What Is Vitamin Water and Is It Good For You?

When 60% of the human body is made up of H₂O, the importance of keeping hydrated should not be underestimated. We are all constantly losing water, mainly through sweating and urine, and this water-loss increases during exercise or in hot weather.

Government recommendations are to drink around six to eight glasses or around 1.2 litres per day, and for good reason. Even being mildly dehydrated can affect appetite, energy levels, mood and concentration. Thankfully we have an inbuilt system that tells us when we need to top up, so if you’re feeling thirsty, don’t ignore it!

But we get it - drinking water all day long can get boring, and this is where vitamin water might be helpful, especially if you’re trying to tick off your health goals.

 Here at Get More Vits, we’re all about transparency, so in this post, we’ll be talking about the benefits as well as the negatives, so you can make an informed choice for yourself and be confident about what you are buying as well as putting in your body.

In this article, we’re going to discuss:

• What vitamin water is.
• Whether it’s good for our health and the health benefits.
• Common ingredients.
• The potential negatives of vitamin water.

What is vitamin water?

Vitamin water is simply water that has been enhanced with added vitamins and minerals and then packaged up and sold as a product. 

Vitamin water products are usually bought off the shelf or found in refrigerators in most major supermarkets, convenience stores and online. 

It tends to be low in calories and makes a convenient and healthier alternative to regular soft drinks, which are usually packed with sugar. 

Is vitamin water good for your health?

Drinking vitamin water can provide a vitamin boost for those who don’t like swallowing vitamin tablets or for those suffering from deficiencies. They are also great for people on the go and for specific purposes, such as keeping on top of electrolyte levels during sports. 

Vitamin water products might be marketed as healthy by so-called ‘health brands’, but be aware some are not as healthy as they might seem and contain lots of added sugar, which we all know isn’t great for our health.

Health benefits of drinking vitamin water

Supports weight loss 

If weight loss is a goal, research shows that drinking 500ml of water can temporarily boost the metabolism by around 25% and aiming for 2 litres can help you burn an additional 96 calories per day! 

It can support vitamin deficiencies.

Choosing supplements can be a bit of a minefield, and we always recommend getting advice from a health professional such as your GP or a Nutritionist. For this reason, drinking vitamin water can be an easy and tasty option to help you stay on top of any gaps in your daily diet and prevent or support existing nutritional deficiencies.

Helps maintain energy levels

Staying hydrated is key to a steady stream of energy, and even being mildly dehydrated can negatively impact brain function. At a cellular level, if cells are not able to balance the exchange of fluids and electrolytes, this can result in fatigue and cause sore and aching muscles. Some vitamin drinks which contain B vitamins can provide an added boost as B vitamins help us to release energy from the food we eat.

Increases water intake to stay hydrated

Nothing beats water when it comes to hydrating our bodies. Water supports every single one of our organs, from the brain to the digestive system.

Water also helps to regulate body temperature, supports the delivery of oxygen around our bodies, lubricates our joints and is beneficial for our skin.

If regular water isn’t your thing, drinking vitamin water, which comes in a wide range of flavours and still and sparkling options, can help you maintain a higher water intake and stay on top of your hydration levels.

The electrolytes are powerful for sports

We only really need to think about electrolyte balance when we are exercising, as  food and drink usually checks off our everyday hydration requirements. However, added electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium can help to replenish those that are lost through sweating while supporting muscle function and speeding up recovery time to help you get back in the game (or the gym) even faster.

A low calorie solution to fizzy drinks

Most fizzy drinks are packed with sugar and high in calories, which are not the best choice for our waistlines or our teeth.

 While some vitamin waters do use added sugar, others are sweetened with sugar free and low calorie alternatives such as sucralose, stevia or xylitol. So if you can’t give up the sweet stuff, vitamin waters can make a much healthier alternative.

The potential negatives of vitamin water

As long as your vitamin water of choice does not contain lots of added sugar, there are very few negatives to worry about. 

The levels at which vitamins are included are not high enough to be at risk of taking on too much. The only real issue for most of us, is that we should be able to get the vitamins and minerals we need through our daily diet. For example, we get plenty of hydration from eating fruit and vegetables as well as the fibre to keep our digestive system healthy, so vitamin waters are not an absolute necessity. 

The ingredients

Vitamin water is simply water with added benefits. However, it can contain some preservatives, sugars and sweeteners. So rather than replacing your entire H₂O requirement, it’s best enjoyed as an occasional treat.

Common ingredients in vitamin water include vitamin D, vitamin C and B vitamins, along with added sweeteners and preservatives to prolong shelf life.

Drinking too much if it contains added sugar 

Any excess in vitamins or minerals that the body does not need will be excreted in the urine. So unless your drink contains added sugar, which can put you at risk of obesity and diabetes over the long term if consumed in excess, it’s not going to do any harm if you’re drinking sugar-free vitamin waters, such as the products we sell. 

It can be pricey

Vitamin water on average is more expensive than regular bottled water, especially if you’re drinking it every day. But if you’re occasionally buying a bottle of water when you’re out and about, paying a little extra for vitamin water is not going to break the bank. In fact, it’s an investment for your health because you’re making sure you’re getting enough vitamins, even on the busiest of days. 

As a cost-effective alternative to vitamin water, you can create your own by infusing regular water with a slice of lemon, lime, a few slices of cucumber or fresh mint. 

Summary

Vitamin water products might be marketed as healthy by many so-called ‘health brands’, but some are not as healthy as they might seem, especially if they contain lots of added sugar!

 So when you’re picking a product, go for one that’s sugar free. This will be beneficial on many different levels, such as keeping you hydrated, aid with weight loss, helps maintain energy levels and is simply a low calorie solution to fizzy drinks. 

At Get More Vits, we’re proud to say all our vitamin water is: 

• Sugar free
• Low calorie
• UK sourced Spring Water
• Contains a daily dose of vitamins
• All natural flavours 

Ready for your next read about vitamins? Check out our other post and learn all about how long it takes for vitamins to work. 

 

 

Author Becky Graham Lead Nutritionist & Communications - Get More Vits