BANG is one of those energy drinks that made huge waves in the food and beverage industry. Now known for its bold packaging and massive energy hits, this drink is still as popular as ever. While it is undeniable that BANG gives you a considerable boost, is it a good drink to drink frequently?
Despite containing 0 calories, carbohydrates, and sugars, BANG is famous for its extremely high caffeine content. A 16 oz. can, has over 300mg of caffeine, the equivalence of 3 cups of coffee! Excess caffeine has been linked to insomnia, anxiety, and further fatigue.
What Is Bang?
BANG is a caffeinated and carbonated energy drink, similar to Red Bull. It is manufactured by Vital Pharmaceuticals, which is also responsible for VPX Sports supplements. BANG produces a wide range of flavors and entertaining names, including “Guess”, “Radical Skadattle”, and “Rainbow Unicorn”. BANG is famous for their extremely high caffeine content. A 16 oz. can of BANG contains 300mg of caffeine, the equivalent of about three cups of coffee! This makes it one of the most caffeinated energy drinks available for purchase. In perspective, current government guidelines recommend that adults consume a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day.
What Else Is In Bang?
According to BANG manufacturers, the drink contains 0g of carbohydrates, sugars, calories, fat, cholesterol, or artificial colors. It also claims to contain some electrolytes like sodium and potassium. It also boasts a long list of vitamins and nutrients:
- Vitamin C
- Niacin
- Nitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Magnesium
Despite having no sugars, BANG drinks are still sweet. This is thanks to sucralose, an artificial sweetener. BANG also contains BCAAs, short for branch-chain amino acids, which are often touted for a myriad of health benefits. For instance, BCAAs have been shown to increase muscle growth, reduce fatigue, and benefit people with liver disease.
Additionally, below is a complete list of the other ingredients found in BANG:
- L-leucine
- Super Creatine (Creatyl-L-Leucine)
- L-valine
- CoQ10
- Carbonated water
- Magnesium chloride
- Calcium Chloride
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Caffeine anhydrous
- Sodium benzoate
- Potassium sorbate
- Sucralose (Artificial sweetener)
- Acesulfame potassium
3 Reasons Why BANG is Not Healthy
Here are some of the ways BANG energy drinks can be harmful and cause health problems if over-consumed.
1. High In Caffeine
With 300mg of caffeine in each can of BANG, you’ll be consuming more than you probably need every time you choose this drink. While this caffeine can give you a much-needed energy boost, it can also be harmful. The FDA recommends that adults consume no more than 400mg of caffeine a day to avoid adverse side effects. This is the recommendation because you may start to experience jitters, shakiness, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, and eventually fatigue after this amount. Yes, too much caffeine can result in tiredness, quite the opposite effect than intended.
In rare cases, excess caffeine can be fatal. Suppose you consume over 400mg of caffeine and your body does not tolerate it well. In that case, you may experience more significant symptoms like trouble breathing, hallucinations, confusion, chest pain, muscle cramps, and convulsions. These are all symptoms of a caffeine overdose and a sign that you need medical attention.
If you already consume caffeine throughout the day, be careful when adding BANG to your routine. With 300mg of caffeine content, drinking one could easily tip you over your recommended daily intake.
2. Artificially Sweetened With Sucralose
Sucralose is the sugar alternative in BANG energy drinks that makes them sweet. Its brand name, Splenda, sweetness a host of drinks on the market today. While sucralose is not sugar, it can still pose some health risks. As far as the FDA is concerned, sucralose is safe to consume. However, some studies indicate it may have some harmful properties. Some studies have shown that the substance may affect your metabolism. It might also disrupt the bacterial environment in your gut. However, as of yet, few studies have been conducted.
3. Contains Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is the preservative found in the BANG energy drink that prolongs its shelf life. While studies are inconclusive, some signs suggest it may have some adverse health effects. One study has indicated that it may change the structure and turn into benzene, a carcinogen, increasing your risk of developing cancer. Additionally, other studies link it to inflammation, ADHD in children, and free radicals from oxidative stress.
When Is It Unsafe To Drink Bang?
BANG is considered safe for most people. However, there are some cases where consuming the energy drink could be extremely harmful.
According to the label, the drink is not suitable for those under 18, pregnant, nursing, or on any drug prescriptions or medications. Some ingredients may also cause allergic reactions. If you’re unsure about whether BANG is safe for you, always ask your doctor before consumption.
How Much Bang Is Too Much?
Because BANG contains 300mg of caffeine, you should never drink more than one. Ideally, you can limit yourself to only a few cans a week. If you start drinking BANG every day, you may find that you develop a caffeine addiction. Plus, you’ll have to cut back on coffees and teas every day to avoid going over the caffeine limit.
Are There Any Benefits To Drinking BANG?
You’ve probably already thought that BANG may not be the healthiest drink. But is there anything about it that is good for you? While there are limited studies on this energy drink brand, thanks to some of the ingredients, there may be a few health benefits.
Boost Your Energy Levels
There’s no doubt about it — this caffeine-heavy drink will give you a serious energy boost. With 300mg of caffeine, a single can has way more caffeine than a cup of coffee, which has around 70-140mg per cup. So, imagine the buzz you get from a cup of coffee and multiply it by three — this is the feeling you might get from BANG.
For this reason, the drink is mainly targeted at professional athletes or people who partake in extreme sports. They are also military-friendly and have a special discount for military members and a flavor made especially for service members only. For people who need this much energy (like athletes or military members), BANG can be helpful.
Packed With Electrolytes
Not only does BANG give you an energy boost from caffeine, but it can also improve your energy and endurance levels by replenishing your electrolyte levels.
Electrolytes are chemicals that are necessary for normal nerve and muscle function. Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate. Without adequate electrolytes in the body, you may begin to experience twitching, heart rate disturbances, weakness, and fatigue.
When we exercise, we tend to lose electrolytes through the sweat glands. It can become necessary for athletes who sweat a lot to replenish lost electrolytes through food or drink.
BANG energy drinks contain plenty of electrolytes, so you may find that it helps your body function, usually during and after working out. One quick note; although BANG does replenish electrolytes because it does not contain carbohydrates, it should not be considered a “recovery beverage”; your body also needs carbohydrates and protein after exercise, not just electrolytes!
Bcaa Content May Help Muscle Health
BANG is one of the energy drinks that is often consumed for its BCAA content. BCAAs are a type of amino acid known as “branched-chain amino acids.” They are known to:
- Increase Muscle Growth
- Decrease Muscle Soreness
- Reduce Exercise Fatigue
- Prevent Muscle Wasting
- Benefit People with Liver Disease
If you tend to do a lot of muscle training and experience extreme muscle soreness or fatigue after working out, BCAAs can help you feel less worn out.
Sugar Free
Another positive aspect of BANG is that it is free from sugars. High sugar diets can cause many health problems, including diabetes, heart failure, high blood sugar, weight gain, and energy crashes.
Many energy drink brands do contain high amounts of sugar. For instance, Red Bull contains 28g, Monster Energy contains 55g, and Rockstar Xdurance includes a whopping 69g.
By choosing BANG as your energy drink, you’ll avoid consuming harmful sugars after every workout.
Super Creatine Content
Creatine is a substance found in muscle cells and is responsible for muscle contraction during exercise. The marketing at BANG says their drink contains “super creatine,” a combination of creatine and leucine, making it even more effective. There is, however, some debate about VPX’s “super creatine” and whether it affects the body the way they say — this article goes in-depth on this issue.
How Long Does Bang Stay In Your System?
The caffeine in BANG energy drinks stays in the system for hours. Caffeine has a half-life of five hours — so, five hours after drinking a can of BANG, you’ll still have 150mg of caffeine in the bloodstream. The effects of this much caffeine can last for many more hours.
Because caffeine lingers in the bloodstream, avoid consuming this drink five hours before bed, as you would have trouble sleeping.
What Are Some Healthy Alternatives To Bang?
If you are worried about the adverse side effects of the BANG energy drink, there are other, healthier ways you can get the energy boost you need after a workout.
If You Are Looking For Beverages That Give Energy Try…
- Green Tea: is energizing, making it the perfect drink to try after a workout. Another benefit is that it helps with your metabolism, which could be beneficial if you’re trying to shed a few pounds.
- Fruit smoothies: contain an array of fruits, which are known to give you a dose of healthy sugars, thus re-energizing the body after a workout. Try including leafy greens or goji berries for an additional boost
- Water: this is the most energizing beverage of them all. Remember to keep drinking plenty of water as you exercise so that you stay hydrated and maintain normal muscle function.
If You Are Looking For Beverages To Replenish Electrolytes…
- Coconut water: is an amazing drink for replenishing lost electrolytes. It’s low in sugar, it’s completely natural, and it contains sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
- Smoothies: certain fruits contain electrolytes that will help you regain normal muscle function so that you’ll feel less light-headed after working out. Include strawberries, cherries, bananas, and mangoes for an electrolyte-heavy smoothie.
- Lemon Water: lemons are a great source of electrolytes, so include a few slices in your post-workout water.
If You Are Looking For Beverages That Can Provide BCAAS…
Milk, soy products, and almonds contain BCAAs, so drinking these types of milk after a workout will give your body the protein it needs to help you achieve your workout goals.
Final Thoughts
While BANG energy drinks probably won’t harm you in moderation, try to limit your consumption of this energy drink. Compared to other energy drinks like Reign or Red Bull, BANG is particularly dangerous because of its excessively high caffeine content.
While BANG may have some welcome effects on the body before, during, or after a gym session, overall, the drink is probably doing more harm than good. Try exploring other, healthier ways to get your energy up.