Is it the Journey or the Destination? Comparing Bang® & MTE®

In the ultra-crowded energy drink market, sometimes it’s hard to know what you’re getting when you grab a can off a shelf. You’re looking for that big energy boost, but do you know how you’re getting it? Bang® is a typical example. One of the biggest brands in energy drinks today, they were recently acquired by the biggest brand – Monster®. People know Bang’s® caffeine increases energy levels, but is that all?

And then you have a non-typical energy drink alternative: MTE®. With this greens powder, it’s not caffeine that supports energy levels, and it’s not sugar, taurine or a bunch of B12. So what is it? And how is MTE® different than Bang®? Good news – we’re gonna tell you:

How it Works

Stress Response or Resilience? Mechanisms of Bang® vs MTE®

The first major difference between MTE® and Bang® is how they provide the energy boost they promise. The nature of these two energy drinks are totally different: Bang® stimulates with stress induction; MTE® supports with stress adaptation.

A 16oz can of Bang® contains 300mg of caffeine, equivalent to 3+ cups of coffee. Caffeine stimulates your body’s immediate energy-producing systems, activating the release of wake-up chemicals and block tired chemicals. In effect, it creates a false stress response, which is why you get increased focus, alertness and energy, but you also often get angsty with a high heart rate.

A scoop of MTE’s® energy drink replacement powder only contains 50mg of caffeine, which acts as a fuse for the mix of energy-multiplying adaptogens, nootropics and superfoods. Adaptogens support stress resilience, which negates the symptoms of chronic stress, like reduced immunity and fatigue. Nootropics support cognitive function, promoting calm mood, improved focus and attention. Superfoods provide the nutritional resources the body needs to produce sustainable energy and reserves.

Instead of promoting energy mobilization via the body's stress response system, MTE® supports the neurochemical systems associated with mood, learning and motivation while helping to balance the activity of wake-up and calm-down chemicals. This provides that energetic, zoned-in feeling without the irritable and cracked-out effects of a bunch of caffeine – or that ever-imminent caffeine crash.

Benefits

Anything More Than Energy? Benefits of Bang® & MTE®

MTE®, more than just a replacement for coffee and energy drinks, is meant as a wellness companion, meaning it offers benefits that surpass temporary energy. Making MTE® a daily habit can result in benefits that accumulate, including:

Calm, sustained energy
Stress resilience
Immunity
Focus and cognition
Even, positive mood
Better recovery
Inflammatory response

Bang® is a powerful energy drink that can offer as-needed benefits, including:

Mental focus and clarity
Physical performance
Muscle recovery
Reduced fatigue
Higher metabolism

Ingredients

It’s What’s Inside that Matters: MTE® vs Bang® Formulations

Now, both Bang® and MTE® claim to be healthy energy drinks. But what does that claim mean?

Key Ingredients in Bang®

Ingredients in Bang® that are important for providing that big energy boost include:

Caffeine: mobilizes energy using the body's fight-or-flight response to encourage wake-up chemical signaling and block I'm-tired signaling
B vitamins: essential for energy production and metabolic function
Taurine: amino acid that plays a role in energy production, muscle function and neurochemical signaling
CoQ10: coenzyme involved in energy production and muscle health
Sodium and Potassium: support electrolyte balance
Artificial sweeteners: calorie-free, sugar-free flavor

Key Ingredients in MTE®

Of the 13 adaptogens, nootropics and superfoods in MTE’s® green powder, the key ingredients in energy production include:

Theacrine: nootropic that supports an energy boost with a calming effect – no jitters or crash
Ashwagandha: adaptogen that promotes stress resilience and adaptation, freeing up energy resources
Green tea: nootropic that promotes increased focus, alertness, mood, and endurance
GABA: amino acid that promotes calm clarity
Eleuthero: adaptogen that supports enhanced energy, physical performance and metabolism
Methylliberine: alkaloid that supports mental clarity, focus and energy levels

(Learn about all of the ingredients in MTE’s® plant-powered energy-boosting formula.)

Pricing

The Cost of a Daily Energy Boost: Price Breakdown for Bang® & MTE®

Let’s talk logistics: what’s the cost of a Bang® habit vs a daily drink of MTE®?

One can of Bang® costs $2.50 to $3.50 on average, and costs $2.50/can if you buy a 30-pack.
One serving of MTE’s® greens supplement costs $2.33 on average, and costs $1.98/serving with a monthly subscription.

Packaging

Big Energy in Small Packages: MTE® vs Bang® Packaging

Can’t deny that what’s on the outside matters, too. Bang® energy drinks come in 16oz aluminum cans, which are 100% recyclable. Whether or not Bang® needs refrigerated is really up to the person drinking it. As for convenience, it’s a carbonated beverage, so getting shaken up can cause a little overflow if opened directly after.

MTE® is focused on reducing our carbon footprint with thoughtful manufacturing, sustainably-sourced ingredients and minimal packaging, as it comes in PCR bags of 30 servings. As a powder supplement, it can be mixed anywhere with anything – from 12oz of cold water to an addition to a superfruit smoothie. MTE® does not need to be refrigerated.

Other Highlights

Last Fun Facts on Bang® & MTE® Energy Drinks

Our final notes on Bang® aren’t fun, actually. Because there are a couple things we need to be careful of with a daily Bang® habit. First, that much caffeine at once is likely to have those negative side effects of jitters, irritability, pounding heart, etc. Second, consuming that much caffeine chronically can create serious dependence, tolerance, addiction, sleep disturbances, and more. Thirdly, artificial sugars like the acesulfame in Bang® are associated with a host of long-term health risks.

Let’s bring it back up. MTE® has got a few other great things going for it:

No sugar bombs
Less than half a cup of coffee’s worth of caffeine
Nothing artificial
Vegan
Keto
Gluten-free
Dairy-free
Kosher
Halal
Organic

We’re not gonna fault anyone for grabbing a can of Bang® after a sleepless night with a 14 hour day in front of you. You want to wake the f*ck up? That stuff works. But we would caution with making it a habit, as there are several risks you’re taking with your physical and mental health.

For those looking for a replacement for energy drinks – something healthy, natural, clean – MTE® is your new go-to daily wellness companion. Bioactive plants replace caffeine; neuromodulation replaces overstimulation; encouraging innate energy functions replaces synthetically augmenting energy levels. It’s different; it’s effective; it’s long-term support for more than energy – it’s a daily habit that helps get you back to feeling great.

Curious to know more about how MTE® works? Check out the Ingredients and Benefits. Want suggestions on other great alternatives to traditional energy drinks? Read our article detailing some of the best healthy energy drinks.