How Many Tablespoons of Sugar Are in a Single Energy Drink?

Energy drinks aren't something you want to drink regularly.

Energy drinks aren't something you want to drink regularly.

It’s OK to have a little sugar in your diet as an occasional splurge. But energy drinks contain far more sugar than you’re supposed to consume in a day. Too much added sugar can lead to tooth decay, weight gain and increased risk of obesity-related diseases. While selecting the sugar-free variety instead can solve that overabundance-of-sugar problem, those drinks aren’t especially healthy for you either.

Sugar Content

Average cans of energy drinks are about 8 fluid ounces, or 240 grams in weight. This single drink contains between 24 and 29 grams of sugar. Since 1 tablespoon amounts to 12.5 grams, each 8-ounce energy beverage contains roughly 2 to 2 1/3 tablespoons of sugar. Larger cans may be twice this size, however, and contain double the amount of sugar.

Calories from Sugar

Each 8-ounce serving of an energy drink gives you around 100 to 110 total calories. One that has 24 grams of sugar, for example, has 96 calories from sugar, since sugar has 4 calories per gram. In most cases, the high sugar content of these energy concoctions takes up more than 95 percent of the calories. Fat, protein and even starch, in some varieties, make up just a trace amount of the caloric content.

Your Sugar Allotment

Added sugars, such as those found in energy drinks, shouldn’t be a major source of calories in your diet. Sugary processed products usually contain minimal vitamin and mineral content, making them empty sources of calories. Consume no more than 150 calories from added sugar daily if you’re male or 100 calories from added sugar if you’re female, suggests the American Heart Association. This is a maximum of 2 1/2 tablespoons of added sugar for men or 2 tablespoons for women. Drinking one regular 8-ounce energy drink makes you go over your sugar allotment for the entire day.

The Sugar-Free Consideration

Opting for a sugar-free energy drink as an alternative nixes all that excess added sugar you’d get from a regular beverage. They're often made with artificial sweeteners, like sucralose or aspartame. An 8-ounce sugar-free energy drink has fewer than 50 calories and zero grams of sugar. That doesn’t mean you should start gulping down sugar-free energy drinks though. They’re still loaded with caffeine, which can make you jittery and even leave you dehydrated. Some varieties also contain large doses of B vitamins that can leave you flushed or cause neurological problems, such as tingling in your extremities. These effects aren't common, however, and you'd most likely have to regularly consume several vitamin B-rich drinks before having problems.

Photo Credits

  • Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Suggest a Correction