This article was checked for nutritional accuracy by: Kathryn Bubeck, Registered Dietician

Feeling tired, sluggish, or lacking motivation? The solution could be energy drinks. When chosen wisely, they can give seniors a safe, effective energy boost.

Follow these tips to find the right energy drink that will provide a mild energy lift without crashes later.

If you are a caregiver who hits a wall every day around three, there are low-sugar ways to get through the afternoon that go beyond the energy drink aisle.

Get helpful guidance tailored to seniors so you can enjoy the energizing benefits of these drinks.

Here are the picks I’d point you to first, and the details on each one, good and not so good, are further down the page.

What Are the Best Energy Drinks for Seniors?

If you are not sure which drink to start with or which ones are trustworthy, here are a few that you can use. They are the safest in the business and packed with nutritious and vitamins.

HYDRADNA Clean Performance Drink

HYDRADNA is a canned energy drink for people who want a lift without a long list of things they can’t pronounce. It has zero sugar and zero artificial sweeteners, and no sucralose. The flavor here is peach, in a pack of 12.

Each can has 120 mg of organic caffeine, about what you’d find in a moderate cup of coffee. That’s a gentler amount than many energy drinks, which is worth knowing if big doses tend to leave you jittery.

It also has electrolytes, B12, Vitamin C and an ingredient called MitoBurn. So it’s a bit more than flavored water with caffeine in it.

It isn’t for everyone. If your doctor has told you to limit caffeine, or you have a heart rhythm or blood pressure concern, ask before you try it. And if caffeine keeps you up at night, have it in the morning or early afternoon.

VeryVery Good Tea Energy Mix

The VeryVery Good Tea Energy Mix in Peach is a good fit if you like iced tea and want a pick-me-up without a can of soda-style fizz. You stir a packet into cold water and it dissolves. There’s no kettle and no waiting for it to cool.

What stands out for an older adult is that the dose is known. Each packet has 63mg of caffeine and 100mg of L-theanine (an ingredient found naturally in tea), and the amount is printed on every packet. That makes it easy to keep track of your caffeine, which matters if you’re watching your blood pressure, your sleep, or a medication. It’s also low calorie and sweetened with stevia, not sugar.

The trade-off is the stevia. Some people notice an aftertaste, so try one packet before you commit to a multipack. A box holds 10 packets, so if you have one every day, you’ll be reordering fairly often.

EarlyBird Morning Cocktail

The EarlyBird Morning Cocktail in Pineapple Mimosa is a powder you mix the night before and leave on your nightstand. You drink it before you get out of bed. It comes with 45 servings per container.

That setup suits anyone who is slow to get going in the morning and tends to skip anything that takes extra steps. The work is done the evening before, so there’s nothing to measure or stir while you’re still half asleep.

It has two sources of natural caffeine, plus L-theanine, ashwagandha, electrolytes and an antioxidant blend. That’s more than a plain caffeine powder gives you. The electrolytes are a nice touch too, since many older adults don’t drink enough first thing in the morning.

The trade-off is that the caffeine amount and the full ingredient amounts aren’t prominently shown, so read the label on the container before you buy. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, have heart or blood pressure concerns, or take regular medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the ingredients first. Ashwagandha in particular is worth a question.

Proper Wild Clean Energy Shots

Proper Wild Clean Energy Shots for Focus come in a 6-pack of small bottles. Each one is meant to be taken as a quick shot instead of sipped over the afternoon.

The caffeine comes from organic green tea, and the maker says each shot has twice the caffeine of a standard espresso shot. That is a real dose, so it is worth knowing before you take one.

It also has L-theanine, an ingredient often paired with caffeine to help with focus and to take the edge off the jitters. The shots are plant-based, vegan, gluten-free and GMO-free. They have no preservatives and no artificial sweeteners.

This one suits someone who wants steady energy for a morning of paperwork, appointments or a busy day, and who doesn’t like the taste or the sugar of regular canned energy drinks.

The trade-off is the caffeine. If you are sensitive to it, take medication that doesn’t mix well with it, or have a heart condition or trouble sleeping, check with your doctor first. Even if you’re fine with it, I’d keep it to the morning or early afternoon.

Kate Farms Organic Nutrition Shake

Kate Farms makes plant-based nutrition shakes with USDA Organic pea protein and phytonutrients from foods like green tea, acai, turmeric and broccoli. The regular shake has 16 grams of protein, which helps you hold on to muscle as you age, and there is a higher-protein version if you need more. There are no artificial sweeteners in them.

The folks at Kate Farms were kind enough to send me some samples to try, and I loved them immediately. They don’t have that chalky, chemical taste that many health drinks seem to have. I tried the chocolate flavor, which was a lot like chocolate milk. The coffee flavor will be my next order!

Know what you’re getting, though. This is steady nutrition, not a caffeine jolt, so don’t expect the kick of an energy shot. And if you’re drinking it in place of meals, or you have kidney problems or a special diet, check with your doctor first, since a lot of protein isn’t right for everyone.

V8 Energy Drink

Do you feel drowsy even after you get up in the morning? Or feel like taking a nap after lunch? If you don’t want to waste a significant part of your day sleeping and resting, you should start taking V8 +Energy.

This energy drink is a combination of tea, fruits, and vegetables. It also contains the same amount of caffeine as some of the other energy drinks. You can add V8 +Energy to any well-balanced diet and boost your energy within a few minutes.

The primary ingredients are juicy blueberries, tart pomegranate, apple juice, carrot, and sweet potato. It doesn’t contain artificial colors and added sugar. Additionally, it’s appropriate for those who prefer gluten-free and non-GMO products.

Yerba Madre Organic Yerba Mate

Yerba Madre Organic Yerba Mate is a good fit if you want an energy drink that leans on a plant instead of a pile of sugar.

Many energy drinks get their quick lift from caffeine plus a lot of sugar. That works for a while, but extra sugar adds up, and it matters at any age.

This variety pack is the lower-sugar version. It has 12 cans in 15.5-ounce size: four each of Berry Lemonade, Peach Revival, and Bravo Mango. The caffeine, 150mg per can, comes from yerba mate, and the drinks are organic.

Two things to keep in mind. Lower-sugar is not the same as sugar-free, so if you are watching your blood sugar, read the label first.

And 150mg of caffeine is a real dose. If caffeine affects your sleep, your heart rate, or your blood pressure, or you take medications, check with your doctor. Many people do best with one can in the morning or early afternoon.

Should Seniors Use Energy Drinks?

Energy drinks can be a healthy and safe source of liquid nutrition for seniors. You can consume them without any second thoughts, provided you take proper precautions.

For example, you shouldn’t consume energy drinks if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.

Energy drinks increase your energy – usually with added caffeine. You will notice a difference in your blood pressure before and after drinking this type of energy drink. It gives you a kick to get up and start working.

This makes your heart beat faster. Therefore, you should avoid energy drinks if you have heart problems or high blood pressure.

You should always talk to a medical professional before consuming any health drink. While most health and energy drinks are safe for seniors, you should run it by someone who knows your medical history first.

Benefits of Energy Drinks for Seniors and Older Adults

According to a study by Science Direct, the caffeine present in health drinks combat adult-onset illnesses. They are beneficial for older adults with liver or colon cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. 

The study proves that healthy drinks can improve your resting energy expenditure by as much as 6.7%.

Having said that, you should also keep an eye on the amount of energy drink that you consume every day. Too much of anything isn’t a good idea, especially for aging adults.

Instead, doctors recommend older adults maintain a light diet and exercise if they can. Together with energy drinks, you can stay fit and energetic for a longer period.

Potential Disadvantages of Energy Drinks for Seniors and Older Adults

Energy drinks are not for everyone. As already mentioned, older adults and seniors with heart problems and high blood pressure should stay away from these drinks.

Instead, you can try some natural energy drinks, such as coconut water or acai juice.

You should also focus on eating a healthy breakfast, keeping leafy greens in your daily diet, drinking ample water, taking short naps, and maintaining a consistent sleeping pattern.

However, if you are already fit and raring to go and need a little boost in your energy, you might consider an energy drink. But, again, it’s wise to consult your physician before consuming it.

What Should Seniors Look for when Buying Energy Drinks?

A bit of research can help you find the best drink according to your diet and health. This guide will list the best drinks you should try. 

One of the most crucial things to look for in an energy drink ingredient section is B vitamins, especially B6 and B12. You may find B6 with the name pyridoxine.

It improves your brain health, supports your immune system, and controls your cardiovascular health while providing energy.

According to the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), men and women over 51 years should consume 1.7 mg and 1.5 mg of Vitamin B6, respectively, every day.

On the other hand, Vitamin B12 comes under the name cobalamin. It replenishes your nerve and brain cells and boosts the production of DNA and red blood cells. The appropriate dosage for B12 is 2.4 mcg for men and women. 

Summary

You may come across various energy drink brands that claim that they can provide instant energy without any side effects. Don’t trust them until you go through the ingredients in detail.

If you want to drink healthy and safe energy drinks that are also nutritious for seniors and older adults, stick to the ones mentioned above.

You can start with Proper Wild Clean All Day Energy Shot as it’s the most cost-effective and has all the benefits you can expect from energy drinks.

About the Expert

Because I strive to provide you with accurate information, I had this article fact-checked by Kathryn Bubeck, RD, LDN a registered dietician in North Carolina. She has dual bachelor degrees in Nutrition and Health Behavior Management and is currently pursuing a medical degree with a focus on oncology.