Today, when we think of energy drinks one name that pops up is Celsius Drink. Everyone is drinking it- it’s the new trend. In case you’re wondering whether to hop onto the bandwagon, here is everything you need to know about Celsius Energy Drink to make your decision
What Is Celsius Drink?
Celsius is a low-calorie energy drink that is marketed as a ‘healthy energy drink’. It sets itself apart from other energy drinks because it focuses on movement. It claims to boost your metabolism, help burn fat, and will provide you extra energy to complete your workout or battle a tiring workday. According to their official site, Celsius is made with the best ingredients and is also free of artificial preservatives or flavors, contains no high fructose corn syrup or aspartame, and is also low in sodium.
The can is beautifully designed that will catch your eye and incline you to buy it. Furthermore, it attests itself as zero sugar, gluten-free, non-GMO, and certified vegan and kosher
Celsius Drink Ingredients
The drink boasts to have the best ingredients, so let us see what ingredients it contains and what they contribute to the drink.
- Green Tea Extract: Celsius contains green tea extract with a specific ratio of 15% EGCG which is epigallocatechin gallate. Green tea is widely popular to help boost metabolism and burn fat, one of its functional compounds EGCG is a polyphenol that has plenty of health benefits attributed to it. An Observed Safe Level of 704 mg/day of EGCG could be considered when green tea extract is consumed in a beverage form, however, Celsius doesn’t state the amount of GTE included so we don’t know how much can be consumed safely or if it has sufficient to be clinically effective.
- Guarana Seed Extract: This is a well-known ingredient in energy drinks because of its stimulant properties since it has high contents of caffeine in it. Unlike most energy drinks Celsius uses the guarana seed rather than the root because it contains double the amount of caffeine in it. According to studies, a seed can contain up to 6% caffeine and the seed extract can contain 9.8-11% caffeine.
- Ginger Root: Ginger has many well-known advantages ranging from stimulating the gastrointestinal tract to reducing inflammation. In Celsius, the ginger root is added for a spicy flavor, to support the process of thermogenesis and help the digestive system. Once again, we don’t know how much ginger is added and whether it’s enough to be clinically effective or not.
- Vitamin B: Celsius contains B vitamins at 118%- 1000% daily value. B vitamins are added since they are essential for energy production, regulate cell health and metabolism as well as support your adrenal glands to recover from fatigue.
- Vitamin C: In a post-Covid-19 world vitamin C has gained a lot of importance because of its immune-aiding properties, similarly in Celsius it’s added at 67% daily value to help the immune system, tissue repair, and enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters.
- Chromium: Chromium is an essential trace mineral, which means, it’s needed in small amounts to meet daily requirements, it’s recently gaining popularity for its beneficial effects on blood glucose levels, however in Celsius, it’s added because it helps control hunger. It is added at 143% of the daily value.
Other ingredients include: Carbonated filtered water, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sucralose, and Beta Carotene for color.
Celsius Nutrition Facts
Now that we know the ingredients of Celsius, let’s see the nutritional facts mentioned on the label.
The following information is from a can of CELSIUS Sparkling Orange:
Serving Size: 12 fl. Oz (355 ml)
Serving Size Per Container 1
Calories- 10 Kcal
Total Carbohydrates- 2 g
Vitamin C- 60 mg
Riboflavin- 1.7 mg
Niacin- 20 mg
Vitamin B6- 2 mg
Vitamin B12- 6 mcg
Biotin- 300 mcg
Pantothenic Acid- 10 mg
Calcium- 50 mg
Chromium- 50 mcg
Sodium- 0g
MetaPlus Proprietary Blend (containing taurine, guarana extract, caffeine, glucuronolactone, ginger extract, green tea extract- 1.81 g
Celsius Flavors
Celsius has a wide range of products, each with a wide range of flavors. Here is a list of the different products and flavors for you to decide which is the best Celsius flavor.
Celsius- This is the original product with 15 exciting flavors:
- Sparkling Arctic Vibe
- Sparkling Mango Passionfruit
- Sparkling Strawberry Guava
- Sparkling Fuji Apple Pear
- Sparkling Kiwi Guava
- Sparkling Cola
- Peach Mango Green Tea
- Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade
- Sparkling Tropical Vibe
- Sparkling Peach Vibe
- Sparkling Orange
- Sparkling Wild Berry
- Sparkling Grape Rush
- Raspberry Acai Green Tea
Best Celsius Flavor Reddit
After going through multiple Reddits for the most preferred Celsius flavor, it is understood that Peach Vibe is the most preferred flavor. Do try it and let us know in the comments if it is really that good.
Celsius Heat: The Performance- This product optimizes performance and takes your workout to the next level; it has added L-citrulline and a higher amount of caffeine than the original product. There are 7 different flavors:
- Mango Tango
- Cherry Lime
- Strawberry Dragon fruit
- Blueberry Pomegranate
- Jack fruit
- Inferno Punch
- Orangesicle
Celsius BCAA: The Recovery- This product has a unique blend of BCAAs, tart cherry, vitamin D3, electrolytes, and caffeine that helps to recover and rebuild your muscles and reduce inflammation. There are 3 flavors to explore from:
- Sparkling Blue Razz
- Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade
- Sparkling Tropical Twist
Celsius Stevia: The Smartly Sweet- This product is similar to the original Celsius but is sweetened by stevia and caffeinated with green coffee bean extract. There are 4 different flavors to choose from:
- Watermelon Berry
- Sparkling Grapefruit
- Sparkling Orange Pomegranate
- Sparkling Cucumber Lime
Celsius On–The–Go- This product is the same as the original Celsius but in powder form so you can have it anywhere and anytime just by adding water to it. There are 6 exciting flavors:
- Kiwi Guava Lime
- Dragon fruit Lime
- Orange
- Cranberry Lemon
- Coconut
- Berry
How much Caffeine is in Celsius?
Celsius as we now know is an energy-boosting drink that works by boosting metabolism, as with other energy drinks these results are because of the caffeine in the drink
Celsius, Celsius Stevia and Celsius-On-The-Go drinks contain 200 mg of caffeine in one can (12 fl. Oz)
Celsius BCAA drink contains 100 mg of caffeine in one can (12 fl. Oz)
Celsius Heat drink contains 300 mg of caffeine in one can (16 fl. Oz)
To give you some perspective, one 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, and as per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 400 mg/day of caffeine is the safe amount for adults.
This would mean that you cannot have more than 2 cans of Celsius per day, as it’s mentioned on the can. Further, having more than one can of Celsius Heat is also not recommended since it has a higher amount of caffeine
Celsius has a higher caffeine content than other popular energy drinks, for example, Red Bull contains 75 mg of caffeine in 8.4 fl. Oz (250 ml) and Monster contains 105 mg of caffeine in 11.8 fl. Oz (350 ml)
Also Read: Top nutrient dense foods on earth
What do the Studies Show?
We have seen the claims that Celsius makes in terms of boosting metabolism and burning fat but let’s see if these claims are backed by clinical evidence.
A study showed that Celsius intake significantly increased energy expenditure compared to a non-caloric, non-caffeinated beverage, they burned an additional 106 calories over three hours however due to it the short-term nature of the study, it did not prove whether it is effective in losing fat mass as the effects of the ingredients may diminish with chronic use
Another study showed that when not combined with exercise, Celsius yields no appreciable effect on body fat or composition after 10 weeks of daily consumption but when consumed with exercise is effective. It also explained a short-term fat-burning effect which diminished after 28 days of daily intake. On a practical level, it also mentioned that the drink is well tolerated and does not elicit any adverse effects beyond some incidences of troubled sleep when had once daily for 10 weeks.
Who Should Avoid Celsius?
As per the official site, Celsius is not recommended for children under 18 years, people sensitive to caffeine, or women who are pregnant or lactating. In addition to this, it should also be avoided by people who have a sensitive gut because it contains sucralose an artificial sweetener as well as high amounts of caffeine, people with anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and certain cardiac conditions like arrhythmias since it has a lot of caffeine. It is avoidable to consume at night as well since it may affect sleep. If you have any medical condition and/or are on any medication, consult your healthcare provider before consuming Celsius.
Are Celsius Drinks Bad for You?
Now that we know everything there is to know about Celsius drinks we can determine, is Celsius bad for you?
Strict speaking, if you consume it in moderation then no, it’s not bad for a healthy adult. Even studies show that consuming one daily for up to 10 weeks shows no adverse effect.
Remember that even if it has added vitamins and minerals, it is not a substitute for real food and shouldn’t be overconsumed irrespective of how beneficial it may be. Also, keep in mind that the beneficial effects are seen when clubbed with exercise
Even if it is not bad for you, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy so it’s also important to question whether it is as healthy as it claims to be.
The added B- vitamins are more than those needed every day, these vitamins are already widespread in our daily diet so the excess is just unnecessary because they are water-soluble and will just be excreted if not needed.
Chromium as well, is a trace mineral, whose requirements are often met by our regular diet, and supplementation is helpful in certain conditions, not for everyone
Moreover, the caffeine in Celsius will actually interfere with the absorption of these vitamins and minerals anyways, not allowing them to be of much value.
Increased caffeine content also has certain negative effects on your health like depression, anxiety, increased urination, faster heart rate, dehydration, irritability, drowsiness, etc.
Celsius though not exactly bad, is not recommended to have daily, it’s more for high-functioning athletes who would need the extra energy boost but for healthy adults, once a while in moderation it’s okay!
Where to Buy Celsius Drinks
Celsius energy drinks may be available at a variety of convenience stores, grocery shops, pharmacies, and department stores like Target. It is also available on various online platforms like Amazon.
References:
- CELSIUS® Fitness Drinks – Essential Energy for An Active Lifestyle. (2022, April 22). Celsius. https://www.celsius.com/
- Hu, J., Webster, D., Cao, J., & Shao, A. (2018). The safety of green tea and green tea extract consumption in adults – Results of a systematic review. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 95, 412–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.03.019
- Schimpl, F. C., da Silva, J. F., Gonçalves, J. F. D. C., & Mazzafera, P. (2013). Guarana: Revisiting a highly caffeinated plant from the Amazon. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 150(1), 14–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.08.023
- Coffee. (2021, July 6). The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/
- Facts and Figures- Red Bull Energy Drink. https://www.redbull.com/in-en/energydrink/red-bull-energy-drink-ingredients-list
- Dalbo, V. J., Roberts, M. D., Stout, J. R., & Kerksick, C. M. (2008). Acute effects of ingesting a commercial thermogenic drink on changes in energy expenditure and markers of lipolysis. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-5-6
- Lockwood, C. M., Moon, J. R., Smith, A. E., Tobkin, S. E., Kendall, K. L., Graef, J. L., Cramer, J. T., & Stout, J. R. (2010). Low-Calorie Energy Drink Improves Physiological Response to Exercise in Previously Sedentary Men: A Placebo-Controlled Efficacy and Safety Study. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(8), 2227–2238. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181aeb0cf
- Wolde T. (2014) Effect of caffeine on health and nutrition: A Review. Food Science and Quality Management, Vol. 30. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279923885_Effects_of_caffeine_on_health_and_nutrition_A_Review
