“Vitamin Water”
“Wellness Water”
“Skinny Water”
“Electrolyte Enhanced Water”
“Vitamin Enhanced Water”
“Sports Drink”
No joke. These are just a few of the water-type beverages flooding the shelves in grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations and vending machines near you. Who knew water could be so complicated? It’s not.
These products generally break down into 3 main categories:
a. Vitamin-Enhanced Waters
• What’s Good:
• Enhanced with small amounts of b-vitamins and possibly vitamin C, calcium or other nutrients
• The appealing flavor helps people who struggle to drink enough water get the water they need
• Possibly Adverse:
• May contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame K
• Sometimes have artificial colors, phosphoric acid, or caffeine
• Watch out for claims that don’t match the nutrition facts label (like saying it’s “electrolyte enhanced” but having no electrolytes (like sodium or potassium) on the nutrition facts label.)
b. Sports Drinks
Designed for use during exercise lasting >60 minutes (or really hot, humid or intense exercise)
• What’s Good:
• Provide carbohydrates for fuel and electrolytes to prevent dehydration during exercise
• Contain ½ as much sugar as soda pop
• Possibly Adverse:
• Often used during very mild workouts or worse, when not exercising at all!
• Too much sugar & sodium for a casual drinking
c. Plain Old Water
• Bottled or tap is fine
The main goal of many of these waters is to make them taste good, so that consumers will drink more water. If you have a hard time drinking enough water, then try go ahead and try one of these types of beverages. But I recommend you keep an eye out for artificial sweeteners like Nutrasweet or Acesulfame K in the ingredient list. Ask yourself if it’s really worth it: would you rather drink artificial sweeteners or just go with plain water?
I think sports drinks, like Gatorade® are great—when used during exercise. Sports drinks should not be used as a “water replacement” while sitting at the office, in the car, or at home.
Quiz: Which is best for you?
1) Do you take a vitamin/mineral supplement and generally exercise for < 60 minutes?
>> Drink PLAIN WATER
2) Do you exercise > 60 minutes, or, exercise in hot, humid conditions, or sweat excessively in a single workout?
>> Drink a Sports Drink
(sip 1 – 2 cups of the sports drink during the workout;
then, after the workout, drink 2 – 3 cups of water for every pound of body weight lost)
3) Do you dislike the taste of plain water and not take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement?
>> Try Vitamin Water
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