LiftOff, explained
LiftOff is a lemon-lime tablet that fizzes into a drink when you drop it in water. Adults use it as a low-calorie caffeinated drink with vitamin C and B vitamins added.
What LiftOff is
Each tablet is wrapped in its own pocket-size sachet, and a box holds 10. You drop one into 250ml of water, let it dissolve, then drink it. A tablet has 10 kcal and no sugar.
The main things inside are 75mg of caffeine, 100mg of taurine, 26mg of inositol and eight vitamins. Most of the caffeine is caffeine powder, and a small part comes from guarana extract.
LiftOff Max is a different product from the Herbalife24 sports range. It is a powder sachet with 180mg of caffeine, about two and a half times what a LiftOff tablet holds.
Herbalife's label says LiftOff is not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone sensitive to caffeine.
What's in it, ingredient by ingredient
Caffeine
75mg per tablet (70.5mg from caffeine powder plus 4.5mg from guarana)Caffeine is a natural compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao and guarana. Chemists class it as a methylxanthine.
The 75mg in one tablet matches the Food Standards Agency's figure for a mug of tea. A mug of coffee has about 100 to 140mg, a can of soft drink about 40mg and a 250ml can of energy drink about 80mg.
Tea is the biggest single source of caffeine for UK adults. In EFSA's survey data it supplied 57% of their caffeine.
Why it's in LiftOff: Herbalife describes LiftOff as a low-calorie effervescent energy tablet formulated with caffeine, and states 75mg on every box.
EFSA, the European food safety body, concluded in 2015 that healthy adults can have up to 400mg of caffeine a day. That covers all sources, with up to 200mg in one go. One tablet is under a fifth of that daily figure. EFSA's figure in pregnancy is 200mg a day, but Herbalife's label says LiftOff is not recommended in pregnancy at all.
Guarana extract
45mg per tablet, which contains 4.5mg of caffeineGuarana is a plant whose berries naturally contain caffeine, which is why it is sometimes called Brazilian cocoa.
The extract in LiftOff is one tenth caffeine. The label shows 45mg of guarana extract carrying 4.5mg of caffeine.
That 4.5mg is already counted inside the 75mg total. It is not extra caffeine on top.
Why it's in LiftOff: Herbalife says LiftOff contains caffeine powder plus natural caffeine from the guarana plant. Guarana is simply a second source of the same caffeine.
When you add up your caffeine for the day, count guarana caffeine like any other. EFSA's daily and single-dose figures cover caffeine from all sources.
Taurine
100mg per tabletTaurine is a small sulphur-containing compound known as a beta-amino acid. Unlike most amino acids, your body does not use it to build proteins.
It occurs naturally in food, and your liver makes a small amount too. Shellfish such as scallops, mussels and clams have the most, dark poultry meat is also rich, and dairy has very little.
Cooked dark chicken meat has about 199mg per 100g and beef about 40mg. So one tablet holds roughly what is in 50g of dark chicken meat.
Adults who eat meat are estimated to get 40 to 400mg a day from food, usually nearer the lower end. A typical 250ml can of energy drink has about 1,000mg, ten times a LiftOff tablet.
Why it's in LiftOff: Herbalife lists taurine in the ingredients but does not give a reason on the product page. It is a common ingredient in energy drinks.
EFSA concluded in 2009 that taurine at the levels used in energy drinks is not a safety concern. In 2012 it put the observed safe level for people at 6g a day, which is sixty times one tablet. EFSA also judged that taurine and caffeine are unlikely to interact badly at energy drink levels.
Inositol
26mg per tabletInositol is a sugar alcohol, a carbohydrate-like compound also called a polyol. In breast milk it is found mostly as myo-inositol.
The body can make inositol itself, and EFSA notes that even newborn babies make it efficiently. Mature breast milk carries about 130 to 325mg per litre.
Infant formula in Europe must contain inositol, between 4 and 40mg per 100 kcal.
Why it's in LiftOff: Herbalife lists inositol in the ingredients without giving a reason.
Vitamin C
80mg per tablet, 100% of the NRVL-ascorbic acid in the ingredient list is vitamin C itself.
The 80mg in one tablet equals the full nutrient reference value used on UK food labels.
Why it's in LiftOff: Herbalife says LiftOff is formulated with vitamin C.
Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
B vitamins
Thiamin 1.1mg, riboflavin 1.4mg, niacin 16mg, vitamin B6 1.4mg, biotin 50µg and pantothenic acid 6mg, each 100% of the NRV; vitamin B12 1.0µg, 40% of the NRVEach B vitamin appears under its chemical name in the ingredients. Nicotinamide is niacin, calcium D-pantothenate is pantothenic acid, and sodium riboflavin 5'-phosphate is riboflavin, or B2.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is vitamin B6, thiamin mononitrate is thiamin, or B1, D-biotin is biotin, and cyanocobalamin is vitamin B12.
One tablet gives the full nutrient reference value for six of them and 40% for B12.
Why it's in LiftOff: Herbalife says LiftOff is formulated with B vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, pantothenic acid and biotin.
Pantothenic acid contributes to normal mental performance. Vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Citric acid and sodium bicarbonate are what make the tablet fizz in water, and flavourings give the lemon-lime taste. Acesulfame K and sucralose sweeten it without sugar, maltodextrin is a carbohydrate powder, and sorbitol is listed as a bulking agent.
Reading the label
Per tablet dissolved in 250ml of water
- Energy: 10 kcal (41 kJ). That is half of one percent of the 2,000 kcal adult reference intake.
- Carbohydrate: 0.4g. A trace, with no sugars.
- Sugars: 0g. No sugar. The sweet taste comes from acesulfame K and sucralose.
- Fat and protein: 0g. There is no fat or protein.
- Salt: 0.8g. About 13% of the NHS adult maximum of 6g a day. It comes from the sodium in the ingredients, mainly the sodium bicarbonate.
- Caffeine: 75mg in total. The label shows 70.5mg on its own line plus 4.5mg under guarana extract. Together that is about a mug of tea.
- Vitamin C: 80mg (100% RI). One tablet gives the full daily reference amount.
- Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, biotin, pantothenic acid: 1.1mg, 1.4mg, 16mg NE, 1.4mg, 50µg, 6.0mg (each 100% RI). Each one is at its full daily reference amount.
- Vitamin B12: 1.0µg (40% RI). That is 40% of the daily reference amount.
- Taurine: 100mg. About what is in 50g of cooked dark chicken meat, and a tenth of a typical 250ml energy drink.
- Inositol: 26mg. A small amount of a compound your body also makes itself.
- Guarana extract: 45mg, of which caffeine 4.5mg. The guarana caffeine is already part of the 75mg total.
RI stands for reference intake, the daily amount UK labels use for an average adult. A figure of 100% means one tablet gives that full amount.
Niacin is shown in mg NE, which stands for niacin equivalents. Taurine, inositol and guarana have no reference intake, so the label gives only the amount.
How to use it
One tablet in 250ml
Drop one tablet into 250ml of water and let it dissolve.
Drink it once dissolved
Herbalife's label says one tablet a day. Count its 75mg alongside any tea, coffee or cola you have that day.
EFSA notes that 100mg of caffeine close to bedtime can affect sleep in some adults. The body takes about four hours on average to clear half of it, so an earlier drink suits most people better than an evening one.
Herbalife's label says LiftOff is not recommended with alcohol. Store the box somewhere cool and dry, out of reach of young children.
Good to know
Who it suits
- A tablet has no sugar and 10 kcal, so it fits easily into a low-sugar day.
- Each tablet is wrapped on its own, so you can carry one in a bag or pocket.
Check first
- Herbalife's label says LiftOff is not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people sensitive to caffeine.
- The FSA says caffeine can affect people with heart disease, high blood pressure or a mental health condition more strongly. If that is you, speak to your GP before using it.
- Herbalife makes no vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free statement for LiftOff.
- It contains the sweeteners acesulfame K and sucralose, plus a small amount of sorbitol.
Questions people ask
How much caffeine is in one LiftOff tablet?
There is 75mg in total, made up of 70.5mg of caffeine powder and 4.5mg from guarana. The Food Standards Agency puts a mug of tea at about 75mg, so it is roughly one mug's worth.
Can I have LiftOff and coffee on the same day?
Yes, as long as your total stays within the guidance. EFSA says up to 400mg a day from all sources is fine for healthy adults, and up to 200mg at once. A tablet plus a strong mug of coffee, which the FSA puts at up to 140mg, could pass 200mg in one go, so space them out.
What is taurine, and is 100mg a lot?
Taurine is a compound found naturally in meat and shellfish, and your body makes a little too. Meat eaters are estimated to get 40 to 400mg a day from food. A typical 250ml can of energy drink has about 1,000mg, ten times a LiftOff tablet.
Is the caffeine from guarana extra?
No. The 4.5mg from guarana is part of the 75mg total on the box. Guarana is simply a plant that contains caffeine.
How many tablets can I have?
Herbalife's label says one tablet a day. The label also reminds you that food supplements should not replace a varied diet.
Is LiftOff the same as LiftOff Max?
No. LiftOff Max is a grapefruit powder sachet from the Herbalife24 range with 180mg of caffeine. LiftOff is a lemon-lime tablet with 75mg.
Can LiftOff affect my sleep?
It might if you have it late. EFSA says 100mg of caffeine near bedtime can affect sleep in some adults, and caffeine stays in the body for hours. Having it earlier in the day is the simple answer.
Where these facts come from
- label_3152: herbalife.com/assets/regional-reusable-assets/emea/images/nutritional-
- factsheet_3152: Herbalife product information and label
- factsheet_192K: Herbalife product information and label
- efsa_taurine_2009: efsa.europa.eu/en/news/efsa-adopts-opinion-two-ingredients-commonly-us
- efsa_taurine_2012: doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2736
- nih_taurine_review: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2813349/
- efsa_inositol: efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/consultation/140424.pdf
- fsa_caffeine: gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-containing-caffeine/fo
- efsa_caffeine_2015: efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/corporate_publications/files/efsaex
- efsa_caffeine_draft_2015: efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/consultation/150115.pdf
- ods_caffeine: ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance-HealthProfess
- nccih_guarana: nccih.nih.gov/health/energy-drinks
- legis_annex_xiii: legislation.gov.uk/eur/2011/1169/annex/XIII
- gb_nhc_register: gov.uk/government/publications/great-britain-nutrition-and-health-clai
- nhs_salt: nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/salt-nutrition/
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**It is recommended not to exceed a daily intake of 400mg of caffeine from all sources (200mg for pregnant or breast-feeding women). A single dose of 200mg caffeine should not be exceeded. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet. Store out of reach of young children. Herbalife images and video are the property of Herbalife. Speak to your GP before changing your diet if you have a medical condition, take medication or are pregnant.
