Science, Health & Tech
Vitaminwater has been touted as a healthy alternative to water. However, with all the calories and sugars it contains, it might not be as healthy as it claims.
Vitaminwater: truly better than “normal” water?
The Pointer
sjens236@uwsp.edu
Over the past year or so, waters labeled as having more vitamins have been increasing in popularity. However, as they increase in popularity, so has the amount of skepticism on their health benefits.
Companies like Coca-Cola, who produces Vitaminwater, market these drinks as being healthier alternatives to soft drinks. They claim the drinks are packed with the various vitamins most adults are lacking in their daily food intake.
However, many nutritional experts say the majority of Americans are not vitamin deficient. A 1999 survey conducted by the United States government showed that the average adult male and female actually consumes more than the Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamins. According to one Web site RDA is “the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (approximately 98 percent) healthy individuals.”
In particular, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12 are especially overindulged, as well as vitamins C, B9 and A. The survey found that the only vitamin which adults really lack is vitamin E.
Vitamin E contains important antioxidant properties, which keep cells from breaking down. The breakdown of cells is said to possibly be linked to many human diseases. Most adults only receive half of the RDA of vitamin E, and only about one third of the Vitaminwater drinks out there contain it.
Even if you were to choose a Vitaminwater that did contain vitamin E, there is a likelihood your body won’t absorb it. This is because some vitamins are water-soluble, they can easily enter the bloodstream via water, while others are fat-soluble. The second category only enters the bloodstream after being dissolved in dietary fat. Vitamins C and the B complex group are water-soluble, but vitamins A, D, E and K are all fat-soluble. Unless you’re going to be drinking your vitaminwater with a meal, there is a slim chance your body will absorb the vitamins it contains.
Part of the healthier image Vitaminwater promotes is based on its claim to be better than sugary soft drinks. However, just one bottle of Vitaminwater contains 32.5 grams of crystalline fructose, which is the equivalent of two overflowing tablespoons. Fructose is a sugar found in most fruits; the crystalline fructose in the “healthier” beverages doesn’t come from fruit though. It’s actually made from corn starch.
“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.”
Some research has even indicated that over sweetened sugary drinks can become quite addictive.
Other problems nutritional experts see with these types of enhanced waters include unnecessary added calories and additives as well as caffeine. Added to the extras contained in these beverages is the lifespan of the ingredients. Some experts note that the shelf life of various vitamins is not long enough to be placed into products like vitamin water. Vitamin C is one such nutrient which begins deteriorating rapidly once exposed to air. Unless you’re able to drink an entire bottle of Vitaminwater as soon as you open it, your body won’t receive the nutritional benefits.
Experts also say that vitamin intake is better received from your daily diet. It is also economically better to take multivitamin/multimineral supplements instead of purchasing the more expensive enhanced beverages.
“Given the cost of vitamin waters, I would imagine that their main benefits are to manufacturers’ profit sheets,” said Andrew Weil, M.D.
Some forms of Vitaminwater also contain potassium. This can be a problem for those with heart or kidney problems. Ingesting too much potassium can interfere with the functions of these organs.
Katherine Zeratsky, a dietician at the Mayo Clinic, suggests people stick with the usual sources of vitamins. Vegetables and fruits, as well as whole foods, tend to be the best places to get the vitamins your body needs. Plain old water is also important. However, if you're looking for a way to spice up your water, Zeratsky suggests trying sparkling water, adding a squirt of lemon or even cranberry juice to your water.
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