Water, Water Everywhere!

With the summer months upon us, it’s important to stay hydrated, but the abundance of bottled waters on
the market can make choosing one a challenge. Some brands even claim to be “enhanced” or “fortified”
with vitamins, minerals, herbs and antioxidants, leaving you with even more to consider. Are these
“benefits” real and are they worth the extra cost? We’ve uncovered some truths.

Vitamin-Enhanced Water
“De-stress with B vitamins” or “Fight the common cold with vitamin C” are claims displayed on some
product labels! Choose to drink one of these beverages and it might help boost your intake of some
vitamins, but don’t count on lowering your stress or fighting off your cold. One thing you can be sure of
is these beverages will boost your intake of sugar. With sugar as one of the leading ingredients, they
provide anywhere between 40-50 calories per 8 ounces. Plus, most come in a 20-ounce container, which
means your drinking 6 to 8 teaspoons of sugar per bottle!
Our suggestion: Drink plain water to quench your thirst and grab some fruit and veggies for a dose of
vitamins and minerals.

Fiber Water
If you just can’t imagine how “good-for-you” fiber could be squeezed into water, neither can we. But,
certain brands of water tout this benefit. Why? They use an ingredient called maltodextrin, a starchsubstance
that cannot be digested in the human body. According to the FDA, beverages that have
maltodextrin can bear the claim of “fiber.” Unfortunately, maltodextrin does not have the same health
benefits as the natural fiber we find in whole-grain products, beans and vegetables.
Our suggestion: Include fruits, veggies, whole-grains and legumes in your diet for lots of good-foryou,
natural fiber!

Your Water Now Equal to Two Servings of Fruit!
If you’ve seen the “contains two servings of fruit” claim and thought about skipping out on your daily
servings of fruit, think again! While the water beverage might supply you with a mix of vitamins and
minerals, it is certainly not equal to eating a piece of fruit. When you eat fruit, you are getting an even
greater mix of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber!
Our suggestion: Aim for at least one fruit or vegetable at every meal AND snack!

What’s the bottom line?

• To quench your thirst, drink lots of calorie-free, plain water and if you need a little flavor,
  try seltzer mixed with 2 ounces of 100% juice.

For more tips, information and healthy recipes, visit the health and wellness section of ShopRite.com