Is VitaminWater good for you, or too good to be true?
Water from the faucet is just so boring and un-cool. But is VitaminWater, with its kaleidoscope of colors, trendy names like “endurance,” “power-c” and “vital-t” and celebrity-driven advertising really a better choice? Vitaminwater is pitched by Jennifer Aniston, LeBron James, 50 Cent, Kelly Clarkson and Shaquille O’Neal, among others.
VitaminWater’s parent company, Glaceau, (owned by Coca-Cola), markets Vitaminwater by promoting its supposed nutritional benefits, urging consumers to “hydrate responsibly. “ Is there really any nutritional substance behind all the marketing sizzle?
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) doesn’t think so. CSPI has filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Col for making what it says are deceptive and unsubstantiated claims on its VitaminWater beverages. The suit alleges that VitaminWater’s website, marketing copy, and labels inaccurately claim that VitaminWater is healthy, saying, for example, that “balance cran-grapefruit” has “bioactive components” that promote “healthy, pain-free functioning of joints, structural integrity of joints and bones” and that the nutrients in “power-c dragonfruit” “enable the body to exert physical power by contributing to the structural integrity of the musculoskeletal system.”
But let’s look at the nutrition label on a bottle of Vitaminwater. How does Vitaminwater compare to to soft drinks like Coke and thirst-quenchers like orange juice?
At the outset, one 20 oz. bottle of Vitaminwater has 2 and ½ servings. That means you would have to gulp down less than half the bottle to get the nutrition benefits (and calories) on the label. If you’re thirsty, and down the whole bottle, then you have to multiply each number on the label by 2.5. Here are the nutrition facts and ingredients from a bottle of “charge” Vitaminwater:
Serving Size 8 fl oz; Servings per Container 2.5
Calories 50 Total Fat 0 g. Sodium 0 mg. Total Carbohydrate 13 g. Total Sugar 13 g. Protein 0 g. Vitamin C 60%; Vitamin B3 10%; Vitamin B6 10%; Vitamin B12 10%; Vitamin B5 10%, Zinc 10%, Potassium 60 mgs. Ingredients: vapor distilled/deionized water, crystalline fructose, citric acid, vegetable juice (color), natural flavor, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), natural flavor, vitamin E acetate, magnesium lactate (elecrolyte), calcium lactate (electrolyte), zinc picolinate, monopotassium phosphate (electrolyte), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), cyanocobalamine (B12).
As an electrolyte replacement drink, VitaminWater compares poorly to brewed coffee, which provides 124 mgs. of potassium per 6 oz. serving. Orange juice is a better choice than both, providing 450 mgs. of Potassium per 8 oz. serving, 3 times as much Potassium as a whole 20 oz. bottle of VitaminWater. That same glass of orange juice provides 130% of the RDA of Vitamin C, Vitamin B3 10%; Vitamin B6 10%; Vitamin B12 10%; Vitamin B5 10% and Zinc 10%. If you choose calcium and Vitamin D fortified orange juice, you’ll obtain these additional nutrients as well. And then there’s the cost factor. Amazon sells Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice with Calcium and Vitamin D, No Pulp, 128 oz. for $6.79. That’s about 40 cents per 8 oz. serving. Amazon also offers a 6-pack of “revive” VitaminWater — 20 oz. for $18.00. That’s $1.20 per 8 oz. serving.
VitaminWater does have fewer calories and sugar than orange juice (110 calories and 22 grams of sugar per 8 oz. serving) but less much vitamin C, potassium and other nutrients.
Coke: Vitamin Water:
27 g. sugar per 8 fl oz. 13 g. sugar per 8 fl oz.
97 calories per 8 fl oz. 50 calories per 8 fl oz.
Pros:
It’s not as bad for you as Coke, has no caffeine or carbonation.
Unlike plain water, Vitaminwater comes in many different flavors and colors.
Possibly impress strangers with your disposable income.
Cons:
It’s expensive, at $1.20 per serving
Not really a good source of electrolytes, especially potassium, less than 10% RDA per serving.
Relatively small amounts of added vitamins.
Plastic bottles create environmental waste. 22 billion plastic bottles will end up in a landfill (Container Recycling Institute).
But if you’re looking to replace electrolytes after a grueling workout, orange juice is the better beverage option. Don’t agree? Leave a comment below.









Jennifer looks like she’s been drinking something, but it ain’t water.
Thanks for the comment. On Friday, the federal judge in the lawsuit denied Coke’s motion to throw out the case. http://www.cspinet.org/new/201007231.html. The Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Coke over what it says are deceptive and unsubstantiated claims made for Coke’s “vitaminwater” line of soft drinks. I’m guessing that a few Coke executives are reaching for something stronger than water. Vodka, maybe?
Seems it is just a commercial drink, rather than a healthier water. I still prefer orange juice.
I drink real water, can’t see paying for the vitamin stuff…doesn’t make sense to me.
Sandy
Aug Chall
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