8 Energy and Protein Drinks to Stimulate Your Workout

In need of a pick-me-up before your gym sesh? These energy and protein drinks are not only safe but healthy and natural alternatives to traditional energy drinks like Monster and Redbull which are known to have negative side effects. There are also a few protein drinks in the mix to give you the calories you need to recover after a hard workout. Together, these energy and protein drinks are sure to stimulate your workout in the best way possible!

1. Runa Clean Energy

Runa is this really awesome energy drink that obtains its caffeine from a natural but different source than most caffeinated drinks. Rather than relying on coffee beans or tea leaves for a boost, Runa gets about 150 mg of caffeine per drink from guayusa leaves. Guayusa is found in the Amazonian forests in Ecuador, and that’s pretty much the only place it can be found, so it’s a pretty rare leaf.

Runa can be purchased as an energy drink in either 8.4 or 12 fl. oz. cans. It can also be purchased as a 14 fl. oz. tea. You can find all of the currently available varieties on Amazon! With only 10 calories per can, these drinks are perfect for those of you watching your calorie intake. The ingredients are all-natural and organic as well, which is a testament to their devotion to staying “clean.”

2. Reign Total Body Fuel

Reign Total Body Fuel makes the list of energy and protein drinks because of its whopping caffeine levels. Reigns pack a punch of 30 0mg of caffeine in a 16. fl. oz. can, which is considered one serving. This amount of caffeine is around three cups of coffee, but all at once, in one serving. This gives people who can handle caffeine well, a huge boost in energy and productivity. With B-Vitamins and electrolytes, Reign is especially great for those extra sweaty and long workouts.

Reign is currently sold in 16 different flavors, so you’re sure to find one that fits your taste buds. One thing to note about these energy drinks is that they are sugar-free, however, they have high sucrose levels to make them taste yummy. Sucrose is an artificial sweetener that some people have sensitivity to, so be cautious if this sounds like you!

3. Zevia Energy Drinks

If you’ve ever been down the soda aisle at Wal-Mart, then it’s safe to assume you’ve heard of Zevia. If not, Zevia is a brand of various beverages that are all sugar-free and zero calories. Their goal is to create drinks that taste like our favorites but aren’t so unhealthy. They make sodas, energy drinks, teas, mixers, and “kidz” drinks, so they have something for everyone.

Zevia’s energy drinks come with 120 mg of organic caffeine per 12 fl. oz. can, and promise there’s absolutely no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or other ingredients. Instead, the drink is entirely natural and organic and is sold in four flavors. Raspberry Lime, Mango Ginger, and Grapefruit are available for those of you who love fruity flavors, and for those of you who prefer a soda flavor, they have Kōla.

4. Celsius Naturals

Celsius Naturals is an energy drink brand that is actually quite similar to Runa Clean Energy from above, as it too, boasts clean energy. Celsius Naturals Live Fit gets its 200 mg dose of caffeine per 12 fl. oz. can from guarana seeds, which have double the amount of caffeine as traditional coffee beans. It also contains vitamins B and C, as well as green tea extract and ginger root. These ingredients all contribute to a higher metabolism rate and a higher percentage of body fat burned during a workout.

Celsius Naturals are available in the Live Fit version, with 200 mg of caffeine, as well as the Heat version, which packs 300 mg of caffeine, like the Reign energy drinks listed above. Celsius also offers an after-workout replenishment drink called BCAA, which packs BCAAs, tart cherry, vitamin D3, electrolytes, and a bit of caffeine to help you recover and feel your best after a stressful workout.

5. Muscle Milk

Now that we’ve found some awesome energy drinks to get your workout started, we can focus on what you need to recover afterward. Energy and protein drinks seem to work hand in hand; the energy helps you get a good workout in, and the protein helps you recover. Muscle Milk is a protein brand that realizes just how important that final step of recovery is in maintaining progress.

Muscle Milk is available in many different forms, from shakes to powder mixes to smoothies and beyond, Muscle Milk has plenty of options for you to choose from to get your protein needs. Most of their shakes pack 25 g of protein per 11 fl. oz. bottle and the smoothies pack 20 g of protein per 11 fl. oz. bottle. The mixes are the most protein-heavy, and offer up to 50 g of protein per serving. For whatever your protein needs are, Muscle Milk has a product for you.

6. Fairlife Core Power

Fairlife is a milk company that was founded in 2012 with the intention of creating milk products that would fit any lifestyle. One of the lifestyles they considered was that of a fitness junkie, and so came Core Power. Core Power is a protein drink that is made with real ultra-filtered milk, which contains natural electrolytes, BCAAs, and two types of proteins, whey and casein. With all of these natural benefits, Core Power is able to help you build lean muscle and feel great after each workout.

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Core Power offers four flavors, Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, and Strawberry Banana. Each of these offers 26 g of protein. There is also an “elite” version, which comes in a vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry flavor, and packs almost twice as much protein as the original with 42 g of protein per bottle. The only downfall of Core Power is that it is made of real dairy, so those with dairy restrictions would have to choose another option from the list.

7. Premier Protein

Premier Protein is a brand that is all about protein. Dedicated to offering a wide array of products, Premier Protein has shakes, shakes with oats, clear drinks (fruity rather than milky), and even protein bars, which are a tasty snack to indulge in with one of their protein drinks. The shakes contain 30 g of protein and the shakes with oats contain 20 g of protein and 7 g of fiber to help you cleanse your colon. The clear drinks offer 20 g of protein and the bars can either offer 20 g of protein, or 12 g of protein and 6 g of fiber.

With so many options, Premier Protein offers various ways to get the exact amount of protein you’re looking for. They also offer more flavors than any other brand on the list, so there truly is something for everyone.

8. Gainful

Gainful is the only option on the list that you may not be able to find in your local stores, or even on Amazon. Gainful is a company that specializes in products for “every body,” so instead of offering just a few options to choose from, they offer only one: personalized protein powder. You go to their website and they ask you to take their quiz.

The quiz asks you basic personal questions such as your gender, weight, height, and age. From there they ask about your diet, your fitness goals, and your exercise routine. After all of that, it’s not long before they churn out the perfect protein for you. For a personalized experience, choose Gainful!