What Is the Most Unhealthy Energy Drink on the Market?

When you’re pushing through a tough workout or racing to hit a personal best, energy drinks feel like a shortcut. But not all of them are created equal. Some give you a quick boost without wrecking your health. Others? They’re basically liquid candy with caffeine. If you’re asking which energy drink is the most unhealthy, the answer isn’t just about caffeine. It’s about what’s hiding in the bottle.

The Worst Offender: Full Throttle Original

Let’s break it down. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 36 grams of added sugar per day for men and 25 grams for women. One can of Full Throttle blows past that limit by more than double. And that’s just the sugar. It also contains 160 mg of caffeine - not extreme on its own - but paired with that much sugar, it creates a dangerous combo.

Sugar spikes your blood glucose fast. Your body responds by flooding your system with insulin. Then, within an hour, your energy crashes hard. That’s when you reach for another can. It’s not just fatigue - it’s a cycle. Athletes who rely on this pattern end up with insulin resistance, weight gain, and worse: reduced endurance over time.

Why Sugar Is the Real Problem for Athletes

When you drink a high-sugar energy drink before or during exercise, your body can’t efficiently use the fuel. Instead of burning fat or stored glycogen, it’s forced to process all that liquid sugar. That slows digestion, causes bloating, and increases the risk of cramps. Elite runners and cyclists avoid sugary drinks for this exact reason. They use electrolyte solutions with under 6% carbohydrate concentration. Full Throttle? It’s nearly 15% sugar by volume.

Studies from the University of Florida’s Sports Science Lab show that athletes who consumed high-sugar energy drinks before endurance events performed worse than those who drank water or low-sugar electrolyte beverages. Their heart rates stayed elevated longer, and they hit fatigue 18% faster.

What Else Is in That Can?

• Guarana extract - a natural source of caffeine, but unregulated. It adds another 20-40 mg of hidden caffeine, pushing total intake close to 200 mg.
• Artificial colors - Red 40 and Yellow 5. These are linked to hyperactivity in children and banned in several European countries.
• Preservatives like sodium benzoate - which can react with vitamin C to form benzene, a known carcinogen, especially when exposed to heat or light.
• No electrolytes - despite being marketed to athletes, it contains zero sodium, potassium, or magnesium. Your muscles need these to recover.

Compare that to a drink like Gatorade Zero or Nuun Sport. They have electrolytes, no sugar, and just enough caffeine (if any) to sharpen focus without the crash. Full Throttle gives you none of the benefits - only the downsides.

How Energy Drinks Trick Athletes

Many athletes think they need the sugar for “quick energy.” But your body already stores enough glycogen for 90 minutes of intense activity. You don’t need a sugary blast - you need steady fuel and hydration. The sugar rush is a placebo with real consequences.

Even worse, some young athletes start drinking these daily. By 16, they’re already developing prediabetes. A 2023 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health tracked 1,200 high school athletes. Those who drank energy drinks three or more times a week were 3.5 times more likely to have elevated fasting blood sugar levels than non-drinkers.

What Should Athletes Drink Instead?

• Water + electrolytes - for workouts under 60 minutes.
• Low-sugar sports drinks - like Skratch Labs Hydration Mix (4g sugar per serving) or Tailwind Nutrition (25g sugar per 24 oz, all from natural sources).
• Black coffee - 150 mg caffeine, zero sugar, no additives. Drink it 30 minutes before training.
• Coconut water - natural potassium, low sugar, hydrating. Choose unsweetened.
• Homemade energy drink - mix 1 cup water, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tbsp honey, and a squeeze of lemon. It’s cheaper, healthier, and you control every ingredient.

These options give you sustained energy without the crash. No jitters. No bloating. No sugar hangover the next day.

When Is It Okay to Drink Energy Drinks?

If you’re racing for 6+ hours and need quick calories, a small amount of sugar (15-20g per hour) can help. But pick a product designed for endurance, like Maurten Gel 100 or SiS GO Electrolyte. Not Full Throttle. Not Monster. Not Rockstar.

For 99% of athletes - from weekend warriors to college teams - energy drinks are a bad habit disguised as performance support.

Bottom Line: Skip the Sugar, Save Your Performance

Real athletic performance comes from sleep, hydration, balanced meals, and smart fueling - not from a brightly colored can with a logo that screams “extreme.”

If you’re serious about your training, ditch the energy drinks. Your body will thank you - and your times will show it.