweetened beverages like energy drinks only increase this amount. (2)

Another ingredient listed in Red Bull is citric acid. Citric acid is often used in processed food and household products. Scientists developed a synthetic form of it using the fungus Aspergillus niger, or black mold. It is known as manufactured citric acid (MCA). (3)

According to Victoria Whittington, a registered dietitian, “MCA is not black mold, and most people won’t have any reaction to it. However, some people may have a genetic predisposition to a black mold allergy, so consuming citrus acid derived from Aspergillus niger may lead to inflammatory responses such as joint pain, muscle pain, and digestive issues.” (3)

Red Bull uses natural and artificial flavorings for its taste. There is some animal research that suggests artificial flavorings may be toxic to cells and genes, however, there is no research that confirms this to be true in humans. (4)

The nutrition label also lists “colors” as an ingredient, but does not specify whether they are artificial or not. Some studies suggest that artificial food coloring may have negative health effects, including increased risk of developing cancer cells, toxicity to genes, and skin disorders like eczema and atopic dermatitis. (5)

Taurine is another ingredient in Red Bull. Taurine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in foods with protein, such as meat or fish. The human body uses taurine for actions in cells. One example is that taurine is used for energy production. 

Taurine is generally considered safe to consume in certain amounts. Most people can tolerate taurine without problems. However, when consumed in excess, side effects may include (6):

  • vomiting
  • nausea
  • liver pain
  • headache
  • stomach pain

Introduction to a healthier alternative - Ethan's Clean Energy Shots

So, is there a healthy alternative to the almighty energy drink? Yes, there is!

Ethan's Clean Energy Shots provide a refreshing and natural boost of energy without the health risks.

Ethan's Clean Energy Shots is committed to using natural ingredients that are backed by science. Ethan’s doesn’t include taurine in their formulations because its products are specially formulated for optimal performance, using only evidence-supported ingredients with expertise from a registered dietitian.

These shots are made with a thoughtfully selected blend of plant-based components, including natural caffeine sources like green tea extract and guayusa. With Ethan's, you can steer clear of the excessive sugar and caffeine found in many energy drinks, making it a more balanced choice for your well-being.

Ethan's Clean Energy Shots provide a moderate amount of caffeine, allowing for a steady and sustained energy boost without the jitters or crashes that can occur with higher caffeine doses.

Beyond providing a natural energy boost, Ethan's Clean Energy Shots offer added nutritional value. Packed with essential B vitamins, such as B3, B6, and B12, these shots support your body's natural energy production. 

They’ve also added adaptogenic Lion's Mane and Cordyceps Mushrooms, which studies have shown to be effective at improving mental focus, memory, and learning. (7)

Ethan’s Clean Energy Shots blend natural plant-derived caffeine, B Vitamins, and adaptogens that give you the boost in energy you need, without the added sugar or unnecessary ingredients. 

If you’ve been drinking the run-of-the-mill energy drinks from your corner gas station, we challenge you to give Ethan’s a shot (literally!) and see how you feel.

Conclusion

Regularly consuming Red Bull energy drinks can pose potential risks to your health. Some of these risks include excess caffeine intake, which may result in increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping. Red bull is also high in sugar, so drinking them too frequently may contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, insulin resistance, or other health conditions.

What you choose to eat and drink has a significant impact on your health. Consider alternatives like Ethan's Clean Energy Shots. Ethan's Clean Energy Shots feature natural ingredients, lower sugar, and caffeine from natural sources. Give Ethan's Clean Energy Shots a try and experience a healthier and more balanced energy boost.

FAQS

Regularly consuming Red Bull or any energy drink can lead to side effects such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, tooth decay, and an increased risk of conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Related Links

  1. Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much? (2018, December). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  2. Rippe, J. M., & Angelopoulos, T. J. (2016). Relationship between Added Sugars Consumption and Chronic Disease Risk Factors: Current Understanding. Nutrients, 8(11), 697. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8110697
  3. Sweis, I. E., & Cressey, B. C. (2018). Potential role of the common food additive manufactured citric acid in eliciting significant inflammatory reactions contributing to serious disease states: A series of four case reports. Toxicology reports, 5, 808–812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.08.002
  4. Sales, I. M. S., Silva, J. M., Moura, E. S. R., Alves, F. D. S., Silva, F. C. C., Sousa, J. M. C., & Peron, A. P. (2018). Toxicity of synthetic flavorings, nature identical and artificial, to hematopoietic tissue cells of rodents. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia, 78(2), 306–310. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.07716
  5. Kobylewski, S., & Jacobson, M. F. (2012). Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health, 18(3), 220–246. https://doi.org/10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000034
  6. Boccanegra, B., Verhaart, I. E. C., Cappellari, O., Vroom, E., & De Luca, A. (2020). Safety issues and harmful pharmacological interactions of nutritional supplements in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: considerations for Standard of Care and emerging virus outbreaks. Pharmacological research, 158, 104917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104917
  7. Yuan, G., An, L., Sun, Y., Xu, G., & Du, P. (2018). Improvement of Learning and Memory Induced by Cordyceps Polypeptide Treatment and the Underlying Mechanism. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2018, 9419264. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9419264

Authored By

Kristen Carli

Kristen Carli is the owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness. She graduated from University of Arizona with a BA in psychology and then received a BS in dietetics from Arizona State University. After completion of the dietetic internship, she continued her education by receiving a MS in Human Nutrition from University of Western States. Having a passion for nutrition communication, she writes for many food and nutrition outlets as well as regularly develops recipes for food brands and media companies. Her nutrition expertise has been featured in InStyle, Bustle, Livestrong, The List, MyFitnessPal and many others. Additionally, Kristen is often featured via local TV segments sharing nutrition tips and tricks. She was selected to act as a Produce for Better Health Foundation Fruit and Vegetable Ambassador in Action, helping to promote the health benefits and importance of consuming fruits and vegetables, as well as a FoodMinds upwaRD winner for 2022, honoring up and coming media dietitians. You can find her reading, running, and exploring new restaurants with her husband and baby boy.

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