Mountain Dew Kickstart is a line of energy drinks giving you “just the right amount of kick.” Looking at the ingredients, there are only 90 milligrams of caffeine. This is a little more than the caffeine content in your average cup of coffee.
While the claim is to give you the right amount of kick, our research team focused on the benefits of the ingredients. Are the ingredients effective? Are there potential side effects? Then, we compiled our data to give you the bottom line.
Mountain Dew Kickstart can be purchased through their Official Site.
What is Mountain Dew Kickstart?
The new Mountain Dew Kickstart is considered an energy drink but is advertised as a breakfast beverage meant to take the place of your morning coffee or juice.
The drink contains far less caffeine than other popular energy drinks, like Red Bull and Monster, with only 92 mg of caffeine. The official website touts the drink as three in one – Mountain Dew, juice, and caffeine – but does the drink have the “benefits” of all three?
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: High fructose corn syrup is found in many foods and drinks, and can increase caloric intake.
- StatPearls: Caffeine can fight fatigue and drowsiness.
- Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Caffeine acts as a stimulant, but it can cause some negative side effects.
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How Did Mountain Dew Kickstart Start?
The Kickstart Mountain Dew energy drink, made by PepsiCo. Inc., first appeared on the market in February 2013.
The new Mountain Dew Kickstart idea came about when research showed that soda drinkers were looking for an alternative morning drink.
Kickstart Mountain Dew came from a breakfast drink that Taco Bell introduced the year before, which combines orange juice with Mountain Dew.
Scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Claims
According to Mountain Dew Kickstart, it’s a juice with just the right amount of caffeine to give you the boost you need to start your day.
Although it’s carbonated and features Mountain Dew in the recipe, they claim that the 5% juice content is enough to be considered a juice drink by the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA allows energy drink companies to decide if they want to label their drink as an energy drink or dietary supplement. Companies that label their energy drink as a beverage must follow the Nutritional Labeling and Education Act of 1990 and have the conventional Nutritional Facts panel.
If the energy drink is labeled a dietary supplement, they need to follow the Dietary Supplement Health and Education panel, much laxer.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Ingredients
- Carbonated water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Natural juice concentrate
- Caffeine
- Sodium benzoate
High fructose corn syrup is an inexpensive cane sugar substitute that was introduced in the 70s, according to the National Institutes of Health. Beverages containing this kind of syrup are a common source of excess calories, and therefore weight gain, per the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Nutrition Facts
Kickstart by Mountain Dew contains ingredients that will probably raise a few eyebrows for those trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. For example, the beverage comprises several controversial artificial sweeteners, including:
- Sucralose
- Acesulfame potassium
- High fructose corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup is one of the drink’s main ingredients.
Limited use of artificial sweeteners is considered safe, while long-term and excessive use of artificial sweeteners has been linked to severe health issues.
Too Much Sugar?
Another issue is the amount of sugar in each serving. Each 16-ounce can contains 20g of sugar.
The daily recommended amount of sugar for women is 25g, and for men, it 38g, which means that if you drink two cans of Kickstart by Mountain Dew, you’ve already surpassed your daily amount of allowed sugar intake.
There are 80 Mountain Dew Kickstart calories per serving and 100% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. Considering the Mountain Dew nutritional facts that are available; this is not the ideal beverage if you are looking for something that has nutritional benefits.
Does Mountain Dew Kickstart Work?
If you were to believe Kickstart Mountain Dew commercials, then one drink would give you enough of a boost to get you up and going about your day.
The only thing is that the main active ingredient in this beverage is caffeine, and it contains far less of it compared to other energy drinks and coffee.
The product might be a good option for those who don’t regularly consume caffeine, but that’s pretty much where the buck stops.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Benefits and Results
There are only 90 milligrams of caffeine in a 16-ounce can, compared to the 310 milligrams of caffeine in a 16-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee, which may give you the shakes or an upset stomach you don’t have a tolerance for caffeine.
There are only 80 calories in Mountain Dew Kickstart, but much of that is from the drink’s sugars.
There are none, even with the 5% natural fruit juices, as far as any dietary benefits. The results of drinking Kickstart Mountain Dew energy drink depends on your tolerance for caffeine.
According to Current Neuropharmacology, caffeine has several benefits, including cognitive enhancement and the nervous system’s stimulation. Still, if you are a regular coffee drinker, the amount of caffeine in Mountain Dew Kickstart may not make any difference at all.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Results
Although the official website claims that consuming moderate amounts of Mountain Dew Kickstart is safe, many issues raise concern.
Besides a small dosage of Vitamin C and B, the rest of this beverage’s ingredients are far from healthy.
It contains a high amount of sugar and food dyes, leading to some severe side effects. The amount of caffeine in Mountain Dew Kickstart is not as high as other energy drinks or coffee, so it may not even give you the boost it claims if you have any tolerance to caffeine.
Suppose you are looking for a soda with a little more caffeine. Then this might be the product for you. But if you want something to help you lose weight or give you more energy, there are many other better options.
Details on Mountain Dew Kickstart and Weight Loss
The only unusual ingredient for weight loss is caffeine, but the formula contains such a small amount that it most likely won’t have any effect.
This beverage contains only 20mg more caffeine than regular Mountain Dew. A study published in Food Science and Biotechnology is much less than most dietary drinks that use caffeine as one of their active ingredients for weight loss.
Additionally, Mountain Dew Kickstart contains a lot of sugar, both natural and artificial, which pretty much cancels out any benefit the caffeine may have had in helping with losing weight.
How to Use Mountain Dew Kickstart
According to the official website, Mountain Dew Kickstart is designed to be a morning drink that replaces coffee, juice, or tea. But the Mountain Dew Kickstart commercials show people drinking the beverage at all times during the day – and for several reasons.
They seem to be trying to reach out to energy drink consumers while avoiding the controversy associated with the dangers of consuming energy drinks that contain too much caffeine.
Potential Mountain Dew Kickstart Side Effects
Although the amount of caffeine is small, some people have claimed to experience jitters and diarrhea.
Other side effects of caffeine include:
- Headaches
- Agitation
- Ringing in ears
- Chest pain
Other ingredients in the drink can lead to severe side effects, especially high fructose corn syrup, which is the second ingredient listed after carbonated water.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Product Warnings
Other than potential allergens, the official website offers no warnings about the ingredients in their products.
On the other hand, if you take a look at the ingredients, there are several factors.
Besides the high amount of sugars, several food dyes that research has shown can be very harmful. Although the FDA approves red 40, research links it to hyperactivity in children.
According to Acta Biomedica, consuming caffeinated energy drinks comes with potential risks. More research needs to be done concerning its side effects, according to Birth Defects Research.
Any Mountain Dew Kickstart Lawsuits?
Although there are no specific lawsuits against Mountain Dew Kickstart, some class-action cases are against similar energy drinks.
There is also an ongoing class-action lawsuit against energy drink companies for improper testing and inadequate labeling.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Flavors
Mountain Dew Kickstart comes in a variety of flavors, including:
- Black Cherry
- Blueberry Pomegranate
- Fruit Punch
- Mango Lime
- Midnight Grape
- Orange Citrus
- Original
- Pineapple Orange Mango
- Raspberry Citrus
Mountain Dew Kickstart Price
The price of Mountain Dew Kickstart varies by location and flavor. However, the product is less expensive compared to other energy drinks.
Where to Buy Kickstart Mountain Dew
Because Mountain Dew Kickstart is produced by the biggest food and beverage companies in the US, the product is not difficult to find.
However, finding the best Mountain Dew Kickstart flavor is not always as easy. There are ten different flavors, and it also comes as Kickstart Hydrating Boost and Kickstart Recharger.
Is Mountain Dew Kickstart Bad For You?
When you take all the information available about Mountain Dew Kickstart, you have a soda that has a little more caffeine and a little bit of natural fruit flavor.
There has been a lot of research done on soda and the effects on your health. None of it has been positive. We already know that too much sugar can be bad for you, but sugary drinks are the worst.
Sugary drinks, such as Mountain Dew Kickstart, have been linked to weight gain, the American Journal of Public Health states.
Mountain Dew Kickstart also contains empty calories, which means it provides no essential nutrients, such as antioxidants or fiber. Studies have shown that sugary drinks can also be very addictive.
Whenever we eat sugar, dopamine is released, and we feel a sense of pleasure. Our brains are hardwired to seek out anything that releases dopamine.
If you have a predisposition to addiction, you can become a problem and quickly become addicted to consuming sugary drinks.
Mountain Dew Kickstart Alternatives
If you aren’t sold on Mountain Dew Kickstart, there are some popular and well-liked alternatives such as:
Red Bull
This is the top energy drink globally and is available from the Austrian company, Red Bull GmbH.
Monster Energy
This energy drink is produced by Monster Beverage Corporation, which also has 34 different drinks in the United States, including Muscle Monster, Java Monster, and Monster Extra Strength.
5-Hour Energy Shot
The official website claims that a 2-3 ounce shot of this beverage will give you hours of energy and alertness.
Other Alternatives to Mountain Dew Kickstart:
- ROCKSTAR Energy Drink
- XS Energy Drink
- IDGT Energy Drink
What Users Are Saying
“Less caffeine than a normal energy drink which is good if you’re watching caffeine consumption, but pretty much tastes like a soda.”
“If you’re like me you’re not really into coffee, but you still enjoy a nice caffeine buzz but don’t want diabetes that come with all the sugar in modern energy drinks, this isn’t so bad with about 14gs, still in no way “healthy” but it certainly doesn’t seem as bad as your standard 50 something + grams of sugar”
“Started drinking Kickstart about a year ago. One a day. I liked the flavor, low calories and caffeine. Last month I went for my annual checkup. My doctor told me I was pre-diabetic. I stopped drinking Kickstart. I am now NOT pre-diabetic. Read labels people. High fructose corn syrup, added sugars. This stuff is not good for you period.”
The Bottom Line on Mountain Dew Kickstart
Still, considering Mountain Dew Kickstart? Well, we like this company’s longevity and that this beverage is readily available, but we have some concerns because any clinical studies do not back mountain Dew Kickstart. Furthermore, we’re skeptical about it containing artificial sweeteners to reduce the sugar amounts and side effects reported by customers.
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Mountain Dew Kickstart Questions & Answers
Mountain Dew Kickstart is a breakfast beverage that is advertised as an energy drink. It contains caffeine, juice concentrate, carbonated water, and high fructose corn syrup, among other ingredients.
Mountain Dew Kickstart has 92 mg of caffeine per 16-ounce can. This is less than other popular energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Monster.
Mountain Dew Kickstart side effects, mentioned in customer reviews, included jitteriness, anxiety, sleeplessness and upset stomach.
Mountain Dew Kickstart ingredients include carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, white grape juice concentrate, coconut water concentrate, citric acid, vitamins and minerals
Yes, Mountain Dew Kickstart is considered a juice drink by the Food and Drug Administration, as it contains 5% juice content.
Mountain Dew Kickstart can be purchased using their Official Site.
There’s no published clinical research showing Mountain Dew Kickstart will help you lose weight. We did find solid science supporting the benefits of caffeine, but the results didn’t back this particular formula.
Mountain Dew Kickstart varies, based upon where you shop for the drink. Several grocery stores and online retailers offer the product for less than $2.
You should use Mountain Dew Kickstart based upon your needs. You can drink multiple bottles per day, but remember each can contains caffeine.
Mountain Dew Kickstart contains 80 calories per serving and 100% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C, but it is not an ideal beverage if you are looking for something with nutritional benefits.
According to Mountain Dew Kickstart, it is an “enhanced soft drink,” not an energy drink.
One can of Mountain Dew Kickstart contains 80 calories.
There’s no mention of a guarantee with Mountain Dew Kickstart, considering the drink isn’t sold on the official website.
Kickstart is marketed as an “enhanced” soft drink. While the regular Mountain Dew contains 72 mg of caffeine, Kickstart contains 92 mg. Additionally, Kickstart has more vitamins and minerals.
The average adult can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine. Since each 16 ounce can of Kickstart contains 92 mg of caffeine, you can theoretically consume 3-4 cans. However, it is important to control your caffeine consumption with other beverages and foods.
Mountain Dew Kickstart comes in multiple flavors, including:
- Original Dew
- Orange Citrus
- Black Cherry
- Midnight Grape
- Fruit Punch
- Mango Lime
- Pineapple Orange Mango
- Blueberry Pomegranate
- Raspberry Citrus
Mountain Dew Kickstart is a low-calorie soft drink that contains added caffeine and other ingredients. While some argue that the additional caffeine and calories can help you stay alert and energized, it is important to remember that too much caffeine and sugar can have negative effects on your health, such as increased blood pressure and dehydration. Therefore, it is best to limit your intake of Mountain Dew Kickstart and all other caffeinated beverages in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Mountain Dew Kickstart is not a healthy beverage due to its high sugar and artificial sweetener content. However, it may be a good option for those looking for a quick caffeine boost.
Article Sources
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