Glaceau vitamin waters are beverages made with water and a sweetener, plus essential vitamins and minerals. While vitamin waters sound like a healthy option, you may be wondering if these products are really that good for you or just like other energy drinks.
Calorie Content
Most regular Glaceau Vitamin Water formulas contain about 120 calories in each 20-ounce bottle, regardless of the flavor. While 120 calories isn't really a lot for a 20-ounce serving size, these extra calories can add up if you're drinking vitamin waters regularly. If weight-loss is your goal, try ice water or water flavored with cut up fruit instead to cut back on extra calories.
Other types of Glaceau Vitamin Water products include Vitamin Water Zero, which is calorie-free and flavored with artificial sweetener, and the Vitamin Water energy line -- providing 50 calories on each 11.5-ounce can.
Nutritional Benefits
One benefit of drinking Galceau Vitamin Water is that most flavors are fortified with vitamin C and B vitamins -- and some formulas contain vitamin A, calcium, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, potassium, chromium or manganese. The energy Vitamin Water formula even contains caffeine for an extra boost of energy.
Concerns About Added Sugar
The majority of calories in Vitamin Water products are from added cane sugar. Each 20-ounce bottle of Glaceau Vitamin Water contains about 30 grams of added sugar. Vitamin Water Zero doesn't contain sugar calories, but is a source of artificial sweetener stevia leaf extract. While artificial sweeteners don't provide calories, these sugar substitutes are associated with an increase in overall calorie intake, weight gain, fat gain and an increased risk for obesity, according to a review published in 2011 in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. Authors of this review note that stevia has been shown to reduced sperm production in rats, and may promote cancer when consumed in high doses.
Is Vitamin Water Better Than Water?
Glaceau Vitamin Water can provide you with a quick boost of energy, which is a plus if you're working out in hot weather or exercising for extended periods of time. But Vtamin Water does contain added sugar, which can be problematic when consumed in excess. Though calorie- and sugar-free, Vitamin Water Zero isn't really better than water because it contains an artificial sweetener that can promote sugar cravings and is associated with weight gain. Water is the ideal beverage of choice over Vitamin Water in most cases. If you're worried about meeting your daily vitamin and mineral needs, ask your doctor about taking a multivitamin supplement.
An experienced health, nutrition and fitness writer, Erin Coleman is a registered and licensed dietitian and holds a dietetics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also has worked as a clinical dietitian and health educator in outpatient settings. Erin's work is published on popular health websites, such as TheNest.com and JillianMichaels.com.
