*This post is sponsored by Naked Nutrition*

Energy drinks have historically had a bad rap—and for good reason. They’re often loaded with chemicals and questionable ingredients that can make your heart race. Most combine high levels of sugar, caffeine, and other hard‑to‑pronounce additives—a cocktail that can increase your risk of anxiety, mood swings, diarrhea, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), and weight gain. Basically, heart palpitations in a can.

Historically, I might have drank a grand total of two a year if I was staying up late to go out (I’m sober now, so staying up late at da club feels impossible without some kind of caffeine boost). But otherwise, I’ve steered clear.

That changed when Naked Nutrition recently launched their Sparkling Energy Drink. Over the last few weeks I’ve been trialing this new bevvy out—not to stay up late and hit the club, but as a workout boost or to power me through my work day. My pre-workout formula usually contains caffeine, but I’ve been experimenting with a can of Naked Sparking Energy instead to improve the quality of my strength training sessions. Right now, I’m in the midst of a training block for an upcoming endurance race which doesn’t give me much leftover energy for my strength workouts—any added boost is warmly welcomed. 

Unlike the 15+ ingredients you’ll find in most energy drinks, Naked strips theirs down to just 6.

So What’s in a Naked Sparkling Energy Drink?

• 200mg of caffeine from organic unroasted coffee beans (vs. the lower quality stuff typically found in other brands which can cause caffeine anxiety & jitters)
• Organic lemon juice & plant-based natural flavours
• Sweetened with monk fruit and fermented sugar cane (Reb‑M, from the stevia plant), which doesn’t cause bloating or gas
• Filtered carbonated water for a little fizz action

Each can contains just 15 calories, 3g carbs, and zero sugar, making it a no‑brainer compared to sugar‑packed energy drinks, which can run 110–220 calories per can.

Taste

I went for the orange flavor, which tastes more like sparkling water with a hint of orange than an overly sweet energy drink. It’s fizzy, refreshing, and doesn’t leave me feeling bloated or burpy like some carbonated drinks do.

Use Cases 

I’ve been drinking one can a day and that’s plenty for me. If you’re a regular energy drink user, you probably have your own cadence for when you take em’, but I personally prefer to have one either during my workout or during the workday.  

If I opt to have one intra-workout, I’ll sip on the can between sets or mix it in a shaker bottle with some Naked Creatine and bring it to the gym for an extra boost in performance.

If I have it during the workday, it’s usually in the early afternoon as a pick‑me‑up—providing me with a steady stream of energy and better focus without the caffeine‑induced anxiety I’ve felt from other drinks.

If you’re sensitive to caffeine, pairing it with L‑theanine can help. One study showed that combining both caffeine and L-theanine can help “improve performance on cognitively demanding tasks”, while other studies have shown that L-theanine can offset the caffeine-induced jitters. That said, some people (like my girlfriend) simply can’t handle caffeine physiologically—if that’s you, it’s best to skip it altogether.

Where to Buy

The best place to grab a case of 12 is off on nakednutrition.com for $35.99 (one-time purchase), or opt for a $28.79 subscription and save some $ per case. If you subscribe to Naked Nutrition’s newsletter, you can save an additional 15% off your first order.