Is Vitaminwater Bad For You?
Short answer
Vitaminwater is nothing more than a combination of sugar, water, and synthetic vitamins. Don't be fooled by the name; Vitaminwater is not good for you.
Recommended Alternative
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
"No reasonable person could be misled into thinking Vitaminwater was a healthy drink," argued Coca-cola (the parent company of Glacéau Vitaminwater) after being sued for providing false information. With a quote such as that coming from the makers of the product, I shouldn't need to continue saying that Vitaminwater is bad for you - so I won't. Instead, let's turn to why Vitaminwater is bad for you.
First, what is it made of? According to its own label, over 99% of the product is sugar and water, with about 0.5% being made up by a myriad of additives, artificial colors and flavors - and of course, synthetic vitamins. Synthetic vitamins, by the way, have not been shown to have the same benefits as naturally-occurring vitamins, as they have been chemically produced in a lab. Various studies have even proven synthetic vitamins to increase the risk of birth defects (this, of course, pertains to pregnant women), cancer, hyperglycemia, and blood clotting. They also inhibit proper absorption of nutrients from real food! Furthermore, specific synthetic vitamins all come with their own array of short-term side effects including, but not limited to, headache, nausea, fatigue, and eczema.
The real culprit in Vitaminwater, though, is sugar - more specifically the type of sugar that is added to make Vitaminwater. In the United States, the sugar used is cane sugar and crystallized fructose. Unlike glucose, fructose is only metabolized in the liver at certain amounts. Excess fructose is simply turned into fat. Problems that can arise are obesity, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease, and cancer. With 120 calories and over 30 grams of sugar per 20 oz bottle, Vitaminwater is little more than soda dressed up with a fruity flavor and a healthy sounding name.
Possible short-term side effects
- nausea
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headache
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blood sugar spike
Possible long-term side effects
- tooth decay
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weight gain
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heart disease
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cancer
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type 2 diabetes
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birth defects
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hyperglycemia
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blood clotting
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decreased nutrient absorption
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- hydrating (contains water)
Healthier alternatives
- water
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fresh fruits
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natural fruit juice
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Essentia Alkaline Water
- 99.9% purity
- Infused with electrolytes
- 9.5 pH or higher
- Smooth taste
- Ideal hydration
Learn More!
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Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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