Understanding Calories and Sugar in Vitaminwater
Vitaminwater is a popular flavored water drink marketed as a healthier alternative to soda. With added vitamins and trendy flavors like dragonfruit and acai-blueberry-pomegranate, it positions itself as a nutritious way to hydrate.
But despite the images of dewy fruit on its bottles, Vitaminwater is not as virtuous as it seems. The truth is these drinks contain a substantial amount of added sugar and calories.
In this comprehensive guide, well break down the calories and sugar in Vitaminwater to help you make informed choices about what youre drinking.
Vitaminwater Nutrition Facts
There are many different flavors and varieties of Vitaminwater, but the basic nutrition facts are:
Serving Size
20 fl oz bottle (591 mL)
Calories
120 calories per bottle
Total Sugar
32-33 grams of sugar per bottle
To put this in perspective, here's how Vitaminwater compares to other popular beverages:
Vitaminwater (20 fl oz) - 120 calories, 32g sugar
Coca-Cola (12 fl oz) - 140 calories, 39g sugar
Gatorade (20 fl oz) - 130 calories, 36g sugar
Red Bull (8.4 fl oz) - 110 calories, 27g sugar
Orange Juice (8 fl oz) - 112 calories, 22g sugar
As you can see, Vitaminwater has significantly more sugar than most people realize. A 20 oz bottle actually contains more sugar than a 12 oz can of Coke!
Sugar Content in Popular Vitaminwater Flavors
Different Vitaminwater flavors have slightly varying amounts of sugar. Here's the sugar content in some of the most popular options:
Revive Fruit Punch - 33g sugar
Focus Kiwi Strawberry - 32g sugar
Defense Lemon Lime - 32g sugar
Energy Tropical Citrus - 33g sugar
Multi-V Lemonade - 32g sugar
Essential Orange Orange - 32g sugar
No matter what flavor you choose, you're looking at consuming 32-33 grams of added sugar in each bottle of Vitaminwater.
Vitaminwater Zero Sugar
Vitaminwater also offers a line of zero sugar drinks sweetened with alternative sweeteners like erythritol and stevia. Here are the nutrition facts for these zero calorie options:
Serving Size
20 fl oz bottle (591 mL)
Calories
0 calories
Sugar
0g sugar
These provide an option with no calories or sugar for people looking to cut back. However, there are some potential concerns around substituting sugar with artificial sweeteners.
Why Does Vitaminwater Contain So Much Sugar?
When Vitaminwater first launched in 2000, it was positioned as a healthy drink containing added vitamins and nutrients. However, the formula contained a substantial amount of sugar, which is still true today.
There are several reasons Vitaminwater packs in the sweet stuff:
- Sugar substitutes the taste of flavorings - Rather than using juices, Vitaminwater relies on flavorings like citric acid for taste. The high sugar content helps mask the artificial flavors.
- Sugar makes vitaminwater taste good - Added sugar simply makes these drinks taste appealing to consumers. Without it, the flavors would be far less palatable.
- Sweet taste sells - Humans have an innate preference for sweetness. The sugar content drives more sales than a less sweet product.
- Sugar adds shelf stability - Sugar helps vitaminwater maintain its quality and shelf life, protecting flavor.
Is Vitaminwater Good for You?
Given its vitamin content and fruit-inspired flavors, many people assume Vitaminwater provides valuable nutrition. But health authorities have cracked down on dubious health claims from the brand.
Here are some key considerations regarding Vitaminwaters health impact:
- High sugar intake - The 32g of sugar in each bottle exceeds recommended limits for added sugar intake.
- Low caloric value - Despite the calories and sugar, Vitaminwater provides little real nutrition.
- Artificial sweeteners in some - In moderation, artificial sweeteners are likely safe but more research is needed on long-term impacts.
- May promote weight gain - Excess sugar intake from beverages is linked to obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease.
- Provides some vitamins - Though likely not enough to provide real benefits or offset the sugar content.
Overall, plain water remains a much healthier way to hydrate without unnecessary sugar or calories.
Vitaminwater Marketing Controversies
On its surface, Vitaminwater's marketing implies the drinks provide valuable nutrition. However, the company has faced lawsuits challenging misleading health claims.
Some controversial elements of Vitaminwater advertising include:
- Using the word healthy prominently on labels
- Implying the vitamins provide disease-fighting benefits
- Claiming drinks defend/protect the immune system
- Associating Vitaminwater with healthy activities like yoga and running
In 2009, Vitaminwater was sued for deceptive and unsubstantiated health and disease-prevention claims." While the company denies liability, they agreed to add FDA does not endorse this product on labels.
Sugar Recommendations
Health authorities recommend limiting added sugar intake:
- World Health Organization: <25g per day
- American Heart Association: 36g per day for men, 25g for women
- US Dietary Guidelines: <10% of daily calories from added sugars
With 32-33g of sugar in each bottle, it's easy to exceed these limits drinking Vitaminwater regularly.
Alternatives to Vitaminwater
If you enjoy flavored drinks but want to cut down on sugar, here are some healthier alternatives to Vitaminwater:
Infuse plain water
- Add fruit slices like lemon, lime, orange or cucumber
- Try fresh herbs like mint or basil
Drink unsweetened tea
- Try green, black, white or herbal varieties
Seltzer or sparkling water
- Look for unsweetened varieties without artificial sweeteners
Dilute 100% fruit juice
- Mix half juice, half water to cut sugar content
Make your own fruit-infused water
- Soak fruit like berries, pineapple, melon to naturally flavor water
The bottom line? When you're thirsty, bypass the Vitaminwater and opt for plain old H2O instead!
FAQs
How many calories are in a bottle of Vitaminwater?
A typical 20 oz bottle of Vitaminwater contains 120 calories.
Does Vitaminwater have as much sugar as soda?
Yes, a bottle of Vitaminwater actually contains even more sugar than a 12 oz can of regular Coke.
Is Vitaminwater zero sugar actually healthy?
Vitaminwater Zero uses artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, which may not be healthy long-term even though it has zero calories.
Does Vitaminwater provide vitamins and nutrients?
It does contain added vitamins, but likely not enough to provide significant nutritious value, especially considering the high sugar content.
What are lower sugar alternatives to Vitaminwater?
Healthier options include infused plain water, unsweetened tea, seltzer water, diluted fruit juice, or homemade fruit-infused water.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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