Is vitaminwater good for you?
- Asks Valerie from California
Christopher Intagliata • December 3, 2007
![A rainbow of flavors. [Credit: Glaceau Vitamin Water]](https://scienceline.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/downloadblog.jpeg)
A rainbow of flavors. [Credit: Glaceau Vitamin Water]
Let’s face it – water is so dull. But vitaminwater, with its kaleidoscopic pinks, peaches and violets, is like Vegas in a bottle! Vitaminwater’s shimmering hues even seduced rapper 50 Cent, the inspiration for amethyst-tinged Formula 50. But aside from using star power and flashy colors, vitaminwater’s parent company, Glaceau (owned by Coca-Cola), markets the drink by emphasizing its nutritional value. Is there any science behind the marketing though?
A vitamin-fortified drink may sound like a swell idea, but there are two caveats to keep in mind. First, most Americans aren’t vitamin-deficient, according to Marion Nestle, a nutrition professor at New York University. A government survey in 1999 showed that the median American adult man or woman already consumes more than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12, and three-quarters of the RDA of vitamins C, B9 and A (including carotenes). In fact, vitamin E is the only surveyed vitamin Americans consume at less than half of the RDA – but it’s found in only a third of vitaminwater drinks.
If you want to drink your additional vitamin E, there’s a second caveat: your body may not absorb it. To understand why, it’s important to know that vitamins can be divided into two groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Vitamin C and the B complex group are water-soluble and can easily enter the bloodstream with water. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. That means they can only enter the bloodstream to carry out their functions if they are dissolved in dietary fat, like that found in a meal. An Italian study published by the American Heart Association in 2001 showed that subjects who took vitamin E for two weeks on an empty stomach increased their vitamin E concentration in blood little or not at all, compared to an 84 percent increase in subjects who took the vitamin E supplement during dinner. So unless you prefer vitaminwater to wine with your meal, vitamins A and E will pass largely unused into your city’s septic system.
Even if you were to absorb all the vitamins, vitaminwater might have trouble living up to its image as a salubrious alternative to sugary soft drinks: Each bottle of vitaminwater contains 32.5 grams, or two heaping tablespoons, of crystalline fructose. Fructose is a simple sugar that sweetens many fruits, although the crystalline fructose in vitaminwater is produced from cornstarch, not fruit, by crystallizing the fructose in fructose-enriched corn syrups. As one would expect, nobody needs these extra sugars, according to Nestle, the NYU nutritionist. One research team has even indicated that the intense sweetness of sugary drinks may be addictive.
“The way that vitaminwater is marketed and positioned it’s made to look more healthful than other sugary beverages, but it’s not – it’s still just a soft drink,” said Margo G. Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “It has this aura of healthfulness that is not deserved. Adding vitamins and minerals to junk food doesn’t make it healthy.”
273 Comments
I love Vit Water. My favorite is all of them! Who cares about all of the rumors? after all they are JUST rumors. Vit water is yummy. im tired of soda. it is way too sugary. so is the diet. Yuk! To all you haterz… go eat sum McDonalds. you know you want sum. Peace out 916 love!!
Alright people…keep your eyes open for Basix. The first REAL vitamin enriched WATER. Water and vitamins that’s it. Zero calories, zero carbs, zero sugar and 50% of your RDI in 6 complex B vitamins. Did I mention it tastes like water? Enough said.
I tell you one thing. “Revive” Vitamin water is good for a hangover.
who gives a crap
its a drink
with vitamins
would you rather drink water with no flavor or water with flavor and vitamins and some calories?
125 calories isnt a lot, it can easily be part of two meals since its not that small..
It’s a drink thats taste great and a great alternative to many drinks out there. I drink maybe one a day and if they would come down on the price or make 12,20, etc. packs.. I’d buy them over the 12 packs of sierra mist in my fridge =D.
To the person who does all that cardio. Basic sugars are realy never good for you get your calories somewhere else even if your burning them off.
I didn’t read through all the responses, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but vitamin water is made with distilled water. Distilled water will actually soak up vitamins and minerals as it travels through the system. Essentially, vitamin water takes more vitamins than it gives, AND robs you of minerals.
They should have made it with mineral water instead.
I got a 20 pack at Costco for around $16. So $0.80 per bottle…not bad
There is only one flavor of vitaminwater I’ve grown to love, and that’s formula 50.
I do find Vitaminwater just a bit too sweet for my own liking, but I’ve found a potion. I take an empty vitaminwater bottle, fill it to about 1/2 and then replace the other 1/2 of the bottle with plain water.
I still get the great taste, but I’m cutting the sugar in 1/2, and one bottle last me two to three days by splitting it down.
I laugh at people who want to put Vitamin Water down. People really like to target it for being a “waste of money” because people think everyone is a yuppie who thinks they are getting some new age rainforest seeds in their drink. This is just marketing, it doesn’t mean we buy into it. I mean, does anyone actually think Wendy’s is waaaaay better than fastfood? No. It IS fastfood. But I still like it.
Here’s a newsflash: People drink it for the taste. I drink everything I like for the taste, and fortunately I hate the taste of pop (soda). I absolutely can’t stand most beverages sold here in the US because almost everything you get at a restaurant or machine is pop! Ironically people say vitamin water is “watered down”, but to me it tastes just right, instead, most other drinks taste “sugared up”.
Outside of the the taste, it IS “healthy”, at least for what most people value. I laugh at people who bring up calories, almost any other beverage you purchase will have just as many calories as vitamin water, if not more! The only ones that don’t are obviously water, and other really bad fake sugar type drinks.
Just for some proof, here, my favorite drinks all in front of me… Vitamin water, 2% Milk and, Lemonade. The standard serving below is 8oz or 240ml, why you would compare unequal servings is beyond me… anyways…
VW
Calories – 50
Fat – 0g
Sugars – 13g
Lemonade
Calories – 120
Fat – 0g
Sugars – 28g
2% Milk
Calories – 130
Fat – 5g
Sugars – 12g
Oh, and here’s coke
Coke
Calories – 97
Fat – 0g
Sugars – 26g
Interesting, the all-mighty and healthy milk that had quite the ad-campaign back when has the most calories! I certainly don’t care, I need them, but people are afraid of the calories in pop when they will drink milk? Hmm. Oh and my favorite, people who say fruit drinks are the healthiest. Anyone who has looked a label on a fruit drink can tell you that they defeat even soft drinks in the sugar category. Interesting how the Lemonade beats even Coke! Unless we’re talking squeezed straight from the fruit which is completely unrealistic.
So Vitamin water is looking the best even without the mention of vitamins… which there most definitely are. And trying to argue that vitamins are bad for you is just silly.
Moral of the story: drink what tastes good, unless you’re fat because you overeat, then have fun with only water to drink.
Im still confused after reading all this stuff.
I just want to know. Does your body get the vitamins in the drink or not? If yes, then wich flavor best suits someone?
you guys are all idiots if you like it drink it, if you dont then jus stfu and quit hating and tryin to find something wrong with an amazing drink. If its good enough for LeBron James it good enough for me.
Vitamin Water is the best vitamin enhanced beverage. I like it better than pop, and I am ten. Don’t be a hater.
Common sense dictates, read the label. If you don’t like what you see there, then don’t drink it. I personally have no issues with it. It tastes good, isn’t carbonated, I don’t mind processed sugar in it. Of all things, if it will make me hungry…awesome! Granted I haven’t had an increase in appetite at all. Although if you’re looking to lose weight, sorry, but straight water for you. And some rigorous exercise.
No one should really be surprised it has calories, anything that is more than just plain water will have calories. Sad fact of life. Quite honestly, you shouldn’t depend on a single drink product for all of your vitamin needs. I drink vitamin water, but also a multi-vitamin during a meal. Not to mention a (for the most part)balanced diet of the various food groups will keep your body in better condition.
Be more aware of what YOUR body needs and eat/drink accordingly. No one is the same, but no one drink will help you solve all your nutritional needs.
Vitamin water is awesome! Its good and good for you. You have to try it before you say that you hate it. Plus they have cool names.
i dont like you. your mean. get a life. vitamin water is yummy but its bad for ur health and ur “hooters” once you drink it you will banish and die.
i like u and vitamin water
your mean i dont like you. meanny! i dont want breast cancer! and im sure a human person wouldnt want it either. soo yeah! get a life.
Vitamin water is good for you, because if you don’t take vitamins than you increase the risk of serious disease. And your skin will get all gross. Don’t listen to the people who say that vitamin water is bad for you.
Water is dull? That is a sad reflection on society, that a substance needed to LIVE can be considered dull. People have been drinking non-flavored water since the beginning of time, and people used to ONLY drink non-flavored water. They made it.
Vitamin Water? Better than soda healthwise? Absolutely. Its just processed water though, just like a soda.
The added vitamins? Umm, shouldn’t you be getting those vitamins already from things you SHOULD BE EATING ANYWAY? You know, like fruits and veggies? Stick to eating healthily, drink vitamin water/soda as a treat, and keep the McD as a treat.
To whoever pointed out that Vitamin Water had fewer calories than 2% milk did per serving:
Calories aren’t the only determinant of health. You need to look at a LOT more than just the caloric content before deciding what to eat/drink. It’s about maximizing the nutritional benefit for the calories, but still using calories to indulge. A high-calorie, nutrient dense food is better than a low-calorie, nutrient-lacking food as long as it is consumed in moderation.
I recently quit Diet Coke, because of all the problems Aspartame can give you. I needed a caffeine substitute so I drank small amounts of Mountain Dew, but that was even worse! The High Fructose Corn Syrup was hard on my body and I gained five pounds. :\
So I looked for a lower-sugar alternative. Fruit juices may be “more natural” but even with no sugar added, they are VERY high in sugar; just one juice box has half your daily intake of sugar!!
Vitamin Water is a great alternative for someone who wants a little bit of flavor in their drink. Who drinks only 8oz of their bottle? Hm, well, I do! Actually I drink probably about 1/3 of the bottle at a time, in the morning at work, sometimes a few sips in the evening. Now, all the rest of my intake is just water, plain and simple water. My body is a lot more healthy for it.
The other day my hubby and I poked our heads into a store to get a couple of drinks. My Vitamin Water had about 32g of sugar in the entire bottle… his Mountain Dew Code Red had about 74g of sugar in the 20oz bottle!! More than double what’s in a VW bottle, and almost double what one’s daily intake should be!!
For someone working to wean themself off of sugary drinks, Vitamin Water is a great alternative. It doesn’t taste watered down if you haven’t been drinking sodas for a week; in fact, it tastes sweet enough to stop drinking after 8oz because your body simply doesn’t need all that sugar.
You all should keep your eyes out for Basix.
Basix is pure, great tasting water that’s been enriched with essential vitamins.
This is water. No sugars. No artificial coloring or flavors. It’s just water – except it has half the daily dose of 6 complex B vitamins.
Check it out:
http://www.basixvitaminwater.com/
Bottom line is, Coke is marketing VW as a good, healthy alternative to their base product which is SODA. In reality it is neither good for you or healthy!!
You can just eat healthy things, but I think that fruits and veggies are kinda gross so I just stick to Vitamin water to keep me Hydrated and healthy.
THIS IS INFORMATIONAL .
BUT I MUST ADMIT I AM LITERATLY ADDICTED 2 VITAMIN WATER. IT SEEMS LIKE I CANT GO 2 LONG WITH OUT IT. I DRINK ABOUT 1-2 BOTTLES A DAYY ! THEY MAY SAY ITS BAD BUT I CANT STOP NOW.
-SORRY .
Its okay if you are addicted, I’m addicted too, I drink an average of 1 and a half vitamin waters a day. You just have to find a favorite flavor and you’re hooked.
The important part was already said. Read comment #24 again, this product contains lead, arsenic, chloride etc. They market it as healthy but fail to mention those ingredients, which would be on the label if they were being honest. There seems to be little or no reason for them to use this particular type of hfcs (crystalline fructose) that has all these poisonous chemicals in it. That being said I still have two cases of VW left, and I do like it, but it should at least make a person think twice or look for better alternatives.
I am so the number 1 VW fan, I probably drank 100 VW in my life. But whoever says VW is bad is false. Because it has all the vitamins in it as fruit and vegetables.
I am not surprised in the least that this stuff doesn’t equal what is advertised.. Luckily, I found Perfect Water.. The cleanest, most nutritionally awarding water available. Also, the only bottled water on the market that offers a 100% money back guarantee!
http://www.perfectwater-and-more.com
Alcohol will kill u and yet the govt alows u to drink it. If u drink alcohol don’t worry bout drinking vit water, the alcohol will get u sooner or later or the xanex,percocets,vics,whatever u find in the med cabinet. Get a life!
Vitamin water may just be another “soft drink” but they have their place. Such as when you wake up the morning after a blackout and see a vitamin water on your night stand and are glad that you were smart enough to drink one and that you don’t have a hangover.
I started drinking the Strawberry Kiwi VW several months ago while trying to get off tea and soda. I drink 2-3 a day. I HAD very long thick hair, and it was normal for me to lose some hair everyday, however I’ve noticed a dramatic increase. I can only attribute it to this, because I haven’t changed anything else. Has anyone else who considers themself a heavy VW drinker experienced the same thing?? I’m REALLY starting to worry.
Did anyone hear about the lady from New Mexico that died from drinking Vitamin Water because it has Anti-freeze in it. That is an outrage. I will never drink Vitamin Water ever again.
In response to Henry Ogilsby’s comment, after reading your comment I did some research and found an article in which in fact does state that a lady from New Mexico died SUPPOSEDLY from drinking Vitamin Water but it also states that the woman’s brother DENIES the allegations stating that….
“Honestly, I don’t think the water did this to her,” Christian Lopez said of his sister, Paula, who died at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. “We don’t know what killed her.”
and his response to the e-mails being sent stating that antifreeze was found in her system and refridgerator he states that…
“That e-mail is wrong,” Christian Lopez said Thursday. “We didn’t find anything in her refrigerator. There’s not even a criminal investigation on her.”
So let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.
At the store, I call this stuff sugar water, hehe.
They are watered down some, but I like them. You should still have plenty of regular water throughout the day.
Has anyone else noticed that it contains Crystalline Fructose which broken down is:Arsenic, Chloride,Glucose,Heavy metals (as Pb)
Hydroxymethylfurfural,Lead…Has anyone else gotten stomach aches after drinking this stuff? I have and have also read about others who have also had stomach aches from this.
What is in your medicine the you chug down like a fool. Lead, Arsenic, Glucose, and other heavy metals. Do think for a second regular water doesnt have this in it. IF it doesnt, it ain’t real.
Hey sushi, I’ve had the stomach aches if I drink vitamin water without any food as well. As far as that cancer thing, I can’t find that gluecene on the label anywhere. Furthurmore, I’ve spoken with a couple of specialists and they say not everyone’s body reacts the same way to certain additives as others. Do any of you remember that thing about diet soda causing cancer? I think the ingredient was called phenylalanene, basically artificial sugar.
I bet there’s a lot of people that don’t drink vitamin water because it could cause cancer, drink diet coke. Or for that matter may be drinking or eating something that has these supposed “cancer causing” ingredients as well. Whey protien mixes perhaps? So by the studies, your screwed either way. Be afraid!!!!
i think that everyone have the liberty of consume what ever they want so dont make such a problem of this.i they want to drink it so let them do it.
i think that we have to informe more about that product and then make the conclusions about it.
i havent drink that water but all my friends does and they say that it helps them when they need energy.
i would like to recomend vitamin water, i has help me a lot. now i have a los of energy to go to the gym and play sports
I practice baseball everyday for my school’s team, 1/3 prefer gatorade, another 1/3 prefer propel, and the other 1/3 prefer vitamin water… i’m in the vitamin water section, not only is it good but it helps me last longer out on the field and during conditioning.
Yeah there’s always a myth out there saying something will give you cancer or something has poison in it, I say don’t believe it till you see it. I’m on the track team and a bunch of us drink that during conditioning season to keep us hydrated, it works fine and I’ve never had any problems from it.
I always drink VITAMINWATER is just delicios, it has water with nutrients that helps your body, mind and keeps you ENERGETIC all day long
yeah men, i think that is the principal reason why people should trying vitaminwater, it keeps you energetic… it works!
hey what is this
@kck, post #33 (I know, way up there)…
You only have to do x amount of sit-ups or push-ups if every calroie you consume sticks with you. And, in that case, FFS, you must be NEED the excercise if breathing and reaching for the remote is all the excercise you get.
I personally drink a lot of vitamin water when I’m at raves. Revive is also great after a heavy night of drinking — helps hydrate me and the potassium intake helps significantly. Definitely better than anything I’ve tried before…even gatorade! Oh, and XXX is great for maintaining a healthy urinary tract. Antioxidants are really sort of cool!
hahaha
Vitamin Water is so good! “Revive” really is perfect for a hangover. Every made a mimosa with a generous splash of “Energy”? Also very tasty, helps prevent a hangover altogether.
Water sucks – Vitamin Water rules