Flu season is unpredictable, and you never know when you might get sick. It isn’t uncommon to feel that your health is declining or wake up feeling ill sometimes. It can be very frustrating if you have important work or things to do while sick with the flu.
It is important to rest and take appropriate medications to overcome the flu. However, energy drinks are a good option if you can’t stay home.
When the flu affects your body, you are left weaker and are unable to finish your work. In such conditions, energy drinks help to boost your energy levels.
But, is it safe to drink energy drinks while you’re sick?
There are some energy drinks that you should not consume if you are sick. If a supplement is effective, look at its essential vitamins, nootropic ingredients, and hydrating formula. It may aid in fighting the flu.
It is better to search for energy drinks with potential ingredients that will aid you to tackle the flu. If you clicked on this article, it is probably because you are looking for a flu-fighting energy drink.
Hence, to make your search easier, I have put together a list of the best energy drinks that can be consumed during flu season.
In short, Advocare Spark, Monster Zero Ultra, and XS energy drinks are good for combating the flu.
Keep reading to find out more about these energy drinks. But, first, let’s check what the symptoms of flu are.
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Symptoms of Flu
Before selecting an energy drink to help with flu, it is better to determine the symptoms you are experiencing. This way, you will be able to know whether you should have energy drinks or not.
Influenza is a very common virus in modern society and is a cause of flu. There are full chances of getting infected by flu once a year if you have not gotten flu shots.
Following are the detrimental symptoms you can experience if you are coming down with the flu.
Cough
Fever
Runny nose
Stuffy nose
Sore throat
Fatigue
Headaches or body aches
Effective Remedies to Combat Flu
There are several home remedies that doctors and medical specialists suggest you can use to treat flu at home without seeing a doctor.
For fast recovery from the flu, it is important to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of fluids, eat warm broth, take more zinc, gargle with salt water, use humidifiers, and eat bland foods.
Moreover, herbal teas containing green or black tea, turmeric, fresh or dried ginger, fresh garlic, cloves, and star anise are recommended for treating certain health problems.
Additionally, echinacea tea or supplements may also benefit you as it is known to reduce inflammation and more aggressive flu symptoms.
Ingredients Present in Energy Drinks
Before purchasing an energy drink, you need to know its ingredients. Almost all energy drinks contain the same amount of ingredients in their formula.
Here are the top two main ingredients found in almost every energy drink.
Sugar
Sugar is one of the crucial ingredients you look out for in an energy drink before purchasing them.
Sugar is a molecule found in many foods and beverages as an additive as it adds taste to them. Furthermore, it is also one of the most important ingredients present in an energy drink. Therefore, whenever you purchase an energy drink, always look out for the sugar content present in that energy drink.
Any energy drinks contain high amounts, and since excessive sugar consumption is bad for you, it always stays within limits. However, there are options available for energy drinks that are sugar-free. So, if you want to avoid sugar overall, you can opt for those.
Also, remember sugar is not good for you when you are sick or have the flu. It may prevent your immune system from getting rid of the bacteria present in your body.
Furthermore, it is highly important to avoid too much sugar even if you are not sick since it cause many side effects like:
So, always try to limit your daily intake and only have 25g to 36g of sugar in a day as it is a healthy amount as recommended by the American Health Association.
Caffeine
Caffeine is another crucial ingredient present in energy drinks as it boosts your energy levels.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant with brain-boosting nutrients to energize you throughout the day. It is present in almost every energy drink. However, the caffeine content may vary from brand to brand.
Most energy drinks have moderate caffeine content, which is more than enough to keep you boosted. However, many energy drinks have high caffeine content or are completely caffeine-free.
A healthy adult should consume only up to 400mg of caffeine in a day as it is a safe amount and will not cause any negative impact on your health. But, remember, everyone has a different resistance to caffeine, and how caffeine affects you entirely depends on your caffeine tolerance. So, if you are caffeine sensitive, you can face side effects like headaches if you intake too much caffeine.
Furthermore, besides providing you energy, caffeine also has many health benefits if you don’t overdo it. When you are down with flu, one cup of caffeine will help you battle tiredness and grogginess if you don’t have any time to rest.
But, remember, if you consume too much caffeine, it can interfere with your good night’s sleep. So, always try to avoid taking caffeine in the evening.
Is It ok To Have Caffeine When You Are Down With A Cold?
Yes, you can consume caffeine even when you have the flu or cold.
The caffeine in energy drinks provides you energy, improves your endurance, and increases your alertness and concentration levels. This means whenever you are suffering from a cold or flu, you can easily have caffeine to gain some energy.
But, remember, when sick, it is important to have a good sleep to recover easily. So, if you feel like caffeine is interfering with your sleep, try to lower your daily caffeine intake or stop taking caffeine altogether until you’re healthy again.
Overall, there are benefits and drawbacks of consuming caffeine whenever you are sick. So, a small amount of caffeine is perfectly ok, especially if it makes your day good.
Want to know more about whether caffeine helps with flu or not? Then, check this video out.
Is It ok To Have Energy Drink When You Are Sick?
Yes, there is nothing wrong with having energy drinks when you are down with the flu.
Various studies show that people with colds with caffeine improved their alertness and mental performance. Therefore, you can easily enjoy your favorite caffeinated beverages even if you have flu, as it will help make you feel better.
Remember that too much caffeine or energy drinks, in general, are not good for your health. That is why I always try to consume them in moderate amounts.
Furthermore, I have discussed the effect of energy drinks on health in my other article.
Do Energy Drinks Interfere With Medications?
Yes, energy drinks can interfere with your medicines.
Energy drinks can interfere with your medicines; therefore, whenever you are sick, always consult your doctor before consuming energy drinks.
Furthermore, if you are on medicines, I suggest you lay off energy drinks for some time so that you won’t worsen your condition.
Can Energy Drinks Help You Recover From Fatigue?
Yes, energy drinks are beneficial and can help you recover from the fatigue you feel due to the flu.
You have a stuffy or runny nose when you have the flu, but you can also experience malaise. Malaise makes your body weak and reduces your alertness and functions.
Therefore, the caffeine in energy drinks can help you recover from this fatigue and keep you energized to go through your day easily.
Can You Mix Cold Medicines and Energy Drinks?
No, it would be best if you did not mix energy drinks with cold medicines.
There is a trend of mixing energy drinks with cold medicines to experience high, dangerous, and can cause fatal health issues.
So, if you want to consume energy drinks while you are on medicines, then have them as far apart from your cold medication as possible. Also, I will highly recommend that you consult your doctor before drinking energy drinks.
Can You Consume Red Bull If You Have Flu?
Yes, you can have red bull even if you have flu.
Red Bull energy drink contains 27g of sugar, 80 mg of caffeine, and 110 calories in one can. The caffeine present in this energy drink is more than enough to boost your energy and help you combat the flu. This means you can easily have this energy drink.
Other Beverages to Drink With Flu
Whenever you suffer from flu and need energy, instead of always relying on energy drinks, try to look out for other amazing alternatives. Here are some other options you can drink.
Water
Water is an incredible alternative to energy drinks as it helps lose the mucus and relieves the stuffiness you feel when you are sick.
Hot Herbal Tea
Hot herbal teas are another good beverage you can drink to relieve yourself from the flu. This will help you with a sore throat, fatigue, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing.
Orange Juice
Orange juice is packed with vitamin C, which boosts your immunity. So, it is also an incredible alternative you can have when you have flu.
Best Energy Drinks For Flu
Now that you know whether you can have energy drinks when you have the flu or not, let’s look at the top three energy drinks you can have with the flu. I have added a table below that shows the energy drinks that are best for flu.
Energy Drink
Caffeine
Price
Sugar
Calories
Advocare Spark
120mg
$24.99-$64.50 (Depends on stores)
0g
15
XS Energy
80mg
$33.51
0g
10
Monster Zero Ultra
140mg
$34.99
0g
0
Here are the best energy drinks for the flu.
Monster Zero Ultra
Calorie content: 190 mg
Caffeine content: 140 mg
Sugar content: 54g
Monster Zero Ultra energy drink is an incredible energy drink you can have when you have the flu. This energy drink powder contains 54 mg of sugar, 140 mg of caffeine, and 190 calories in its formula. Furthermore, this energy drink is filled with amazing vitamins and minerals.
Also, this energy drink has low calories compared to the original one. So, if you need to boost your energy, then this drink is perfect to have with the flu. But, remember it has too much sugar in it, which can be bad, especially if you are sick. Therefore, drink this energy drink sip by sip and limit it to one serving daily.
If you are interested to know further about the ingredients of monster energy, check out my other article on monster energy.
Advocare Spark
Calorie content: 15
Caffeine content: 120 mg
Sugar content: Zero sugar
Next on our list of best energy drinks for Flu is Advocare Spark. This energy drink powder contains 120 mg of caffeine, a moderate amount to boost your energy levels. Furthermore, this energy drink has essential nutrients and vitamins in its formula, which will provide you with hydration.
Also, this energy drink is completely sugar-free, which means you won’t have to worry about worsening your health. Moreover, since it comes in small sachets, you can easily carry it around. Besides this, Advocare Spark is a pocket-friendly energy drink that costs approximately $2.50, so buying this will not put a dent in your pocket.
XS Energy
Calorie content: 10
Caffeine content: 80 mg
Sugar content: Zero sugar
XS energy drink is another great option of energy drink you can have if you are sick. This energy drink is completely sugar-free and has only ten calories. Furthermore, this energy drink has 80 mg of caffeine, enough to keep you energized.
Furthermore, this energy drink has a variety of vitamins and minerals, making it an incredible option to have when you are down with the flu.
Conclusion
Overall, Advocare Spark, Monster, and XS energy drinks are incredible options for beverages, and you can easily have them when you are down with the flu.
It is always better to have a good rest and medicines whenever you are sick. Energy drinks are undoubtedly good and can provide you with energy and temporary relief from the flu. However, they are not hydrating and can worsen your condition if not taken properly.
So, therefore, always try not to rely on energy drinks and drink plenty of water so that you won’t feel dehydrated. Also, have healthy foods and a proper diet to recover fast.
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