Flavored Water vs. Plain. Drinking plain water is the best way to stay hydrated without adding extra calories to your diet. But for many people, plain water can be a little boring. It’s no wonder then that flavored waters are a booming business. Here are some options for upping the flavor of your water without boosting the calories—some better than others. Flavored bottled waters Though many flavored bottled waters are nearly as sugary and caloric as sodas, an increasing number of them (including Vitaminwater Zero and Aquafina FlavorSplash) have no added sugar and no calories. One brand, Skinny Water, boasts “0 calories, 0 sugar, 0 sodium, 0 guilt.” What these waters usually have instead, though, are sugar substitutes (like sucralose, acesulfame-K or stevia), along with artificial flavors, dyes and preservatives. They often also come with vitamins, antioxidants, herbs and various “nutraceuticals” (such as green tea extract), which are, in effect, just a marketing pitch. Some bottled waters (such as Ayala Herbal Water, Hint Water and O Water) get their subtle flavors from herbal and fruit extracts. There are also noncaloric sparkling waters (seltzers) that come in lemon, lime, orange, raspberry and other flavors (with or without sugar substitutes). Keep in mind that most of these bottled waters are expensive. And all are bad for the environment. Besides the energy that goes into transporting the water and making the plastic bottles, the single-use bottles add a lot of garbage to landfills if they are not recycled. Flavor drops and powders The latest trend is to add concentrated flavor drops to water. Two popular brands are Dasani Drops and MiO. These are liquid versions of the calorie-free powder water enhancers (like Crystal Light) that have been around for years. Both the drops and the powders come in many flavors so that you can make your water taste, for example, like blueberry lemonade or pineapple juice, without calories. And because they come in mini bottles or packets that you can take with you, you can add them to your water throughout the day, wherever you are—without leaving a trail of disposable plastic bottles behind you. Another perk: They cost much less than bottled waters per serving. But as with many flavored bottled waters, the drops often have sugar substitutes and other added ingredients—in effect, turning natural water into something distinctly less so. Bottoms up: There are lots of products on the market to help you enjoy your water more. There’s no reason to fear the additives in them—whether artificial or “natural”— though many people prefer shorter lists of ingredients. But the healthiest and most environmentally friendly option is to simply flavor your tap water yourself. Add lemon or lime slices, orange wedges, chunks of watermelon or pineapple, sliced grapes or berries. Or try cucumber slices, grated ginger, a sprig of mint or rosemary or even a cinnamon stick. Mashing fruits and herbs helps release their flavor.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 15:47:37 +0000
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