So, your favorite Twitch streamer, YouTuber, esports professional, or esports organization has partnered up with this brand called G FUEL. And now you’re wondering if you should give it a shot, too.
It’s no surprise that G FUEL has amassed so much attention in the gaming and esports industry, but it has been through its fair share of scandals and skeptics as well. So the question you may have is this: Is G FUEL bad for you?
In this article, we’ll assess the ingredients present in this drink and how these ingredients may impact your health and gaming performance. We’ll also explore if this drink is safe for kids.
Disclaimer: This article on G FUEL and its effects is purely an educational post. It should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider, and this article is not meant for treatment or diagnostic purposes. GamerHeadlines.com and the author of this post do not bear any liability if you choose to make any health-related decisions based on the provided information.
Pewdiepie and his range of flavors.
What is G FUEL & Why Does It Get a Bad Rep?
G FUEL is an energy drink marketed mainly to the gaming and esports community. It’s similar to that can of Red Bull or Monster from the supermarket.
The brand labels it as The Official Drink of Esports®, which can help with focus, energy, endurance, and hydration. Apparently, the brand notes that you will experience a boost in energy and focus just 10-15 minutes after drinking G FUEL. These effects should help you concentrate better while you’re gaming and should last around 4-6 hours. G FUEL is available both as a ready-to-drink version in a can or a powdered formula.
But what makes G FUEL any different from, let’s say, your favorite can of Monster?
Well, the brand states that it is a “100% clean, natural, and healthy alternative to sugar-loaded energy drinks.” And according to the brand, G FUEL does not contain any sugar or toxic additives. Hence, it’s said to be the healthier choice if you’re looking for an energy drink to fuel your gaming sessions without going over your sugar limit.
But why does G FUEL still get such a bad rep?
People are concerned that G FUEL is marketed in such a way that could be misleading.
Here are some of the main issues raised by the community about the G FUEL brand:
- G FUEL is commonly promoted by Twitch streamers and YouTubers in the gaming industry who have an audience largely consisting of kids and adolescents. Because G FUEL contains caffeine, it is not recommended for kids. In fact, pediatricians have advised against energy drink consumption in children and teens due to the amount of caffeine present [1].
- The increase in energy and focus you get from consuming G FUEL is likely due to its caffeine content rather than the other supplements or vitamins stated on its label. Hence, if you have a high tolerance to caffeine or do not experience any effects from drinking caffeine, G FUEL may not work for you. You’re better off spending your money on something else.
- The supplements on the label may not be included in a high enough dose to affect your energy or concentration significantly. Because the quantities of these supplements are not stated on the label, there is no way to determine if the dose will be effective—and not to mention that supplements, in general, only work for some people and not for others.
- Though G FUEL is marketed mainly to gamers and esports athletes, it cannot help you improve your skills. Ultimately, you’ll still have to practice to enhance your gameplay in the long run. G FUEL isn’t a gift from the gaming gods that’ll magically help you land all your headshots after chugging a can.
- While G FUEL is unlikely to lead to a sugar crash (since it contains no sugar), some people may still experience some downtime after its effects have worn off due to its caffeine content. This may be more likely if you consume large quantities of G FUEL in a day or if you’re already feeling exhausted before consuming it. After the caffeine leaves your body, you may experience tiredness, a lack of focus, headaches, or irritability. Nonetheless, G FUEL is less likely to cause a crash compared to other energy drinks since it contains no sugar. And many people have noted that they do not experience this crash post-G FUEL.
While some people have labeled G FUEL as a scam, many others have pointed out that this drink significantly improves their focus, reaction time, and endurance while gaming.
In other words, G FUEL can help you breeze through more ranked matches and play at your peak for longer. But it’s not a shortcut to ranking or ace-ing matches without proper practice or training.
G FUEL’s Lead Scandal
In 2018, G FUEL was called out for its lead content, and you may be concerned if this could be harmful to your health.
Well, the trace amount of lead found in G FUEL made it a requirement for G FUEL to have a lead warning on its label to comply with California’s Proposition 65 [2]. The exact amount of lead found in G FUEL was not publicly released, but here’s the thing.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also assessed the amount of lead a person needs to consume to raise any concerns. Currently, the FDA’s cap is 25 times higher than Proposition 65. And even this FDA-specified level of lead still is around ten times less than the amount of lead needed to raise any alarm bells [3]. Hence, it’s unlikely that the lead content of G FUEL will be harmful to your health unless you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Ingredients Behind the Drink & Their Effects
The ingredients in G FUEL are split into the energy complex, focus complex, and antioxidant complex.
The energy complex consists of taurine, caffeine, glucuronolactone, L-citrulline malate, N-acetyl-L-carnitine HCl, and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) seed extract.
Meanwhile, the focus complex consists of L-tyrosine, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, adenosine-5-triphosphate disodium salt (ATP), and other natural extracts.
Finally, the antioxidant complex comprises almost 20 different fruit powders.
Other than that, G FUEL also contains sucralose, artificial sweeteners, artificial food dyes, and various vitamins.
Let’s take a look at how these ingredients may affect your body.
Energy & Focus Complex
The energy and focus blend contains ingredients that the brand states can improve your endurance and focus.
For instance, research has suggested that taurine may help reduce muscular fatigue, enhance energy expenditure, and reduce inflammation [4]. Additionally, studies have also found that L-citrulline may help to combat fatigue, enhance blood flow, and improve concentration [5]. Nonetheless, more studies will be needed to confirm the benefits of such supplements and determine the optimal dosages.
Caffeine
G FUEL contains around 140-150g of caffeine per serving in its powder mix. Meanwhile, a single can of G FUEL contains approximately 300mg of caffeine.
Caffeine is likely to be the main ingredient in G FUEL responsible for enhancing your energy and focus. And this has been backed by science.
Research demonstrates that caffeine can help improve your endurance, alertness, memory, concentration, and reaction time. [6, 7]. Hence, you may feel less fatigued and more focused and alert after consuming caffeine, though these effects vary from person to person.
Some people may experience side effects from caffeine consumption, such as anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, fast heartbeat, headaches, or stomach upset [8]. Hence, these are also some possible side effects of G FUEL consumption, especially if you take multiple servings in a day.
Is G FUEL good for kids?
Because G FUEL contains caffeine, it is not recommended for kids.
Vitamins
Depending on which flavors you pick, G FUEL may contain various vitamins, such as vitamin C, E, B12, and B12. But this doesn’t mean that you should rely on G FUEL to fulfill your nutritional needs. Most people won’t require these additional vitamins if they practice a balanced diet [9]. Nonetheless, it’s definitely a plus point that the brand has included vitamins in their drink, which could help supplement your daily intake.
Artificial Sweeteners
G FUEL contains no sugar, but it does have maltodextrin, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, which are artificial sweeteners. Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index, meaning it could cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are less likely to affect your blood glucose levels and should not be an issue [10, 11]. Nonetheless, it’s best to seek the advice of your healthcare provider if you have a medical condition, such as diabetes.
Research has also raised concerns about the effects of sucralose and acesulfame potassium on gut health. Some animal studies suggest it could change the composition of bacteria in your gut, leading to weight gain, inflammation, or impaired digestion. However, human studies are needed to confirm these effects [12, 13].
Is G FUEL Bad For You?
No, G FUEL isn’t in itself a bad or harmful drink if consumed in moderation.
The ingredients are unlikely to cause any harm to you if you don’t have any pre-existing medical conditions (and you’re an adult!). But this doesn’t mean that consuming G FUEL will improve your health, either. So whether or not it is a healthy drink—well, that’s debatable.
Essentially, nothing beats hydrating with plain water.