Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that people follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to energy drinks.
Celsius is one of the most popular energy drinks on the market. The brand positions itself as a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks, providing “functional energy” that’s “made with only the best ingredients.”
But is Celsius really healthier than older-generation energy drinks like Red Bull? Does it have any questionable additive ingredients? Do you really need so many vitamins in an energy drink? And why was Celsius sued over its ingredient claims?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Celsius to give our take on whether or not the products are good for you, and compare their healthiness to classic energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster.
We'll also share our take on the taste and energy effects from Celsius after trying it ourselves, discuss the risk of side effects, and explain why Celsius settled a lawsuit over its ingredient claims in 2023.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in the Sparkling Cherry Cola flavor of Celsius are shown above.
Taurine is an amino acid.
We recommend that children and adolescents avoid this ingredient in products that also contain caffeine (such as Celsius), because a medical review detailed that caffeine and taurine may pose risks to the adolescent brain.
Guarana seed extract is an effective ingredient for increasing energy.
A meta-study published in the PLoS One journal found that it provided additional stimulation beyond caffeine alone, when the two ingredients were combined.
Caffeine is one of the most well-studied stimulants in the world.
As we documented in our Gatorade Fast Twitch review, caffeine is clinically proven to increase physical and mental energy, and the 200 milligram (mg) dose in Celsius is an effective dose, equivalent to around two cups of coffee.
Glucuronolactone is another stimulatory ingredient.
While this compound is likely effective for improving energy and attention, we recommend avoiding it when it’s used in combination with caffeine and taurine (as in Celsius).
A medical review published in the Journal of Nutrition found that this combination caused negative changes to blood pressure and insulin sensitivity in healthy volunteers.
Ginger extract was shown in an animal study to increase energy, but this study used a dose vastly higher than that in Celsius.
Green tea leaf extract is another ingredient we recommend avoiding.
A Health Canada review indicated that this ingredient may be associated with liver injury when used at high doses, so we recommend avoiding it, especially when its dose isn’t listed, like in Celsius.
Biotin and chromium are two of nine vitamins and minerals added to Celsius.
We haven't come across any clinical evidence that taking large doses of added vitamins and minerals increases energy in those without a vitamin or mineral deficiency, and the practice seems illogical.
As the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported in early 2022, a different wellness company had to recall some of their products, because the added vitamins were causing toxicity in some consumers.
Celsius contains three inactive ingredients that we recommend avoiding.
Citric acid was shown in a medical review published in the Toxicology Reports journal to cause whole-body inflammatory reactions in some individuals.
Natural flavor is a broad categorization that fails to describe the specific chemical compounds used as flavoring agents.
Without knowing which flavoring compounds are used, we can't ascertain their safety.
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener. A clinical trial found that this ingredient caused unfavorable changes to insulin levels in young and healthy adults.
Are Celsius Drinks Bad for You?
Whether or not a food or drink is healthy is certainly relative, but we don’t consider Celsius to be healthy due to the energy ingredient combinations that may have negative synergistic effects, the added vitamins and minerals, and the questionable inactive ingredients.
Celsius may not be actively harmful, but we certainly don’t recommend drinking it regularly, and consider it to be significantly less healthy than coffee or tea.
Even with all of the questionable ingredients we highlighted in our Ingredient Analysis, we still consider Celsius to be healthier than energy drinks like Red Bull.
Red Bull contains a significant amount of added sugar (26 grams – nearly as much as a Coke), as well as artificial flavors and artificial colors.
We also consider Celsius healthier than Monster Energy, which is arguably the most popular energy drink on the market and contains added sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and artificial colors.
We Tried Celsius Ourselves
As the author of this article, I wanted to try a Celsius energy drink to give my take on its effects and flavor. I tried the Sparkling Orange flavor.
The flavor is more artificial than I'd like, but not bad. It tastes better than most energy drinks that I've tried. It's much better than a Monster or Red Bull.
I didn't notice as much of the stimulation and energy that I'd get from the same caffeine dose from coffee (around two cups).
This could be because coffee contains other stimulatory chemical compounds like theobromine that work synergistically with the caffeine.
The drink has a "light" feel to it that I like. It could make a good pre-workout because it doesn't feel heavy in the stomach like some energy drinks.
Overall I wouldn't purchase Celsius again and prefer coffee or energy drinks that taste less artificial.
I'd rate Celsius 5/10.
Celsius Sued Over Label Claims
In 2022, Celsius was sued over the fact that their label claimed "no preservatives."
Citric acid is technically a preservative, even though it may be used primarily for its flavor.
According to USA Today, this was the subject of the lawsuit, as Celsius maintained that this ingredient was used for flavor, but agreed to settle for nearly $8 million.
This lawsuit does not represent any added risk about Celsius products in our opinion, because it has to do with marketing and not consumer injury.
Citric acid is transparently published on the ingredient label, so consumers can choose whether or not they want to ingest this ingredient.
At the time of updating this article, consumers who were affected are not able to receive a refund, as the full settlement has been distributed.
Does Celsius Cause Side Effects?
Celsius doesn't appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it more challenging to determine the risk of side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.
The combination of stimulant ingredients (with negative synergistic effects that are clinically studied) concerns us about a potential risk of overstimulation in sensitive individuals more than if caffeine were the only stimulant.
Individuals who experience jitteriness and anxiety from coffee or tea may be best suited to avoid Celsius.
We do not consider Celsius likely to cause side effects in healthy adults who regularly consume caffeine.
At the time of updating this article, there is no mention of side effects on the product pages of Celsius' website.
Our Clean Energy Picks
Pique Breakfast Black Tea Sticks is our top whole food energy pick.
Black tea consumption is "associated with rapid increases in alertness and information processing capacity" according to a clinical trial, and Pique's tea is organic and comes in convenient stick packs that can be mixed into water, so a teapot or kettle are not needed.
Performance Lab Energy is our top multi-ingredient energy supplement.
This supplement contains acetyl-l-carnitine which can "improve energy status" according to a medical review published in the Neurochemical Research journal, as well as CoQ10 which "is an effective and safe treatment for reducing fatigue symptoms" according to a 2022 meta-study.
Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract is our top herbal energy pick.
Panax ginseng extract has been clinically shown to reduce mental fatigue and reduce physical fatigue, and our supplement is third-party tested to ensure its purity and potency.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
