Is Monster Energy Drink Good for You?

Monster Energy is a brand of caffeinated beverages found in just about any grocery or convenience store. Produced since 2002, the line has expanded into a powerhouse list of different types and flavors. There are currently 43 different types of Monster Energy drinks on the market. They're safe to drink as long as you consume them in moderation.

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The dizzying list of Monster drink products to choose from includes:

• Java Monster (11 types)
  
• Juice Monster (4 types)
  
• Monster Energy (7 types)
  
• Monster Hydro (6 types)
  
• Monster Rehab (5 types)
  
• Monster Ultra (6 types)
  
• Muscle Monster (2 types)
  
• Punch Monster (2 types)

The ingredients, caffeine content and nutritional content of all of these Monster drinks vary between and within types. This means that the original Monster Energy drinks have not only different flavors, but different caffeine content. The seven different types of Monster Energy drinks contain between 70 to 80 mg of caffeine per serving and 140 to 187 mg per can. Each can typically contains two servings, unless you're drinking a Mega Monster drink, which has three servings. Most other Monster drink products contain similar amounts of caffeine content. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should consume not more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. This means that a whole can of Monster Energy is well within the recommended limits for caffeine.

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According to the United States Department of Agriculture Branded Food Products Database, Monster Energy drinks are primarily made of carbonated water, natural flavors or concentrated juices, taurine, ginseng extract and caffeine. Monster Energy drink products typically contain several vitamins, namely, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. There may also be other vitamins in these beverages, but this differs based on the specific product.

Monster Energy drink products may be a good way to consume caffeine if you don't like coffee or tea, but they do have a lot of sugar, sodium and preservatives. Ingredients differ between Monster Energy products, so watch out for the sugar and sodium content.

One Zero Calorie Monster Energy drink can contain 79 mg of sodium per 100 milliliters. In one 16-ounce beverage, this is equivalent to about 374 mg of sodium. According to the American Heart Association, you should have not more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and should ideally consume only 1,500 mg per day. On the high end of the scale, one container of Monster Energy can contain 16 percent of your daily recommended sodium intake. However, if you're watching your sodium intake and are aiming toward the lower end of the scale, one container of Monster Energy can contain 25 percent of your total daily recommended allowance for sodium.

Although there are low- and zero-sugar Monster Energy products on the market, most Monster drinks have very high sugar content. One can of Monster Energy will have about 10.5 mg of sugar per 100 grams. This means that each can of Monster Energy will have about 50 grams of sugar. That's a lot of sugar! To put this into context, the American Heart Association recommends not more than 100 calories (6 teaspoons or 24 mg) of added sugar for women and 150 calories (9 teaspoons or 32 mg) for men. One container of Monster Energy contains about twice the recommended amount of sugar.

Although Monster Energy drink products are primarily made from fruit products and carbonated water, their high sugar and sodium content is concerning. The occasional Monster Energy drink product may not be bad for you, but regular consumption of Monster drinks can be bad for your health and increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Energy drinks, including Monster Energy drink products, can have side effects. These side effects include energy crashes, headaches and heart palpitations — particularly likely to occur when you consume energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages in excess. More severe side effects, like seizures, can also occur. These side effects don't mean that energy drinks are bad, but that you should make an effort to consume such drinks in moderation. Monster Energy drink products are not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant people or those who are nursing.

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