While experts always advice us to keep ourselves hydrated, flavored water seems to be the easy way out. Most often, we are clueless how our taste buds rule our mind and appetite. Come to think of it, we cannot even trust plain old water anymore these days, can we?
A variety of flavored waters are available in stores these days. Some of them simply offer a tastier way to stay hydrated, while others contain additives such as vitamins, antioxidants, herbs, and caffeine. Some claim that they help you relax, boost your energy level, or support your immune system. Although these beverages are called water, (which we think of as calorie free), some have as many calories as a snack bar and cost nearly as much as a Barista latte.
In order to ascertain whether the flavored water is healthy or not, you need to read the label carefully. There is a wide variety of flavored water available in the market, ranging from zero calorie to much more than that. It is up to you to choose what you want.
Low-Calorie Flavored Waters
Certain flavored waters, which claim to be low-calorie drinks, opt for artificial sweeteners. Although the calorie they provide is less, they can make you crave for more sugar later in the day. If you closely study the labels on these bottles, you would be shocked to see that they contain sodium hexametaphosphate (a flavor protector that is also used in ceramics), sodium benzoate (a preservative and precursor to benzene, acknowledged by the FDA as a known cancer-causing substance)! Aren't we paying a heavy price for being hydrated. I mean, why get shot both ways; one by paying a hefty amount to buy the drink and then get penalized (by the havoc these chemicals will wreak in our body) for drinking it, while you can decide to settle for the wholesome, fresh, zero-calorie, original water itself!
Flavored Waters That Help With Weight Loss!
There is yet another group of flavored waters that guarantee weight loss. However, when you take a closer look, you will see that these have the following added ingredients in them:
- Super CitriMax: This is a patented form of hydroxycitric acid (HCA) which is known for suppressing appetite and burning fat. However, studies suggest that these are effective only in conjunction with a high intensity workout, for it to help with fat oxidation.
- ChromeMate: This is a patented form of chromium. Although chromium can assist the body with regulating insulin, shedding weight, and building lean body mass, clear results are unavailable that proves the efficacy of this ingredient when used alone.
- Added Vitamins Like Vitamins C, B6, B12, and Potassium: While this apparently looks good, taking supplements containing these vitamins on a long run, when you are not really deficient in them, could lead to suppression of the immune system.
Water: Nature's Best Gift to Mankind
Compared all this to what water has to offer us:
- Quenches your thirst better than any other drink
- Zero-calorie drink
- Hydrates each cell of your body
- Ensures good cellular function
- No unnatural ingredients
- Flushes out impurities and toxins
- Keeps your waistline in check
So, while you and your family are enjoying your holiday in a beach resort, curb your temptation to reach out to those colored and flavored waters and do yourself a favor by having plenty of fresh juices, healthy food, and plain old water (which translates to bottled mineral water these days)!
