In recent years, energy drinks have become increasingly popular, especially among youth, as an everyday drink. Specifically, Celsius has gained much attention in recent years, coming out with new flavors and boosting sales. On the front of a Celsius bottle are health advertisements such as “burns body fat” and “accelerates metabolism,” which give off the impression that it's a relatively healthy drink to most buyers. On top of this, the low calories in each drink and low amount of sugar even further insinuate that Celsius is a nutritious and health-beneficial drink. But do we know what we are putting into our bodies? Celsius claims to have positive health benefits, and per drink only contains 10 calories. Although, on average, Celsius has around 200 milligrams of caffeine (to put this in perspective, one 8-ounce cup of coffee has around 95 milligrams of caffeine), this is double what an average teenager should consume a day. Adding on, even though Celsius does not have sugar, it still contains artificial sweeteners and added sugars. Continuing with ingredients, on the back of a Celsius can it contains eye-catching words like "ginger root" , "vitamin B" , and all types of natural extracts. Though all these ingredients are beneficial, the actual amount of each ingredient in the drink is unknown. So yes, ginger in Celsius is healthy, but because of the hidden amount, it might not be enough to have a positive impact on one's body.
In 2022, Celsius was sued for claiming to not have any preservatives in their drink when in reality the drink contains citric acid (a preservative and flavoring agent), which can cause some inflammatory effects in some individuals. Though a small issue, false advertising can lead customers to be deluded in what they are purchasing.
Does this mean Celsius is a “bad” drink? No. A study showed 2 men used, one periodically consuming Celsius and one not. Both exercised for 10 weeks, and the one who drank Celsius continuously showed more physical improvements (registered). Most dietitians agree that Celsius is fine when consumed in moderation and is healthier in comparison to Red Bull and Monster Energy. Celsius (and caffeine in general) can improve physical fitness and pain tolerance by a small margin after consumption. So it can be a beneficial pre-workout tool in replacement of coffee. However, in reality, Celsius on its own cannot be a major factor in health wellness, metabolism, or weight loss. But when paired with a good diet and exercise, it may provide some positive results. In reality, it's best to have realistic health expectations and to receive real benefits by investing in fitness and nutrition.
Works Cited
“Are Celsius Energy Drinks Healthy? A Registered Dietitian Answers.” Illuminate Labs, 21 Aug. 2024, illuminatelabs.org/blogs/health/is-celsius-good-for-you?srsltid=AfmBOopR1vNkLip6jWwawE2aF2WkYHcwp_ESo5G7TLLN8nzIO5ro8OoU. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.
Landman, Keren. “Energy Drinks Are Everywhere. How Dangerous Are They?” Vox, Vox, 17 July 2024, www.vox.com/even-better/360940/energy-drinks-health-risks-caffeine-celsius-monster-red-bull-panera-charged-lemonade-taurine-guarana-arrhythmia.
Registered, Jamie N. “Is Celsius Bad for You? The Truth from a Dietitian.” The Balanced Nutritionist, 9 Aug. 2023, thebalancednutritionist.com/is-celsius-bad-for-you/). Accessed 31 Aug. 2024. Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board