Vitamin Enhanced Waters: Are They Worth It?

By Marissa Torres

Syracuse, NY- Last year consumers spent over a quarter million dollars on vitamin enhanced waters. As the demand for these waters increases, more and more companies are introducing new and improved flavors that promise to revive, replenish and renew. But most health experts agree, vitamin enhanced waters aren’t worth all their hype.
It all adds up
“Its popular and everyone thinks it is going to make them a better athlete, what it really does is add calories to your diet” says Lindsey Reider, Physical Education and Recreation Department Chair at Onondaga Community College.
Reider says he has noticed more and more students opting for the vitamin enhanced waters, and he questions its nutritional benefits.
“I think it is a marketing ploy, and I think it takes advantage of peoples lack of knowledge of what their proper diet should be.”
For most people it’s the taste that lures them in. But it is also believing that drinking the water provides you with all of the necessary vitamins for a healthy diet.
What people do not realize is that along with the vitamins and electrolytes, comes lots of sugar.
In one bottle of Life Water, there are 140 calories. Which is the equivalent of eating one twinky.
“Unless your drinking one and your going out and working out, it’s just going to sit in your stomach and turn to fat” says Damian Rinaldi, a local boxing coach.
Sure They Taste Good, But do they work?
Being healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is hard to do when we are constantly busy and usually have time for just a quick bite. But having vitamin-enhanced water is not the quick fix you may think it is.
The waters are infused with B12, B6, vitamin C, Niacin, and other water-soluble vitamins, which are extremely unstable. The vitamins easily evaporate from the water, and this process is sped up when the waters are not refrigerated.
So, by the time you drink your water, much of the vitamins have left.
Are they right for anybody?
The waters are also enhanced with Electrolytes, which are beneficial for people with an athletic or active lifestyle.
“Some of these beverages that have electrolytes, in them, not necessarily the vitamins, but the electrolytes, may help with the absorption of that water to get back into the bloodstream” says Reider

The cheaper alternative for anyone looking to stay hydrated and be healthy is one multi-vitamin and a glass of tap water. It saves on the pounds and on the wallet.