TMC saw this article and felt it was worthy of some commentary.

Jennifer LaRue Huget – How nutritious is Vitaminwater?.

Tap water has the added benefits of being all but free, and free of calories. Critics have bashed Vitaminwater for being a calorie trap. While a single eight-ounce serving has just 50 calories, a bottle contains 2.5 servings, so you could easily drink 125 calories — just 15 shy of the calories in a can of Coca-Cola — at once.

“I would hate for someone to choose to use Vitaminwater in lieu of eating fruits and vegetables,” Sandon says. While enhanced water isn’t likely to do harm, it also cannot provide the complex, quality nutrition that produce does.

“Whole fruit, whole vegetables contain phytonutrients and fiber that work together” in ways that scientists don’t yet fully understand, she says. “You don’t find the same benefit in a bottle.”

So is there really any reason to drink “Sugar Water” with some added Electrolytes and Vitamins (which are likely poorly absorbed)?

In TMC’s opinion, it comes down to convenience.

If you’re pressed for time and you’ve just done a hard cardio session and need to replace lost fluid and electrolytes, grab a Vitamin Water or two and suck em down.

If not, eat a couple of apples and make a Protein shake.

The newer zero calorie Vitaminwater is a good alternative for people on Lowcarb or IF and CR programs.  It’s no better or no worse than any of the other various Zero calorie sugar replacement drinks on the market.

MIHWCS