Sugar is bad, right! Sugar is bad, right? But that’s not the case. Let’s look at Red Bull Sugarfree today to find out if it is healthy. Read more Sugar-Free Red Bull Nutrition Facts here!
Red Bull Sugarfree contains the artificial sweetener, aspartame. Studies have shown that this has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer. Acesulfame K is another artificial sweetener that could pose health risks. Red Bull Sugarfree’s caffeine and taurine may have health and performance benefits.
I will be examining all the ingredients in Red Bull Sugarfree, as well as the research that has been done to determine if they are healthy. Red Bull Sugarfree can be used to lose weight, raise blood sugar levels, and more.
Sugar-Free Red Bull Nutrition Facts: Is it bad for you?
These are the 12 questions I will be answering regarding Sugar Free Red Bull nutrition. You can click any one of these to jump to the next section, or scroll down to see them all.
1. What is Sugar-Free Red Bull Made From?
Let’s begin by taking a look at Sugar Free Red Bull.
Red Bull Sugarfree Ingredients – Carbonated Water, Citric Acid and Taurine, Magnesium Carate, Sodium Bicarbonate. Vitamin B12, Vitamin B12 (HCl), Pyridoxine HCl. Vitamin B12, Xanthan Gum. Natural Flavors and Colors.
Also, read Red Bull Nutrition Facts!!
These are my top takeaways on these ingredients.
Red Bull Sugarfree has aspartame, acesulfame K and is sweetened with them. There have been studies that link them to increased cancer risk, heart disease and brain disease, as well as mood disorders and insulin resistance. Below, we’ll be looking at them more closely.
Red Bull Sugarfree appears to use artificial colors. Strangely, the ingredients list only mentions “Colors”, without specifying whether they’re artificial or natural. However, other sources refer to them as artificial colours, including red 40. Artificial colors have been linked to hyperactivity in children, and even cancer.
Red Bull Sugarfree contains caffeine. There are pros and cons to caffeine. Caffeine may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Too much caffeine can cause anxiety and disrupt sleep.
Red Bull Sugarfree contains taurine. Taurine, an amino acid that can be used as a supplement, may offer benefits. These benefits include improved athletic performance and prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Find out more about taurine.
Red Bull Sugarfree now has B vitamins. It isn’t a significant benefit as many B vitamins can be hard to find and are better absorbed from whole foods. It’s nice to have some additional B vitamins.
Red Bull Sugarfree can be enjoyed in moderation and may contain some helpful ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, or B vitamins. Is it worth the risks of artificial ingredients?
Red Bull Sugarfree’s artificial sweeteners are the biggest problem for many people. Let’s have a closer look at these next.
2. Artificial Sweeteners in Sugar-Free Red Bull?
Red Bull Sugarfree is made with artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame K. These two artificial sweeteners are FDA approved and are the most commonly used in the world. Studies have shown possible links to obesity, cancer, heart disease and stroke as well as depression, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Alzheimers and other diseases.
Aspartame is a controversial topic so let’s discuss it. It would be difficult to list all the health risks associated with aspartame here. This U.S. page will help you get started on this topic. Right to Know. I will try to sum up.
Aspartame is one of the most controversial ingredients.
Cancer: Evidence has shown that aspartame can cause cancer in rodents if they are exposed over their lifetime. Aspartame was also suggested as an explanation for the dramatic rise in malignant brain tumours in the years following its approval.
Heart Disease: Many prominent cardiologists have stopped using aspartame due to the overwhelming evidence against it. One 2014 study showed that women who consumed more than two diet beverages per day had higher rates of cardiovascular events (like heart attacks).
Brain Disease: Research shows that diet drinks are linked to three times the risk of dementia and stroke than regular ones. Methanol is also thought to be a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease. It is a product of the body’s breakdown of aspartame.
Obesity: This is a bit ironic since aspartame can be found in many “diet” products. Research has shown that aspartame can cause weight gain and increase appetite.
Plus, there have been potential links between aspartame, headaches, mood disorders and learning problems. You can find a complete list of sources here.
What about Acesulfame Potassium? This sweetener is also known as “acesulfame K”, or “Ace K.” Below are some of the concerns people have about it.
Research from the 1970s indicated that acesulfameK may cause cancer. However, the quality of the studies was poor. (source)
Acetoacetamide, which is a breakdown product of acetoacetamide potassium, can cause thyroid damage. (source)
A study of lactating mothers revealed that acesulfame K was most likely to find its way into breastmilk in a study. (source)
Remember: Long-term health risks associated with artificial sweeteners should be considered as concerns. They would likely not be approved by FDA or other government agencies if they were found to be dangerous.
It is important to recognize that artificial sweeteners such as Red Bull Sugarfree and other zero calorie drinks can pose a risk. You may be fine, especially if you do it in moderation.
3. Red Bull Sugar-Free or Not?
Red Bull Sugarfree is sugar-free. Red Bull Sugarfree is free of cane sugar, high fructose Corn Syrup, and other sugars. Instead, it contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame and Acesulfame K.
Red Bull Sugarfree does not contain carbs. Each 8.4 ounce can contains approximately 3 grams of total carbs and 5 calories.
4. Red Bull Sugar-Free: Does it raise blood sugar?
Red Bull Sugarfree did not raise blood sugar. Red Bull Sugarfree does contain aspartame and Acesulfame K which could affect insulin resistance. (source)
Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners that are not caloric may alter the bacteria in your gut. This can cause a decrease in your tolerance to carbs.
A 2014 study of rats revealed that aspartame increased fasting glucose levels. An insulin tolerance test also showed aspartame impairs insulin-stimulated glucose disposal.
There are also discussions about artificial sweeteners creating insulin problems through another mechanism. This means that artificial sweeteners may cause insulin issues even if there is no sugar in your bloodstream.
Be cautious. Red Bull Sugarfree may be able to help you control your blood sugar. Keep in mind, however, that some effects on blood sugar can be delayed by long-term changes to your gut bacteria. This could take several days or even longer.
Similar Questions
Is Sugar-Free Red Bull a Cause of Diabetes? In several studies, artificial sweeteners have been shown to increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. It is therefore possible that Red Bull Sugarfree could increase diabetes risk.
5. Are Red Bull’s Taurine and Taurine Bad for You?
Most likely, you’ve seen “taurine”, a prominent ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull Sugarfree. What is it and should it be a concern?
Taurine is an essential amino acid that’s used in many functions of our nervous system. Taurine is sometimes called a “nonessential amino acid” because it is not required to be consumed in our diet. It is already present in our bodies naturally.
Manufacturers are adding taurine to energy drinks such as Red Bull. Why? Taurine has been shown to improve athletic performance in some studies.
Some of the pro-taurine studies that are often cited are not of high quality. There are many other studies that show no benefit from supplemental taurine. It’s difficult to say if taurine is overhyped.
Red Bull taurine intake is not without risks. We don’t know. Although it isn’t possible to be certain, long-term taurine supplementation hasn’t been thoroughly studied. However, most people consider it very safe.
Your health is likely to be just fine with the Taurine in Red Bull. There may be real benefits, not just for sports performance but also in preventing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Side Note: It is common to believe that taurine can be extracted from the testicles of bulls. This is incorrect. Today, the synthetic production of taurine is used in energy drinks. Learn more about whether energy drinks can be made vegan in my post.
6. What is the Sodium Content of Sugar-Free Red Bulls?
Red Bull Sugarfree contains about 105mg sodium per 8.4 oz. can. This is roughly the same sodium content as a handful Planters Cocktail Peanuts. This is less than 5% of the 2,300 mg sodium daily recommendation.
Red Bull Sugarfree can easily lead to you consuming hundreds of milligrams sodium per day if you continue drinking it. Keep your sodium levels under control by being mindful.
7. Sugar-Free Red Bull Has Caffeine?
Red Bull Sugarfree contains approximately 80mg of caffeine per can (8.4 fluid ounces). This is comparable to the caffeine found in a cup coffee. (source)
Sugar-free Red Bull can keep you awake when you need it. However, this caffeine can have side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, too much caffeine can cause anxiety and increase heart rate.
8. Red Bull Sugar-Free: Is it good for weight loss?
Red Bull Sugarfree Zero-calorie drinks are popular because they don’t contain any extra calories. The evidence is clear that artificial sweeteners are not effective in weight loss. They may even cause weight gain.
It would be reasonable to expect significant weight loss by switching to zero-calorie sweeteners from sugar. After all, it cuts down on all the calories you used to consume from sugar. They cause very little or no weight loss, according to most studies.
One explanation is that artificial sweeteners make you more accustomed to sweet foods and drinks. You still crave sweets but you end up eating more calories by choosing something else.
Your microbiome, which is your gut bacteria, could also be a reason. Red Bull Sugarfree and other drinks with artificial sweeteners may not be the best choice for weight loss.
Remember: Weight loss is about your overall diet and calorie intake. One food doesn’t make or break your diet. If your goal is to lose weight, you might consider tracking your calories or following these 18 tips to help you lose weight without counting calories.
Red Bull Sugarfree is not going to make or break your weight loss journey. Based on research that links aspartame to weight gain, it could be a negative.
9. Is Sugar-Free Red Bull a Cause of Cancer?
There is no direct evidence linking energy drink consumption with cancer risk. However, research has shown that Red Bull Sugarfree may contain ingredients that could increase cancer risk. These ingredients include:
Aspartame
Acesulfame K
Artificial Colors
Unfortunately, not enough research has been done over time to determine the effects of these ingredients.
Although there are still questions regarding the possible impact of each ingredient on cancer risk, it would not be accurate to state that Red Bull Sugarfree causes Cancer.
10. Red Bull Sugar-Free is Healthier than Coffee
Red Bull Sugarfree is generally less healthy than regular coffee. Because it doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners and colors, coffee is generally healthier. Coffee is also a good source of antioxidants, which are beneficial for your health.
This is an exception. If you add too much sugar to your coffee, it can become more unhealthy than sugar-free Red Bull. It’s almost like comparing apples and oranges.
11. Do you think drinking sugar-free Red Bull every day is bad for you?
Red Bull Sugarfree is not something I enjoy. Why? Aspartame is the main reason.
My initial decision to stay away from aspartame was based on research about the effects of this ingredient on depression. There are many potential problems, as I have already mentioned.
Red Bull Sugarfree would be a treat that I only had occasionally, if at all.
12. Is Red Bull Zero Healthy?
Drink companies may offer multiple options for “diet,” sugar free, or zero sugar. This can make it confusing. For example, what is the difference between Diet Coke Zero and Coke Zero?
Red Bull is in the same position. Red Bull has two versions of Red Bull Sugarfree and Zero. This is a key part in their marketing. What’s the difference between Red Bull Sugarfree and Red Bull Zero?
Red Bull Sugarfree is sweetened with artificial sweeteners, while Red Bull Zero has aspartame and acesulfame K. Red Bull Sugarfree contains aspartame, acesulfame, and Red Bull Zero has sucralose, acesulfame k.
Which is better, Red Bull Sugarfree or Red Bull Zero.
It’s difficult to know for certain. Studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can pose health risks. Personally, Red Bull Zero is my choice.
Aspartame seems to have more health risks than any other artificial sweetener. Although I may be wrong, this is what I have come to believe when researching these ingredients. This is why I do my best to avoid it.
Two more recommendations for your vegan journey
1. This vegan multivitamin is my favorite in over 14 years of veganism. It contains vitamin B12, vitamin D and omega-3. It has only the nutrients that vegans lack.