Bored with plain old H2O?
Grocery stores now line their shelves with vitamin-enhanced waters in colorful bottles that are sure to catch your eye.
But can nutrient-spiked beverages like Glaceau's Vitaminwater and Gatorade's Propel Fitness Water actually boost your health? Experts say they're no substitute for fruits, veggies and multivitamin supplements.
"Vitamin waters don't make up for bad eating habits, which is what many Americans believe," said Coral Jenner, a registered dietitian in Syracuse, N.Y.
"They do offer a good amount of A and B vitamins, but no fiber at all," she said. "And you'd have to drink an awful lot of enhanced water in order to get your daily dose of calcium or magnesium."
Jenner surmised that the companies that bottle enhanced waters might be reluctant to add additional vitamins because "health additives like folic acid or vitamins take away from the taste, even if you only add a few." Artificial sweeteners that cover the bad taste tend to tack on quite a few calories.
As it is, one bottle of Vitaminwater contains 250 calories. Propel Fitness Water contains 10 calories for every 8 ounces; it comes in 16.9-ounce, 23.7-ounce and 33.8-ounce bottles.
ABCs of Vitamin-Enhanced Water
Posted by Nirmala N.
Bored with plain old H2O? Grocery stores now line their shelves with vitamin-enhanced waters in colorful bottles that are sure to catch your eye. But can nutrient-spiked beverages like Glaceau's Vitaminwater and Gatorade's Propel Fitness Water actually boost your health? Experts say they're no substitute for fruits, veggies and multivitamin supplements. "Vitamin waters don't make up for bad eating habits, which is what many Americans believe," said Coral Jenner, a registered dietitian in Syracuse, N.Y. "They do offer a good amount of A and B vitamins, but no fiber at all," she said. "And you'd have to drink an awful lot of enhanced water in order to get your daily dose of calcium or magnesium." Jenner surmised that the companies that bottle enhanced waters might be reluctant to add additional vitamins because "health additives like folic acid or vitamins take away from the taste, even if you only add a few." Artificial sweeteners that cover the bad taste tend to tack on quite a few calories. As it is, one bottle of Vitaminwater contains 250 calories. Propel Fitness Water contains 10 calories for every 8 ounces; it comes in 16.9-ounce, 23.7-ounce and 33.8-ounce bottles.