Sugar content varies dramatically across energy products. Traditional energy drinks can contain significant sugar, while other drinks, powders and gummies are formulated with little or none. The safest way to know is not by the brand image or flavour name. It is by reading the label.
Start with the nutrition information
Look for grams of sugar per serving and confirm how many servings are in the package. If you consume the entire container, calculate the amount based on the entire container rather than one serving.
This is especially important with larger beverages and multi-serving products.
Why “energy” does not tell you anything about sugar
Energy products are defined more by their intended use and ingredients than by one nutrition profile. A canned drink may be sugar-sweetened or zero sugar. A gummy may contain sugar, use a sugar coating or be formulated without sugar. Powders vary as well.
Do not assume a product marketed around fitness or focus is automatically low in sugar.
Read the ingredient list too
The nutrition panel tells you the amount of sugar, while the ingredient list shows what contributes sweetness. If you have preferences around specific sweeteners, both parts of the label matter.
Does zero sugar mean no sweetness?
No. Zero-sugar products can use alternative sweeteners to create a sweet flavour without sugar. That may be exactly what you want, or you may have a preference for a particular sweetener system. The ingredient list provides the detail.
Read what zero sugar means for a deeper look.
Gummy coatings matter too
Some gummies are rolled in sugar or another coating. Others have a smooth, non-coated exterior. If sugar intake or pouch mess matters to you, check both the nutrition information and the product description.
POWERON is zero sugar and has no sugar coating. The strawberry gummies are plant-based and deliver the functional ingredients in a two-gummy serving.
Compare sugar and caffeine separately
A zero-sugar energy product can still contain a substantial caffeine dose. A sugary product can contain a modest one. Sugar and caffeine are separate variables, so evaluate both.
A useful comparison includes caffeine milligrams, sugar grams, serving size and any other active ingredients.
Bottom line
Sugar is not “hidden” when you know where to look. Read grams of sugar per serving, calculate the amount you actually consume and check the ingredient list for the sweetener system. Then evaluate caffeine and the rest of the formula separately.
This article is general information, not medical advice.