Is it okay to combine energy drinks and Asian nutritional drinks?

Posted on July 25, 2022 | Last updated February 10, 2025

Some people may think that drinking energy drinks and nutritional drinks at the same time will enhance their effects when they are feeling unwell or need a boost, but combining them does not increase their effectiveness, and there are no significant benefits to doing so, nor are there any major downsides.

Now, let's dive deeper into what it means to combine energy drinks and Asian nutritional drinks.

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

There is usually little to no problem with combining them

It’s well-known that energy drinks contain caffeine, but did you know that many nutritional drinks also contain small amounts of caffeine?

If you're combining energy drinks and nutritional drinks, let's first calculate how much caffeine you're consuming in total.

The safe daily caffeine intake for health is 400mg/day.

If you're not drinking coffee, green tea, or black tea, then as long as the total caffeine content from energy drinks and Asian nutritional drinks doesn’t exceed 400mg, there is no need to worry too much.

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The synergistic effect of combining energy drinks and Asian nutritional drinks is unclear

Energy drinks contain sugars, caffeine, and B vitamins. Asian nutritional drinks contain caffeine, vitamins, sugars, amino acids, and sometimes herbal ingredients. Whether combining these will produce a synergistic effect is unclear.

In fact, many Asian nutritional drinks already contain small amounts of the same ingredients found in energy drinks, so it seems there is not much point in combining them.

You might feel more motivated or energized, but whether that’s due to the combination or not is uncertain, so it’s better not to expect too much.