2008 Woodie Awards
Vitaminwater: A Healthy Hydrator?
Alicia Boettler
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Life & Times
Everyone has seen the beautiful vibrant colors that vitaminwater presents as a healthier choice to water. I mean it makes sense right? If you add vitamins to water and consume, it must be better for you than just water alone.
Water & Vitamins are two of the most essential substances available to us. They are both needed in order to maintain quality health. Without them, deficiencies rise and our bodies react negatively. Water alone to some can seem dull and boring. But add a variety of colors such as pink, purple and orange and a rainbow of nutrition waits for your consumption.
"Vitaminwater" was developed by a company that was formed in 1996 named Glaceau. According to their website, they wanted to become a "pioneer of the enhanced water category." Their creation combines distilled water with vitamins, herbs and flavors. They have been so successful; the company was later purchased by Coca-Cola Company for $4.1 billion.
But is it a healthier drink than just water or the "energy" drinks out there? Even if you were able to absorb all the vitamins in the water, vitaminwater might have trouble living up to the image as a nutritious alternative to sugary soft drinks.
Each bottle contains around 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.
Also it is important to note under contents, one botle is actually 2.5 servings. So if you drink the whole bottle you must multiply the number by 2.5 to find out what you're actually consuming. The big red flag ingredient is the sugar. There is roughly 13 grams of sugar in one serving, therefore 32.5 grams in the entire bottle. A can of Coca-Cola classic contains 39 grams of sugar. So this rise in blood sugar causes your pancreas to secrete insulin to balance everything out. With this increase in insulin the bodies' metabolism is disrupted causing a host of disturbances internally.
There are indeed nutrients in the water. However, the sugar outweighs the benefits of this beverage. The best thing to do is to drink water and eat regular fruits and vegetables to consume your vital nutrients. And if you are going to consume the vitaminwater do it in moderation. Because of the sugar content having it with a meal or after a workout would be the best time to consume it.
Not only being concerned with the health of our bodies but the health of our environment is important. They do go hand and hand. By taking a part and at least recycling your plastic vitaminwater bottle, a contribution to the health of the environment is being made.
Sometimes baby steps are needed when dealing with our own health and well being. By making more cautious decisions in what is consumed in our bodies, is the first step to wellness.
Water & Vitamins are two of the most essential substances available to us. They are both needed in order to maintain quality health. Without them, deficiencies rise and our bodies react negatively. Water alone to some can seem dull and boring. But add a variety of colors such as pink, purple and orange and a rainbow of nutrition waits for your consumption.
"Vitaminwater" was developed by a company that was formed in 1996 named Glaceau. According to their website, they wanted to become a "pioneer of the enhanced water category." Their creation combines distilled water with vitamins, herbs and flavors. They have been so successful; the company was later purchased by Coca-Cola Company for $4.1 billion.
But is it a healthier drink than just water or the "energy" drinks out there? Even if you were able to absorb all the vitamins in the water, vitaminwater might have trouble living up to the image as a nutritious alternative to sugary soft drinks.
Each bottle contains around 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.
Also it is important to note under contents, one botle is actually 2.5 servings. So if you drink the whole bottle you must multiply the number by 2.5 to find out what you're actually consuming. The big red flag ingredient is the sugar. There is roughly 13 grams of sugar in one serving, therefore 32.5 grams in the entire bottle. A can of Coca-Cola classic contains 39 grams of sugar. So this rise in blood sugar causes your pancreas to secrete insulin to balance everything out. With this increase in insulin the bodies' metabolism is disrupted causing a host of disturbances internally.
There are indeed nutrients in the water. However, the sugar outweighs the benefits of this beverage. The best thing to do is to drink water and eat regular fruits and vegetables to consume your vital nutrients. And if you are going to consume the vitaminwater do it in moderation. Because of the sugar content having it with a meal or after a workout would be the best time to consume it.
Not only being concerned with the health of our bodies but the health of our environment is important. They do go hand and hand. By taking a part and at least recycling your plastic vitaminwater bottle, a contribution to the health of the environment is being made.
Sometimes baby steps are needed when dealing with our own health and well being. By making more cautious decisions in what is consumed in our bodies, is the first step to wellness.
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