Does Celsius Burn Body Fat? Examining the Evidence

Celsius is a globally recognized brand among the most popular energy drinks in America. The brand suggests that, when combined with exercise, its drinks are clinically proven to have thermogenic properties that boost metabolism and help burn fat and calories.

But does Celsius burn fat? Keep reading to explore the potential health effects of Celsius and if it is worth the hype.

What is the Celsius energy drink?

Celsius is a sugar-free energy drink with added vitamins and botanical extracts.

Celsius promotes its energy drinks as "clinically proven to function" on the Celsius website. Further, Celsius states, "When combined with exercise, our formula is clinically proven to boost your metabolism and help you burn body fat." These drinks are developed as an option for workouts or to help you stay energized throughout the workday.

Key ingredients

The standard Celsius drink includes the following main ingredients:

• Green tea extract
• Guarana seed extract
• Ginger root extract
• Vitamin C
• Chromium
• B vitamins (riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid)

Celsius is free from:

• Sugar
• Aspartame
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Artificial colors and flavors

Does Celsius burn body fat?

According to the brand, Celsius "accelerates metabolism" and "burns body fat," but is this true? Let's explore the research, including studies initiated by the brand itself.

One Celsius randomized controlled trial from 2008 suggests that consuming one serving of Celsius before exercise may enhance fat-free mass (which includes lean muscle), cardiorespiratory fitness (how long it takes for your body to deliver oxygen to your organs during endurance exercise), and endurance capacity in inactive individuals.

Another smaller 2007 placebo-controlled double-masked cross-over study funded by Celsius compared Celsius to Diet Coke consumption on the impact of metabolic rate. The study indicated an increase in metabolic rate up to three hours post-consumption compared to Diet Coke. However, the results were achieved only short term, and further research is warranted on the long-term impacts of regular Celsius consumption.

Overall, the Celsius-initiated research provides evidence that Celsius drinks may increase metabolism initially to some extent after ingestion of the drink when used in conjunction with physical activity. Yet, these results suggest only a short-term initial increase in some of the parameters, meaning it may not provide a lasting metabolism increase to make a meaningful impact on fat loss long-term.

Due to the smaller sample size in these studies, lack of current scientific research, and potential bias, more research is warranted to assess the long-term effects of Celsius. Regarding increasing metabolism, maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise, including strength training, can help in weight management.

While there are some scientific studies on the active components of this product, such as caffeine, green tea, and capsaicin from chili peppers, impacting the metabolism temporarily, more long-term studies are needed to assess their effectiveness for long-term weight loss and weight maintenance.

Is Celsius a healthy choice?

Celsius energy drinks contain 200–270 milligrams of caffeine per serving, depending on the product.

The FDA states that 400 milligrams daily caffeine intake in healthy adults is typically not associated with negative impacts on health. However, caffeine sensitivity can vary per person.

High caffeine intake may lead to adverse side effects like:

Despite these possible side effects, Celsius energy drinks are likely safe for most healthy adults when consumed in moderation.

Energy drink consumption among teens is on the rise in the U.S., as a reported 30–50% of teens drink them. The American Academy of Pediatrics further states energy drinks are not recommended for kids or teens as they may cause hyperactivity, anxiety, and/or inhibit decision-making abilities. Note that Celsius does not market its energy drinks to kids or teens on its website.

On another note, Celsius contains essential nutrients like vitamin C, B vitamins, and chromium. While the addition of nutrients may be favorable, these nutrients can be also obtained by following a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, legumes, dairy/non-dairy fortified alternatives, and nuts and seeds.

Overall, living a healthy lifestyle is essential to help maintain your health. This includes health-promoting behaviors like:

• Sustaining a balanced diet
• Incorporating regular exercise
• Not smoking
• Getting adequate sleep
• Reducing stress

Alternatives to Celsius for burning body fat

While there is research to support a short-term increased metabolism for supplements like green tea extract across various populations, the impacts of regular long-term consumption are unknown. The scientific evidence is limited to whether green tea extract may make any noticeable long-term changes in weight or fat loss, thus, more research is needed to support such potential health effects.

Making changes to your body composition is a highly complex and personal choice that you should make with the support of your doctor or registered dietitian, as unbalanced dietary and physical activity practices to reach health goals may potentially negatively impact both physical and mental well-being.

Celsius promotes its use alongside exercise, however, the brand does not promote any kind of restrictive dieting practices. If a person is choosing to include the occasional use of such drinks into the dietary routine, it should be followed with a healthy and balanced dietary pattern.

If altering your body composition is safe and suitable for you, here are some guidelines from the 2020–2025 USDA dietary guidelines to encourage health-promoting behaviors:

1. Follow a healthy diet pattern at any stage of life.
2. Enjoy food and drinks that fit within your personal preferences and cultural needs.
3. Meet your nutrient needs from all the food groups by choosing nutrient-dense foods and drinks.
4. Minimize foods and beverages that are high in added sugars, salt, and saturated fats, and limit alcohol consumption.

Weight loss requires a highly individualized approach. If you are looking for weight loss, seek support from a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe for you to do so.

Final word

Celsius energy drinks are high in caffeine, but consuming up to one serving per day is likely safe for most healthy adults, as one serving is still below the FDA-recommended daily limit.

Regarding its proposed fat-burning and metabolism-boosting effects in combination with regular physical activity, while some studies support these active ingredients' impact on these potential health effects, the effects seem to be only temporary. More research is needed to determine if the results impact long-term fat loss.