Is Ghost Energy Safe to Drink? We Examined the Ingredients

Some fitness enthusiasts use caffeinated energy drinks like Ghost to boost their power and performance in the gym. However, cardiologists tell Wellnesspulse that consuming these drinks before or during exercise may carry heart-related health risks.

According to a recent report, Jazmin Garza, a 20-year-old gym enthusiast from Texas, experienced multiple cardiac arrests during a workout after consuming one-third can of Ghost, a caffeinated energy drink, before hitting the gym.

After two weeks in the hospital, with some time spent on life support, Garza recovered and was sent home. While physicians were unable to identify the cause of her cardiac arrests, Garza believes the incident was triggered by the energy drink and an undiagnosed heart condition.

Despite the unknowns, the 20-year-old’s experience has raised concerns about the safety of Ghost and similar energy drinks, especially when used before or during a workout.

But can caffeinated energy drinks lead to heart issues like cardiac arrest? To learn more, Wellnesspulse analyzed the ingredients in Ghost and asked three cardiologists about the potential heart-related impacts of these popular pre-workout beverages.

Is consuming caffeine before a workout safe?

All three board-certified cardiologists Wellnesspulse spoke to agreed that gym-goers should exercise caution when considering caffeinated energy drinks like Ghost as a pre-workout boost.

Ketan P. Koranne, M.D., a cardiologist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, tells WellnessPulse it's important to distinguish between traditional caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee and energy drinks.

Koranne says energy drinks typically contain high concentrations of caffeine — along with vitamins, amino acids, high sugar content, or low-calorie sweeteners — often in much higher amounts than natural beverages.

"While moderate caffeine intake from coffee may offer some benefits due to its antioxidant properties, energy drinks often combine high caffeine levels with other stimulants like taurine, which can amplify health risks," Koranne explains. "Additionally, energy drinks are usually consumed chilled and quickly, which, combined with sweeteners and exercise, can further increase potential dangers."

Jeremy Pollock, M.D., a Board-Certified Cardiologist and Director of Heart Failure and Cardiac Population Health at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, says moderate caffeine intake (up to 400 mg daily) is generally safe for healthy individuals without underlying cardiovascular issues.

However, he agrees that high doses of caffeine, typically 200 mg, along with stimulants like taurine, guarana, and sugar, can increase their effects.

"Consuming these before an intense workout may increase heart rate, blood pressure, and the risk of arrhythmias," Pollock says.

Pollock also warns that if someone is not accustomed to caffeine, dehydration or excessive sweating during exercise may amplify side effects like dizziness or palpitations.

John Higgins, M.D., a cardiologist at UTHealth Houston, also believes that the combination of ingredients in energy drinks can result in detrimental side effects.

"Caffeine [also] dehydrates, so [it's] much better [to go] with water or a non-caffeine sports drink," Higgins recommends.

Do energy drinks cause heart issues?

Since media reports of cardiac arrest and other heart-related events associated with consuming these beverages are relatively rare, some gym enthusiasts might not be too concerned about the potential dangers.

However, despite the rarity of reports, Koranne, Pollock, and Higgins said that in their practice, they have encountered patients who developed serious heart issues after energy drink consumption.

I have seen patients, particularly young adults, present with palpitations, arrhythmias, and even episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or atrial fibrillation after consuming large amounts of energy drinks. While most cases resolve with hydration and cessation of the drinks, some patients have required medical intervention.

-Pollock

Koranne says that as a cardiac electrophysiologist, he has seen patients develop new arrhythmias or experience a worsening of pre-existing conditions after consuming energy drinks.

"The most common arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs, or skipped beats)," Koranne adds. "In severe cases, I've encountered instances of syncope (fainting), heart attacks, and even congestive heart failure linked to energy drink consumption.

Higgins has had patients with atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias experience worsening symptoms after energy drink consumption.

"As well as a heart attack in a runner using energy drinks before a marathon," Higgins adds.

How energy drinks impact the heart

One of the most concerning issues is the impact energy drinks may have on the heart, even in young, healthy people. That's why understanding more about how energy drinks like Ghost can cause heart symptoms is critical.

Higgins says that energy drink consumption can intensify demand on the heart via increased sympathetic nervous system tone, blood pressure, heart contraction force, and arrhythmias.

"There also may be concurrently reduced coronary artery blood supply via endothelial dysfunction, platelet aggregation, coronary thrombosis, and coronary spasm," Higgins explains. "Acutely, these changes to the cardiovascular system are associated with complications not only [in] patients with underlying cardiovascular conditions but also in young people."

What's in Ghost Energy?

So, what exactly is in Ghost energy drinks and how do their ingredients contribute to heart concerns?

Sandra Vigelienė, Health Content Researcher at Wellnesspulse, analyzed two Ghost flavors, Original and Cherry Limeade, and found the ingredients and nutritional profile in the drinks reviewed are virtually identical. However, sodium, caffeine, and vitamin content can vary slightly.

Ghost ingredients safety

Caffeine — According to United States dietary guidelines, healthy adults should limit their daily caffeine intake to 400 mg/day to reduce the risk of undesirable effects such as anxiety, insomnia, irregular heart rate, or gastrointestinal irritation. Ghost contains around 100 to 200 mg of caffeine per can. So, in some cases, a person drinking two or more cans per day could have a caffeine intake at or over the recommended limit.

Vitamins — Ghost energy drinks also contain vitamins C, B3, B6, and B12. Vigelienė says companies typically add vitamins to energy drinks for energy metabolism and marketing appeal rather than health benefits. While specific B-group vitamins are involved in energy metabolism, they do not provide energy directly like stimulants such as caffeine.

Some vitamins in Ghost reach 100% of the daily value in a standard 2000 kcal diet. However, Vigelienė notes that since vitamin C and B-group vitamins are not stored in the body, the excess is usually excreted through urine.

Sucralose — Sucralose is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved artificial sweetener. While sucralose is generally considered safe, some research suggests it could potentially reduce beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome, negatively impact insulin response in people with insulin resistance, and raise the risk of certain cancers.

Still, most research is based on sucralose doses far above what people would typically consume from daily foods and drinks. So, the data is too limited to say for sure that sucralose may harm human health.

Taurine — Taurine is an amino acid that plays a role in energy metabolism and nervous system function. It's generally considered safe. However, Vigelienė says that since energy drinks typically contain taurine, some concerns have been raised about the potential for heart rhythm irregularities in sensitive individuals when taurine is combined with caffeine.

For example, one study found that energy drinks with caffeine and taurine increased blood pressure and heart rate compared to caffeine alone. Still, most research concludes that the potential side effects of energy drinks are not linked to taurine itself but to excessive caffeine intake.

L-carnitine L-tartrate — Ghost also contains L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT), another amino acid involved in energy metabolism that may help support physical performance during exercise. While generally considered safe when consumed in appropriate amounts, high doses — 3 grams or more per day — may cause side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramps.

In addition, carnitine may interact with certain medications like antibiotics or anticonvulsants.

Sandra Vigelienė, BSc

Health content researcher

While some of the Ghost Energy drinks, such as Cherry Limeade, do not exceed 3 grams for some side effects to appear, it is still important to monitor the overall intake of L-carnitine as intake throughout the day, especially when including drinks with these amino acids, as some dietary supplements (especially those for athletic performance), and dietary sources may also provide L-carnitine.

Adaptogens — Ghost Energy drinks contain Astralagus membranaceus and Panax ginseng root extracts, which may have adaptogenic properties. Some research suggests that adaptogens may help regulate fatigue, cognition, and energy metabolism. While generally considered safe, Astralagus side effects may include gastrointestinal discomfort and interactions with medications that suppress the immune system.

Short-term use of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) appears safe for most people. However, the safety of long-term use is less clear. Moreover, Panax ginseng may cause insomnia and could potentially worsen autoimmune disorders, interfere with blood clotting, impact blood sugar levels, and interact with certain medications.

Symptoms that may indicate a problem

Koranne says that the most common adverse effects experienced after consuming an energy drink involve cardiovascular and neurological systems, though gastrointestinal, kidney, endocrine, and psychiatric effects can also occur.

Energy drinks can trigger cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and, in rare cases, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death. They can also increase the risk of heart attacks, seizures, and blood sugar fluctuations.

-Koranne

According to Koranne, early signs of an adverse reaction to energy drinks include:

• Mild symptoms: Agitation, palpitations, jitteriness.
• Severe symptoms: Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), chest pain, shortness of breath (which could signal a heart attack), and fainting (syncope).

Who should avoid energy drinks?

Specific populations should be particularly cautious or avoid caffeinated energy drinks altogether, especially those with underlying health conditions.

According to Pollock, these include:

• Individuals with heart conditions (e.g., arrhythmia, hypertension, coronary artery disease) as stimulants can trigger abnormal heart rhythms or exacerbate high blood pressure.
• Those with a history of heart attacks, as caffeine and stimulants may contribute to vasoconstriction, increasing cardiovascular stress.
• People with anxiety disorders, since high doses of caffeine can worsen anxiety, panic attacks, or insomnia.
• Individuals with underlying electrolyte imbalances, as excessive caffeine can affect potassium and magnesium levels, potentially leading to palpitations or muscle cramps.

"Consuming multiple energy drinks in one session is a clear risk for adverse events," Higgins adds. "Of critical importance, children and adolescents seem to be at particularly high risk of complications because of their small body size, caffeine naivety, high caffeine amounts in energy drinks, and hazardous consumption patterns, including frequent and heavy use."

The bottom line on energy drinks

While occasional use of an energy drink may not have significant health impacts for most individuals, they still carry risks, particularly for cardiovascular health.

Pollock recommends that people using energy drinks be mindful of caffeine content, avoid excessive doses, and stay well-hydrated. He also suggests consuming a balanced diet to fuel exercise performance naturally. If a person feels they need a boost before hitting the gym, Pollock says choosing black coffee instead of energy drinks might be a safer option.

Consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to your health and drinking energy drinks.