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Time to read 6 min
You need that boost to finish your assignment.
You reach for a Celsius, a Red Bull, or maybe a Monster.
Thirty minutes later? The fire starts in your chest. That all-too-familiar burn.
If you’ve ever felt acid reflux or heartburn after drinking energy drinks, you’re not imagining it.
These drinks mess with your gut. And some are worse than others.
Let’s break down how these energy drinks cause acid reflux, and which ones are lead to the most brutal heartburn in your chest.
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Energy drinks mess with your digestive system in 4 main ways:
Sweeteners and sugar disrupt gut bacteria. This causes an unexpected change in your digestion speed and bloating in some cases.
Acids, flavors, and preservatives wear out your git lining. Most energy drinks contain citric acid and malic acid, both of which give drinks their tangy kick. They also lower the pH of your stomach and trigger inflammation.
Carbonation builds pressure in your gut. Every fizzy drink release carbon dioxide in your stomach, which pushes up the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and causes bloating.
Caffeine also opens the LES. Acid slips through the open LES, and reaches your neck and causes the heartburn pain you feel.
Unfortunately, that’s a solid recipe for reflux. Especially after you drink them fast, when you haven’t eaten anything for a while, or when you’re under stress.
And not all energy drinks are created equal.
Some energy drinks cause acid reflux much more than others.
So let’s compare three of the most famous ones: Monster, Red Bull, and Celsius.
Let’s start with Monster.
Most people don’t drink Monster slowly. You crack it open and gulp it down.
But your stomach isn’t built to handle 16 ounces of acid, carbonation, and sweeteners all at once.
Especially on an empty stomach.
Caffeine Content: 160mg per 16oz (10 mg/oz)
Acidity: ~3.3 pH (extremely acidic)
Sugar: ~54g
Additives: Taurine, sucralose, synthetic B vitamins
Monster is loaded.
It's acidic, heavily carbonated, and full of sugar + fake sweeteners, which can both mess with your gut bacteria.
Plus, the huge serving size means your stomach gets stretched, which puts pressure on your esophagus and makes acid push back up.
Monster is one of the worst choices for anyone trying to avoid acid reflux.
It hits your stomach like a truck and honestly isn’t good in any circumstance. If you have GERD or chronic heartburn, avoid monster at all costs.
Red Bull is the OG of energy drinks.
It looks smaller and sounds less harmful than the other two. But don’t underestimate it.
Red Bull has less caffeine than Monster and Celsius, sure.
But it’s still highly acidic.
The sugar and carbonation cause bloating fast.
Caffeine Content: 80mg per 8.4oz (9.5 mg/oz)
Acidity: ~3.3 pH (extremely acidic)
Sugar: ~27g
Additives: Sucrose, glucose, artificial flavors
Let’s be honest. Nobody drinks just one. People often drink 2-3 Red Bulls during long nights or when studying.
That adds up very fast, and leads to an increased heart rate (while you probably aren’t moving) and anxiety.
Red Bull is the smallest, and usually the least likely to cause acid reflux.
It’s better than Monster overall, but it has a similar density of caffeine and is just as acidic. So in aspects of health outside of acid reflux, it’s just as bad.
Celsius pretends to be the “clean” drink. No sugar. “Fitness” branded. Vitamins.
Underneath the health halo is a drink that still does serious damage to guts.
Containing more caffeine than Monster, it uses natural extracts like guarana and green tea that still irritate your stomach. In total, you get the double stomach attack from caffeine and these extracts.
Caffeine Content: 200mg per 12oz (16.6 mg/oz)
Acidity: ~3.7 pH (extremely acidic)
Sugar: 0g
Additives: Green tea extract, guarana, ginger, carbonation
The caffeine is strong. And while it’s sugar-free, sucralose messes with your gut.
Sweeteners like stevia lead to gastrointestinal issues. Some studies even show it causes hormonal changes and has led to liver damage in animals.
That adds up very fast, and leads to an increased heart rate (while you probably aren’t moving) and anxiety.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, keep in mind that Celsius has over 50% higher density of the stimulant compared to Monster and Red Bull, which can lead to increased headaches, constipation, or dizziness.
Celsius is the sneakier drink that has become a trend among teens. Although it is probably the healthiest option, it’s not much safer.
Looking for a lift without the burn?
Try these:
Green tea (with honey if needed)
Matcha with almond milk
Electrolyte drinks without carbonation
Adaptogenic drinks like Recess or Moment (calm energy, no caffeine)
These don’t spike your acid levels or wreck your gut lining.
| Energy Drink | Caffeine | Acidity (pH) | Sweeteners | Sugar (per can) | Reflux Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monster | 160mg / 16 oz | ~3.3 | Sugar + Sucralose | 54g | 🔥🔥🔥 Worst |
| Celsius | 200mg / 12 oz | ~3.7 | Sucralose or Stevia | 0g | 🔥🔥 High |
| Red Bull | 80mg / 8.4 oz | ~3.3 | Sucrose + Glucose | 27g | 🔥 Moderate |
If you struggle with reflux, all three can trigger symptoms.
Monster takes the top spot for worst reflux offender. It’s not just the high caffeine — the massive 16 oz can is loaded with 54 grams of sugar and a heavy hit of acidity. That’s a perfect storm for heartburn.
Celsius lands in second place. The acidity is nearly as harsh as Monster’s, and swapping sugar for artificial sweeteners like sucralose doesn’t do your gut any favors either.”
Red Bull is the best (as long as you drink one can). Natural sweeteners like sucrose are always better than the artificial ones like sucralose, and it's as simple as that!
Energy drinks and acid reflux don’t mix well—especially with caffeine, carbonation, and fake sweeteners involved.
Monster has the most reflux triggers.
Celsius pretends to be healthy, but it’s just as irritating.
Red Bull is milder, but still acidic.
The best move? Cut back, switch to gentler options, and protect your gut.
You can, but it’s not a great idea. Red Bull has both caffeine and acidity, which are two big triggers for reflux. If you’re already prone to heartburn, Red Bull may make it worse — especially on an empty stomach.
Several things: stress, certain foods (like fatty meals or coffee), eating too quickly, and even skipping meals can cause your stomach to make more acid than it needs. Some people are just more sensitive to that spike.
Yes, very bad. Monster is one of the worst for reflux because it’s huge (16 oz), super sweet (54g sugar), and high in both caffeine and acidity. It overwhelms your stomach and pushes acid up where it doesn’t belong.
Try switching to lower-acid caffeine sources like cold brew or matcha, and drink them with food. Don’t chug fast. And definitely avoid carbonated energy drinks — they add pressure to your stomach and make acid reflux worse.
Go for matcha, non-carbonated herbal teas with ginseng or guarana, or a banana-spinach smoothie with protein. They give you a lift without blasting your stomach with acid, bubbles, or sweeteners.
Claisen Inc. is the world's leading telehealth platform for gastrointestinal conditions. We provide patients with personalized solutions for heartburn and bloating treatment, tailored to their unique needs and lifestyle.
