Contents
Store shelves bend under the weight of different waters. In addition to ordinary mineral water, we have a whole lot of flavored waters. So it seems that everyone will find something for themselves and take care of the proper hydration of the body. Nothing could be more wrong.
Flavored water versus ordinary mineral water
Flavored waters look the same, they are transparent, so we often think that they are a good and tasty substitute for regular water. To show how much these 2 types of water differ, I will analyze their composition and calorific value:
| sample medium mineralized water | sample flavored water with strawberry flavor | |
| composition | natural water minerals: cations – calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, anions – sulfate, chloride, fluoride | spring water sugar acidity regulator: citric acid preservative: sodium benzoate aroma strawberry juice from concentrated juice note: it contains negligible amounts of fat, saturated fatty acids, protein and salt |
| kcal value / 100 ml | 0 | 24,5 |
The composition of the flavored water presented in the table shows that proper instead of the waters, it should be qualified for drinks and stand for shelves next to the orangeade. It is common to equate it with mineral water a marketing gimmick. Especially since the composition does not contain a word of Fr. mineral ingredients.
What about calorific value?
Plain water provides no calories at all, however the calorific value of most flavored waters is 15 kcal / 100 ml. In the water discussed in the article, this calorific value is even higher and amounts to 24,5 kcal / 100ml. However, in both cases the difference seems to be small.
These are however, only appearances. Remember that a 1,5-liter bottle of mineral water is still there will have zero calorific value, but the same amount of water in question flavor, will provide us with 367 kcal.
Quenching your thirst with flavored water so we must bear in mind that we supply the body with additional calories. Unfortunately, these calories are not desirable because they come from sugar added to the water (or fructose syrup) and fat.
Hidden relationships
While not listed in the composition, information about you can find them on the product label (by the way, it’s great that the manufacturer has them he gave). Sample water is labeled as having negligible amounts fat, saturated fatty acids, protein and salt. Where did such unions come from water?
It has to do with the production process. Very often, aromas found in flavored water are introduced into it on protein or fat particles and fatty acids. These compounds therefore have the function of a carrier here. And although they are not the basic components of water, they affect its calorific value.
So what to drink when plain water does not taste good?
There are 2 options when we are unable to drink ordinary water:
– we can make it more attractive by adding, for example, freshly squeezed lemon, lime, orange juice or by adding herbs such as fresh mint
– we can replace it with herbal and fruit teas (unsweetened)
In this way, we will definitely hydrate the body better and not we will introduce artificial chemical and additional compounds into it calories.
Main photo is from: Photo credit: kstepanoff / Foter / CC BY