There’s nothing quite like a refreshing glass of healthy, clean water to quench the thirst and do all the good stuff that water uncategorically does. This was until a beverage called Vitaminwater appeared on the supermarket shelves shouting out the message: healthy, refreshing and essential.

It’s been a common fact for decades that the body needs water to function, and the recommended quantities are around 2 litres a day. But does drinking a water solution packed with vitamins, minerals and rather alarmingly high quantities of sugar offer any more of a benefit? Let’s see.

What is different about Vitaminwater?

Vitaminwater started out life as a drink made by a company called Glaceau, but after being bought out by Coca-Cola for a mere $4.1 billion, it was given the makeover that only a giant of a world leading brand can.

There followed a hard hitting advertising campaign, showcasing sleek bottle designs, a huge range of flavours with names like: Go-Go, Revive And Focus. If these enticing names weren’t enough, maybe the introduction of celebrity flavours, such as 50 Cent’s self-named Formula50, would be the deal breaker.

What is in Vitaminwater?

The label in the orange flavour contain these ingredients:

• Reverse osmosis water
• Crystalline fructose
• Cane sugar
• Citric acid
• Magnesium lactate and calcium lactate
• Potassium phosphate (electrolyte sources)
• Natural flavours
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Gum acacia
• Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl acetate)
• Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate)
• Glycerol ester of rosin
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
• Vitamin B12
• Beta-carotene
• Modified food starch
• Sorbitol

Is it good for you?

Although the extremely low vitamin content does not actually offer benefits, it will also not cause harm. This unfortunately can not be said for the extremely high sugar content, and more worryingly, the amount of crystalline fructose that is in these drinks.

Research is plentiful on the fact that fructose is more damaging than sugar and in particular, crystalline fructose, which one healthcare company called: “The worst of the worst”!

There is a ‘Zero’ Vitaminwater product line, that has no added sugar. However, this is actually sweetened with an extract from the stevia plant and erythritol, which again seems to come with its own health warnings.

So by now you may be wondering why we have chosen to write about a product that comes packed with as much sugar as Coca Cola or an alternative that also comes with ‘side effects’, and seems as far removed as can be from what Total Soft Water is all about.

The reason is to once again highlight just how imperative to a healthy life, drinking those 8 glasses of water is. Even with the innovative ways to make water more interesting and appetising, for many people this will always be an endless struggle. Sometimes a bit of good old fashioned big brand razzmatazz is the only way!

For many of us however, fancy flavoured water isn’t a necessity when it comes to understanding we need to drink to function optimally. As Hydration Nation says: “As humans, we are regarded (by most, anyway) as the smartest animals, right? Yet for some reason, companies making fluids deem it necessary to inform you how much you should drink. Have you ever had to force your pet cat or dog to the water bowl?”

Next we shall look at smart water, and if it really does what it says on the tin.

[Photo by Alexas_Photos]