More and more people are becoming conscious of their health and are turning to products that promote well-being. One of these so-called heath products is a beverage popularly sold as vitamin water. Originally owned by Coca-Cola, celebrity endorsers like Ellen DeGeneres have made these drinks sell like crazy, what with the hip-looking bottles and attractive product labels such as Revive.

Is Vitamin Water Good for You?

Although vitamin-fortified water is being promoted as a healthy product, most of these claims are unsubstantiated. In reality, these beverages are made of sugared water with synthetic (or man-made) vitamins. It is not certain whether synthetic vitamins can provide the health benefits delivered by naturally-occurring micronutrients from food.

Nutrient Facts of Vitamin Water

Serving Size - 8 fl oz

Servings per Container = 2.5

Is vitamin water good for you? Well, another problem with relying on bottled products with vitamin-fortified water is that you may consume more sugar than you really need. These bottles may contain more than one serving size of beverage with empty calories. These products also contain flavorings that make them taste good, but can also cause you to take in too many calories you don't need.

How Can Vitamin Water Be Bad for You?

Here are some reasons why you should not be tricked into believing vitamin water is good for you:

1. High Sugar Level

One 20 oz bottle of vitamin water actually contains 32 g of sugar and 120 calories, which is about 50% of what a regular Coke contains. Moreover, the type of sugar it contains is mostly fructose, which has been found to be the harmful component of added sugar.

2. Weight Gain

Plain water is necessary for good health. But when sugar is added to water, even in the guise of vitamin water, you are taking a risk of becoming obese from regular consumption of empty calories. Studies show that the regular consumption of foods and beverages with added sugar such as fructose plays a major role in the epidemic of obesity.

3. Medical Conditions

Is vitamin water good for you? Excess consumption of fructose has been linked to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol and triglycerides, increased insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and even cancer. Although fruits contain fructose, they also contain lots of water and fiber, with a lower energy density. On the other hand, vitamin water may give you large amounts of calories from added sugar with fewer nutrients and no fiber at all.

4. Unnecessary Micronutrients

Manufacturers of vitamin water claim that these products contain vitamins A, B, C and E, as well as minerals like chromium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. However, these nutrients are also naturally found in most foods. Therefore, as long as you eat a balanced diet, these nutrients are almost never lacking and there is no need to buy products with artificial nutrients to supplement your diet. Consuming an excess amount of these vitamins and minerals does not provide more health benefits since most of them are not stored, but are simply eliminated out of the body.

5. Excessive Intake of Vitamins

Is vitamin water good for you? Although many studies show that consuming more micronutrients and antioxidants from various foods can help maintain health and prevent a wide range of diseases, taking supplements from health products such as vitamin water does not necessarily increase these benefits. In fact, taking too much of some of these nutrients (such as vitamins A and E) can be harmful to your health, because these can accumulate in the body and cause damage to the liver.

Alternative Healthy Beverages

1. Lemon Water

If you a want variety of flavors in your beverages, try drinking lemon water which aids digestion by helping flush the bowels more efficiently. It contains vitamin C which can boost your immune system and help freshen your breath with its natural antiseptic property.

2. Herbal Tea

Another natural health drink is tea with all the herbs and spices that contain antiviral, antibacterial, immune-strengthening, and energy-boosting properties. Tea is rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals that cause damage to the body. Try a variety of flavors such as peppermint, lemongrass, ginger, chamomile, spearmint, lemon myrtle, turmeric and cinnamon.

3. Kombucha

If you want more cleansing action, try this fermented tea beverage that is rich in probiotics. A glass of kombucha contains friendly bacteria that aids digestion, fights fungus overgrowth, manages bloating, and even improves mental clarity and mood. For more anti-inflammatory benefits, try adding turmeric or ginger in your tea.

4. Green Juice

Make cold-pressed green juice using 3 to 4 vegetables like cucumber, kale, zucchini, celery, broccoliand spinach, and one fruit. This is the best way to load your body with natural nutrients that are easily absorbed by your body. This type of beverage is rich in phytonutrients support detoxification and cleansing of your body.

5. Coconut Water

Coconut water is a delicious, natural rehydration beverage that provides the body with electrolytes such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium. It has no artificial sweeteners or additives, and is low in sugar. It also contains vitamins like ascorbic acid and B-vitamins as well as minerals like zinc, iodine, sulfur, selenium, manganese, boron, and molybdenum.