Read AND UNDERSTAND the labels on Flavoured Water

Dr Janet Starr Hull (author: Sweet Poison) has a nice newsletter and I was taken by a story she had about a bottle of 'flavoured water' her daughter Katie brought home.

Here's her story:

"I grabbed the flavored water bottle from her hand and read her the ingredients:

Fitness Water - Lemon Flavor
16.9oz - 2 servings per bottle

16 calories per 8 fl oz - 25 calories per bottle
Fat 0
Sodium 35 mg, 70 mg
Total Carb 3g, 6 g
Sugars 2g, 4g
Protein 0

Vitamin C 10%, 25%
Vitamin E 10%, 25%
Niacin 25%, 50%
Vitamin B6 25%, 50%
Vitamin B12 4%, 10%
Pantothenic Acid 25%, 50%

"Propel Fitness Water^®, created by the makers of Gatorade^®, hydrates and nourishes your active body with a splash of fruit flavor and essential vitamins. It contains antioxidant vitamins C and E, along with B vitamins, which aid in energy metabolism as part of a daily diet.

"Ingredients: Water, sucrose from corn syrup, natural lemon flavor with other natural flavors, citric acid, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, sucralose, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E acetate, niacinamide (vitamin B3), calcium disodium EDTA (protects freshness), calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), acesulfame potassium, vitamin B12."

This "fitness water" contains sugar from high fructose corn syrup, MSG (natural flavors), and two artificial chemical sugar substitutes - sucralose (found in Splenda) and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). This isn't healthy water; it's chemical soup in a water bottle. No wonder Katie gets a headache after a strenuous workout. Her body needs WATER to rehydrate it - natural, pure water. NOT chemical water."

Ian: I recommend you check out her site. She's on the mark.