It is common knowledge that water is one of the best drinks you can choose to keep your body hydrated and healthy. Realizing this, vitamin-infused beverages (including Vitaminwater) have become something of a recent fad in the world of healthy drinks. But what happens when essential vitamins are added to water? Does it become an even better option? Or is this just another hyped-up health product?
Vitaminwater’s sugar content makes it more soda than water and therefore unhealthy if drunk frequently. It is sweetened with crystalline fructose, a more inflammatory compound than sugar. Although infused with vitamins and minerals, many are water-soluble and get excreted when consumed in excess.
If you want vitamin-infused water, there are healthier and more affordable alternatives. This article gives you an in-depth explanation of what Vitaminwater can do to you and its risks and benefits. What’s the verdict with this new drink? We’ll find out.
What Is VitaminWater?
Vitamin-infused water is essentially water with vitamin enhancements. The most common form of vitamin water is the Coca-Cola brand called Vitaminwater. However, other brands offer similar vitamin-infused bottled water options, including Propel, Blk.Water, and LIFEWTR.
Vitaminwater sells a range of flavors, each containing a different concoction of nutrients. It is advertised as flavored water with multivitamins in it. As it stands today, many people believe that drinking Vitaminwater will give them these extra benefits. Some even think that these beverages can act as a replacement for certain foods or vitamin supplements. But, is any of these true? Is Vitaminwater good for you?
Is The Drink Good For You?
While the beverage does contain all of the vitamins advertised on the label, the added sugar is one glaring omission from the brand’s marketing scheme. As it turns out, almost all Vitaminwater flavors contain a substantial amount of added sugar, making it a drink not suitable for regular consumption.
As is now common knowledge, too much sugar can be incredibly harmful and lead to serious health complications when consumed in excess. More often, its risks outweigh its supposed benefits.
What Makes Vitaminwater Bad For You?
Too Much Sugar
Many people are surprised to learn that Vitaminwater can contain nearly 30g of sugar. That’s half the amount of added sugar as a can of Coca-Cola!
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum recommended amount of added sugars are 37.5 g for men and 25 g for women. That means that consuming just one bottle of Vitaminwater would meet the daily intake for added sugar for the entire day. That is a lot of sugar for just one drink!
Sweetened With Fructose
To make matters worse, here in the US, Vitaminwater is sweetened with crystalline fructose and cane sugar. Crystalline fructose is much stronger than cane sugar and can be pretty dangerous in large quantities.
While Vitaminwater does contain less sugar than a regular soda, it has the same amount as other electrolyte-infused sports beverages. If you do not excessively drink those because of the added sugar, the same should hold for Vitaminwater.
Too much sugar can quickly cause worrying side effects if consumed regularly. Here are just a few of the potential adverse side effects of excessive consumption of too much fructose (sweetener in Vitaminwater):
- Anxiety
- Jitters
- Sugar crashes
- Weight gain
- Heart disease
- High blood sugar
- Risk of type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Renal complications and other digestive issues
The large quantities of sugar in Vitaminwater may lead to weight gain, obesity and become a factor for heart diseases. This beverage is just like any other sugar-sweetened drink, should be ingested with caution. So, the prevailing thought about Vitaminwater being healthier than other beverages is certainly not entirely true.
So, what does this all mean?
In short, Vitaminwater is probably not as healthy as people think it is. But that does not mean you should not drink it at all! Just remember, moderation is key. So choose wisely, especially if you are reaching for this drink as a daily beverage.
What Are The Benefits Of VitaminWater?
Vitaminwater contains 100% of the RDI for Vitamin C, Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), and Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin). As people may not get enough of these vitamins through their dietary intake, drinking vitamin water can be a beneficial supplementary strategy.
That said, these vitamins are water-soluble, so anything that the body can’t absorb will be removed. If you are already taking a multivitamin or consuming a healthy, varied diet, drinking this water will probably not have any significant effect.
Companies that sell Vitaminwater tend to claim that the beverage’s extra vitamins will give you an extra boost of energy and a better ability to focus. This claim is not accurate or backed by scientific research.
A Way To Keep You Hydrated
Water is an essential liquid that your body needs. Since Vitaminwater is mostly water, it will give you a great dose of hydration. It is recommended that an adult consumes around 2 liters of water a day. Drinking a bottle of Vitaminwater (20 oz) can account for nearly 30% of your daily water intake.
What Are The Healthiest Alternatives To VitaminWater?
Are all brands of Vitaminwater unhealthy? No, not necessarily, as some healthier versions of vitamin water are available on the market today.
VitaminWater Zero
Coca-Cola has a version of its famous drink that contains zero sugar, meaning you can get the vitamins and the hydration without the risks of too much fructose. That is a win in my book!
To keep it sweet, Vitaminwater Zero is sweetened with Truvia, a type of sugar substitute made with Erythritol, Rebaudioside A, and natural flavors.
The main ingredient is called Erythritol. It is a sugar alcohol that is natural but hard to digest. It passes through the body without being metabolized and is mostly harmless. However, too much Erythritol (or any other sugar alcohol) can cause gastrointestinal discomfort if ingested in excessive amounts.
That said, one beverage will likely result in minimal symptoms, if any at all.
Propel Vitamin Boost
This vitamin-enhanced drink comes in a variety of flavors and contains no artificial sweeteners or flavors. It is also a source of 100% of the daily recommended values of vitamins B3, B5, B6, C, and E.
Containing only ten calories it is a very low-calorie drink which can be a good or bad thing. When consumed as a post-exercise drink, it will not give you a glucose boost as you would have with Vitaminwater. However, if you are just drinking this just for its taste, you will not be consuming your calories.
Can You Make Vitaminwater At Home?
As is usually the case, the healthiest and safest way to get your vitamins and minerals is to get them directly from whole foods.
However, if you prefer to spice up your water and make it more nutritious, you can try doing so at home. You’ll be amazed by how easy it is to infuse your glass of water with some quick, healthy, and sugar-free vitamins. Here are some ideas to try at home:
- Ginger infusion – Ginger has plenty of health benefits, plus it also contains some essential vitamins and minerals. With a ginger infusion, you’ll be getting a healthy dose of vitamins B3, B6, C, as well as iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and folate.
- Cucumber infusion – Cucumbers are a great source of several necessary vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, K, and magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
- Berry infusion – Berries, especially dark-colored berries, contain vitamins A, B, C, and E and potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Drop a few berries into your water for a fresh, fruity taste with no added sugar.
- Lemon and lime infusion – This is a classic, tasty infusion that gives your water an extra kick. This infusion will provide you with a boost of vitamin C, B6, potassium, and folate.
- Mint infusion – Simply adding mint to your water will give it a refreshing taste. At the same time, it provides you with manganese, copper, and vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K.
So Is Vitaminwater Hype Or Staple?
Now that we’ve examined all of the factors at play in a bottle of Vitaminwater, let’s answer the big question – is vitamin-infused water good for you?
While the idea of water with added vitamins and minerals sounds like a good one, most brands end up adding lots of extra sugars. Its sugar content already meets your required daily sugar intake. That’s how much sugar is in one drink.
Some brands of vitamin-infused water may do more harm than good. It’s safe to say that Vitaminwater is nothing more than hype. But there are also healthier alternatives if you want to try vitamin-infused water drinks.
So, next time you reach for a bottle of Vitaminwater at the supermarket, consider drinking dull, filtered water along with a piece of fruit. Or, try infusing your daily jug of water with some healthy, fresh ingredients for a natural vitamin enhancement with no added sugars. This way, you’ll get the beneficial nutrients and hydration that you need without the added sugar.
