Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Drinks Chatter on Whether It's Better Water or a Water Battle
Posted by Nicki Wood on Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Waters with additives are everywhere: SoBe, Vitamin Water, SmartWater. They're beefed up with herbs, vitamins, oxygen and more.
For overall nutritional profile, they're definitely a better choice than sugary beverages but the Berkeley Wellness Letter reports that the vitamins and minerals in them are "certainly not going to make you healthy, boost immunity or energy, or relax you, despite the claims."
Most people get plenty of nutrients, there's really no need for the nutrients added to most food. But there's an even more basic point: many vitamins cannot be absorbed without food, including E,K,A, and D, all of which need fat to be absorbed.
One study of fortified waters found that a particular bottle had 15 times more folic acid than the label claimed, which is a level not proven safe when consumed regularly. The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed suit against Coca-Cola for health claims made for VitaminWater, which the CSPI says are illegal under the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration.
But you probably sensed that. Or maybe you had the opposite experience: you're a fitness buff and you've found a water product you like, that works. Spread the love, brah, cuz we could all use the competitive edge.
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