Celsius has been a fan favorite for years, but are the “benefits” truly beneficial? Over the years on social media, the Celsius brand has received lots of positive feedback, but also negative. People have noticed that the side effects of the beverage have started to cause them health issues, some as serious as heart problems. However, the brand claims that their purpose is to better our health and improve our fitness activity. So which is it?
There has been plenty of research regarding the ingredients and after reviewing them there were no alarming ingredients found that would be a concern. Except for one, Guarana Seed Extract.
According to the balanced nutritionist, Jamie Na, a registered dietitian stated, “The current research on Guarana Extract is still pretty slim; the caffeine content has been the main focus of our research to date. Very little is known about the safety or efficacy of the many other compounds in this plant.” Therefore, the other ingredients that are typically in the beverage are not alarming, but this one is the most dangerous since there is hardly any research.
The other ingredients include B-vitamins, caffeine, ginger root/extract, green tea leaf and taurine. According to the official Celsius website, the original drink has significantly more caffeine than a typical cup of coffee and other energy drinks, ranging from 200 to 270 mg. However, the caffeine is meant to provide that energy boost aspect, and is recommended to only consume two cans maximum in a day.
It is clear that the Celsius brand is trying their best to ensure they provide a safe, delicious and beneficial beverage for many to enjoy. On their website the recommended portions are included, two cans per day and a message stating if someone is already experiencing health issues it is recommended to speak with their doctor before consuming.
It was found that those who end up with a health problem and blame it on the beverage it is because they tend to drink more than what is recommended, and other factors in their lifestyle affect it.
I had spoken to a couple of people that do and don’t enjoy the drink, to get a better understanding if drinking the beverage is truly worth the “benefits.” One of them being Hugo Cota, a senior, who is known for having an energy drink every single day.
“I used to like Celsius a lot, but not anymore. I prefer other energy drinks,” Cota said.
When interviewing him, it was clear that he used to be a big fan, but he had made it clear that he no longer drinks the beverage because he does not get as much “energy” compared to other drinks.
The whole concept of drinking the beverage is to promote a faster metabolism, lose body fat, and gain energy. Cota claimed to not have received any of those benefits. With this in mind, it is also important to take notice that if someone has a high tolerance for caffeine, there is a chance that they will not have the energy booster effect from the beverage. This is what Cota experienced.
He did, however, describe how his body would react to the drink if there happened to be no food in his system.
“Every time I drink it without eating beforehand, I get a lot hungrier. When I drink more than two my body starts shaking, especially my hands,” Cota said.
Proving that the recommended amount per day is two, or else it will have a negative effect on the body.
One of our favorite chemistry teachers, Micah You (Mr. You), also had a lot to say about this topic. As we know, he drinks a lot of Celsius, at least one per day! We had gone over the history of Celsius, and I had asked him how the drink affects his body.
“I would just kind of get more jittery. I feel a lot better and more energetic with the smaller cans, but with the larger ones I feel more hyperish. Over time though it goes away,” You said.
Along with Cota, You was facing jittery hands and all throughout his body. Although it makes him hyper, he explained that it keeps him awake throughout the school day.
“On weekends and vacations, I pretty much don’t drink Celsius. I’ll drink it during the week because otherwise, I just get drained. It helps maintain my energy levels,” You said.
It is clear that the beverage does help You to maintain a good energy level for us students, so not only is it beneficial for him but for us!
Overall, the Celsius drink is a great beverage to boost your metabolism, energy and to promote losing body fat. As long as we take notice of the recommendations on the website, we will get the full benefit of the beverage. It also depends on one’s tolerance for caffeine. Otherwise, health problems may occur, becoming jittery or too hyper, or in all not getting the full effect of losing body fat. If you want an energy booster, with a variety of delicious flavors to choose from and a drink that can boost your metabolism, Celsius is the way to go. After all of the research completed, it is clear that Celsius will continue to be a fan favorite.
