Over the past few years, Celsius energy drinks have gained extreme popularity as they appear to be a healthy alternative to other energy beverages. However, their packaging has a label warning about safety for consumption which calls for closer examination. While it is marketed as a great fitness refreshment that is beneficial for boosting your metabolism and has no added sugars, it contains high amounts of caffeine and other stimulants that are not beneficial for you.
The ingredients in Celsius contain risks for many, such as those sensitive to caffeine, people with underlying health conditions, and especially those who are under the age of 18. People who consume it in excess amounts or even occasionally should understand the potential for health risks. Knowing the risks is crucial to determine whether it is an okay beverage to be consumed regularly.
The high caffeine content in Celsius is mixed with ingredients like guarana and taurine which add to the negative side effects. Dr Siyab Panhwar, a cardiologist at Sanford Medical Center said one symptom people report after drinking Celsius is caffeine withdrawal which is not a positive association for an energy drink. Dr Panhwar states that, “Stimulants such as caffeine increase a person’s blood pressure and adrenaline levels. Other ingredients such as taurine and guarana extract in Celsius can enhance the caffeine. It sends you into that sort of fight-or-flight mode, and that’s when people feel more wired and activated.”
The FDA considers 400mg of caffeine per day safe for the average healthy person which is equivalent to four cups of coffee. Yet, jitters from four cups of coffee would still be way less intense than two cans of Celsius, even though they contain about the same amount of caffeine. In summation, two cans of Celsius feels worse than having four cups of coffee due to the enhanced effects of guarana and taurine.
There’s no restriction on selling caffeinated beverages to kids, but the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against it for children under 12. Many doctors suggest limiting caffeine intake for teens. Seattle Children’s recommends that children 18 and under should not be consuming more than 100 mg of caffeine in one day, and Celsius is double that. “Caffeine plays an unhealthy role in the diets of many children and adolescents,” explained Dr. Mazor. Energy drinks are classified and sold as nutritional supplements and are not regulated as foods. Companies like Celsius face multiple lawsuits of mislabeling because they get away with not revealing the exact amount of caffeine in each drink.
Excessive consumption can lead to caffeine dependence and stopping consumption can suddenly cause withdrawal symptoms. The contents in Celsius can also cause anxiety, especially in younger individuals, and consuming it later in the day can disrupt sleep. Additionally, the ingredients create a potential for addiction because of the combination of caffeine and other addictive ingredients.
The energy drink has multiple unsubstantiated health claims about weight loss and boosting your metabolism. Instead, some individuals have reported experiencing heart palpitations or other reactions after drinking Celsius. Many experience negative results, such as caffeine withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and heart palpitations after stopping consumption. Others report feeling jittery and having difficulty sleeping. This has plummeted the company into a deeper hole of more allegations against alleging harm.
One woman had posted on TikTok that “Celsius drinkers are y’all ok because I just took my first sip ever and it sent my body into a state of shock.” Later she posted feeling very fatigued and having major headaches along with heart palpitations.
The brand has faced several lawsuits about misleading advertising, misbranding, and potential harm to consumers. One was recently settled over the company’s claim of “no preservatives” yet listed in the ingredients was citric acid. This led to payouts of up to $250 for customers. They have faced claims about misleading advertising as they stated to be FDA approved but are misbranded and have never had FDA’s approval.
There’s been a recall of some energy drinks in Canada, including Celsius. The recalls are due to safety concerns with the product itself. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recalled the product because it did not meet Canadian regulations regarding caffeine content or bilingual labeling. Celsius, along with other brands like Prime and 5-Hour Energy, are products once in Canada that are now being illegally imported and distributed. If Celsius were to ever be distributed in Canada, they would be compliant with Health Canada regulations” according to Celsius’s statement.
Consuming multiple cans a day for a long period is potentially very problematic. The makers of the drink advise customers not to have more than two cans in a day. In addition, it is interesting that the CEO of Celsius, John Fiedly refuses to let his own family drink Celsius.
Some claims also suggest the NCAA has banned the drink. This is partially accurate. The NCAA’s drug testing program does not specifically ban Celsius, but it does have rules regarding caffeine limits and certain substances athletes can not have in their systems. Celsius contains guarana, a plant rich in caffeine. The NCAA lists guarana as a banned substance, it’s not about the drink itself being banned, but if a human is drinking a beverage with a particular ingredient that is banned and not approved by multiple associations therefore it can be concluded that Celsius is not a safe drink.
In conclusion, while Celsius energy drinks present themselves as a healthy alternative for metabolism-boosting, they have high caffeine content. The energy drink has combinations of caffeine and other stimulants that can lead to dependence and unpleasant side effects which raise significant concerns. Celsius’s multiple lawsuits of unsubstantiated health claims and many negative outcomes have been reported making it a questionable drink. The withdrawal and heart palpitations received after just one mere sip also paint a concerning picture. More serious health issues can also be caused particularly those sensitive to the ingredients or those with underlying conditions. Given these factors and the CEO’s refusal for his family to consume his product, individuals should carefully consider potential risks before making Celsius a regular part of their diet.