Vitamin Water, infused with vitamins and sugar, is a popular choice for workout fuel and for hydrating the average person.
However, don’t be fooled by the healthy sounding name–one bottle contains 32 or 33 grams of sugar!
Sneaky Ingredients
Vapor distilled/deionized/reverse osmosis water, crystalline fructose, citric acid, vegetable juice (color), natural flavor, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin E acetate, magnesium lactate (elecrolyte), calcium lactate (electrolyte), zinc picolinate, monopotassium phosphate (electrolyte), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), cyanocobalamine (B12)
- Deionized water is a fancy name for saying the water is purified and demineralized. This is a little funny since the Glaceau company (owned by Coke) is marketing their beverages for the active population who would need the extra electrolytes and minerals. They take out the minerals, and then add extra back in. Typical.
- Crystalline fructose is just another name for sugar.
Healthier Vitamin Water?
Choose the Vitamin Water Zero for a stevia sweetened beverage. All the ingredients are the same as in regular vitamin water, except the zero uses stevia (rebiana), sugar alcohols, and small amounts of real sugar (fructose).
- Contains zero calories per serving, but should be about 12.5 calories per bottle due to labeling laws.
- 4 grams of carbohydrates and less than 1 gram of sugar per serving, and 10 grams of carbohydrates per bottle.
Further Recommendations
Vitamin water zero is a way to have a sweetened beverage without artificial sweeteners and loads of sugar. However, I wouldn’t recommend drinking it multiple times per day because of the multiple doses of vitamins, minerals, sodium, and potassium you would be drinking.
If you need a sports drink you can try making your own natural drink with 100% juice that has been diluted (about 15 g carbohydrate per 8 oz is ideal). Add a pinch of salt for electrolytes (or an electrolyte tab) if necessary for high sweat activities.
Do you drink vitamin water?
I never drink vitamin water or any sports drinks. I like only regular water
Wow the amount of sugar in vitamin water is surprising. Guess gonna stop drinking vitamin water and try making my own natural drink instead.
I started out drinking the regular vitamin water, until I noticed the sugar content and switched to the Zero. I didn’t think about drinking too much of it because of the vitamins and minerals, but I will be more mindful now that I have read this. Thanks for the helpful information.
I tried Vitamin water but it did not sit well with me, so I had to stop drinking it. I just drink bottled water and filtered water. I don’t think it matters what kind of water you drink just as long as you’re getting your required daily amount.
Gotta love ‘crystalline fructose’ — talk about a health halo…
I don’t drink vitamin water or any sports drinks. Plain old water is my beverage of choice. I guess I just don’t get the sports drink craze. I mean, if your eating healthy foods why do you need vitamin water?
I have tried the Vitamin Water Zero before and it’s not that bad, but I don’t drink a whole bottle at once. It’s probably a little better than diet soda, but it’s still not something I’d drink all the time.