Water Enhancer: Are Flavoring Drops Healthy?

Erin Coleman, B.S. Nutritional Science, R.D., L.D.
Writer, Fit Father Project

Erin Coleman, B.S. Nutritional Science, R.D., L.D.
Writer, Fit Father Project

water enhancer

Many types of water enhancers are available to choose from, especially drops and powders, that add flavor and nutrients to plain water.

You probably already know that water is one of the best drink options you can choose to stay healthy.

If you enjoy water enhancers to make water taste better, however, you might be wondering if these enhancers are good for you.

Are flavored drops, powders, or tablets a good choice, and can they safely help you meet hydration goals?

The answer is yes … for some types of all-natural water enhancers.

Other water enhancers contain a lot of artificial ingredients that may not be the best choice for your health, even if they are low-calorie or calorie-free.

Plus, you can safely and effectively flavor plain water on your own to make it taste better and easier to drink!

Here's what you need to know about water enhancers and how to safely and effectively enhance your H2O!

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Common Ingredients in Water Enhancers

Common ingredients found in water enhancers include fruits, fruit juices, vegetables, vegetable juices, herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Examples of additives you might see on the ingredient list include artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

Added sugar is another common ingredient found in water enhancers.

Some water enhancer ingredients are better for you than others, and knowing which products to choose means checking the ingredient facts label on your favorite water enhancers.

Healthier Water Enhancer Ingredients

Healthier options present in many water enhancers include:

  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Other electrolytes
  • Vitamin C
  • B vitamins
  • Other vitamins
  • Stevia
  • Monk fruit extract
  • Erythritol
  • Fruits
  • Fruit juices
  • Vegetables
  • Vegetable juices
  • Amino acids
  • Protein powder

You might also notice herbs as ingredients in some of your favorite water drops or powders.

Get your doctor's permission, especially if you take any medications, before trying water enhancers containing herbal extracts.

Water Enhancer Ingredients to Avoid

Ingredients found in water enhancers to limit or avoid as much as possible include:

Artificial Sweeteners

  • Acesulfame potassium (ace-K)
  • Sucralose
  • Neotame
  • Advantame
  • Saccharin
  • Aspartame
  • Other artificial sweeteners

Artificial sugars can change the balance of good bacteria in your gut, and studies show that these sweeteners are linked with reduced satiety, higher food consumption, and weight gain.

Find out how artificial sweeteners REALLY affect your gut!

 

Added Sugar

  • Sugar
  • High-Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Agave nectar
  • Barley malt
  • Barley malt syrup
  • Beet sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Cane juice
  • Cane sugar
  • Caramel
  • Coconut sugar
  • Confectioner's sugar
  • Corn sweetener
  • Corn syrup
  • Date sugar
  • Dextrin
  • Dextrose
  • Honey
  • Malt syrup
  • Maltodextrin
  • Maltol
  • Maltose
  • Maple syrup
  • Molasses
  • Muscovado
  • Palm sugar
  • Powdered sugar
  • Rice syrup
  • Saccharose
  • Granulated sugar
  • Sweet sorghum
  • Syrup

Added sugar comes in a variety of forms, so becoming familiar with them helps you know what to look for on ingredients labels.

Artificial Colors

  • Blue No. 1 (brilliant blue)
  • Blue No. 2 (indigo carmine)
  • Red No. 3 (erythrosine)
  • Red No. 40 (Allura red)
  • Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine)
  • Yellow No. 6 (sunset yellow)
  • Caramel color
  • Cochineal extract
  • Carmine dye
  • Other artificial colors

Limit artificial colors in your diet as much as you can.

Some studies show that artificial food dyes are linked with hives, irritability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma, depression, and tumor growth in children.

Artificial Flavors

If you see the term “artificial flavors” on a water enhancer product, it's because it contains man-made ingredients that aren't necessarily good for you.

Consuming artificial ingredients is likely okay in moderation, but don't overdo it.

When in doubt, if you don't recognize an ingredient listed on a water enhancer food label, chances are it's artificial and not the best choice for your health.

Other Additives

  • Propylene glycol
  • Phosphoric acid
  • Potassium benzoate
  • Potassium sorbate
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Sodium Nitrate
  • Sodium Sulfite
  • BHA
  • BHT
  • MSG

Studies show that some acids are linked with tooth enamel erosion, which may cause problems for your oral health.

Additives can sometimes get contaminated with arsenic, lead, mercury, or other contaminants so it's best to limit your intake as much as you can.

Learn how to stop sugar addiction and what sugar REALLY does to your body!

 

Examples of All-Natural Water Enhancers

The best choices for water enhancers are those containing all-natural ingredients.

You can try store-bought powders, tablets, or drops.

You may also flavor water using nutritious ingredients you have at home!

Stur Water Enhancer

Stur liquid water enhancers are plant-based, vegan, kosher, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and made with all-natural ingredients.

Examples include real fruit, fruit juice, vegetable juice, Stevia extract, vitamin C, and other vitamins and minerals so you don't have to feel guilty about flavoring your water with Stur!

Waterdrop Water Enhancer

Waterdrop water enhancers also contain all-natural ingredients.

Examples include vitamins, minerals, herbs, Stevia, fruits, and vegetable extracts.

Some Waterdrop flavors contain naturally sourced caffeine.

That means it can give you a boost of energy in addition to making your water taste delicious!

Mojo H2O Water Enhancer

Mojo H20 water enhancers are calorie-free and enhance the flavor of your water using all-natural ingredients.

Examples include vitamin C, B vitamins, other essential vitamins and minerals, sodium, other electrolytes, Stevia extract, and fruit and vegetable juices!

Mojo enhancers are non-GMO, keto- and paleo-friendly, and plant-based with no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, dyes, or artificial flavors.

These enhancers are free from dairy, gluten, and soy too!

True Lime Water Enhancer

True Lime water enhancers contain just a few simple, natural ingredients like citric acid, lime oil, and lime juice.

This product is non-GMO and free from sugar, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, artificial colors, MSG, and gluten.

True Lime water flavoring is also vegan and calorie-free!

True Lemon, True Orange, and True Grapefruit water enhancers are also available if you prefer these flavors over lime.

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Coconut Water Powder

Coconut water powder contains the perfect blend of freeze-dried coconut powder, vitamins, minerals, and fruit and vegetable powders.

It contains just 40 calories per serving, is vegan and paleo-friendly, and is free from dairy, gluten, soy, and GMOs.

Simply mix coconut water powder with cold water, stir, and enjoy!

LMNT Electrolyte Mix

LMNT Recharge is loaded with electrolytes and natural flavors.

It contains Stevia leaf extract and provides just 10 calories with no added sugar in each serving.

Simply add LMNT Recharge to water to enhance its palatability.

This type of water enhancer is sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, and keto- and paleo-friendly!

Vegan BCAAs

Vegan branched-chain amino acids (vegan BCAAs) are building blocks of protein.

They support muscle growth and development and can improve athletic performance.

Ingredients commonly found in vegan BCAA water enhancers include fermented L-leucine, fermented L-isoleucine, fermented L-valine, natural flavors, beetroot powder, and Stevia extract.

Many types of vegan BCAAs contain no artificial ingredients, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or artificial sweeteners!

Protein Powder

Protein powder isn't necessary a water enhancer, but it does add protein, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients (plus flavor) to your water.

You can also mix protein powder with milk or plant milk, plus fruit or nut butter, to make a nutritious protein shake!

Because protein shakes are liquid, they count toward your daily fluid goal.

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Healthy Ways to Flavor Your Water

You can naturally flavor water at home to make it taste great by using the following healthy ingredients:

Chunks of Fresh Fruit

A simple way to improve water's palatability is to add fruit chunks to it.

Try lemon, lime, watermelon, honeydew melon, blueberries, strawberries, or any other favorite fruit!

Add ice, and squeeze a tiny bit of juice from the fruit into your water before drinking it.

Consider trying these delicious, refreshing fruit-infused water recipes!

100% Fruit Juice

To add vitamins and flavor to water without many extra calories, mix a little bit of 100% fruit juice into the water and add ice!

Cucumber Slices

Add ice and sliced cucumbers to your water to make it taste more refreshing.

Mint Leaves

Consider adding a few mint leaves to plain water with ice to enhance its flavor and palatability!

Ice Cubes

Sometimes, simply adding ice to water makes it taste better and easier to drink.

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Can Water Enhancers Help You Meet Hydration Goals?

Using nutritious water enhancers can help you meet daily hydration goals, especially if you struggle to drink enough plain water throughout the day.

You might be wondering how much water is enough to meet your body's daily demands?

A good rule of thumb is for men to drink about 16 cups of fluids daily, while women need about 12 cups.

This recommendation is for total daily fluids, not just water, but water is one of the best choices to quench your thirst and stay hydrated.

Other great fluid options include water containing all-natural flavor enhancers, 100% fruit juice, coffee, unsweet tea, milk, plant milk, plain kefir, and protein shakes!

Your personalized hydration needs depend on your size, activity level, body composition, and the number of fluids you lose daily through sweating.

A good way to tell if you're drinking enough water is to look at your urine.

It should be clear or light yellow in color, rather than dark yellow.

Here's the BEST way to start drinking more water and avoid dehydration!

 

Move Toward a Healthier Lifestyle

In addition to drinking more fluids (use water enhancers when needed to meet daily fluid goals), you can achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle using the following strategies:

Focus on Fiber-Rich Foods

Eating more fiber-rich foods is beneficial for your health for many reasons.

Fiber helps fill you up without extra calories, aids in healthy weight management, helps reduce high cholesterol, lowers your risk of chronic diseases, and enhances digestive health.

Pick fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, peas, other legumes, nuts, and seeds to increase your fiber intake.

Fill half of each plate of food with non-starchy veggies and one-fourth of each plate with fiber-rich starches.

Your doctor may recommend you take a fiber supplement too.

Prioritize Protein Foods

Like fiber, protein fills you up without extra calories.

It boosts your metabolism, helps you build and maintain lean muscle, and reduces the risk of unwanted weight gain.

Fill about 1/4 of each plate of food with protein-rich chicken, turkey, organic lean beef, fish, seafood, eggs, seitan, or other plant-based meat substitutes.

Don't Forget About Heart-Healthy Fats

Add nutritious high-fat food to each meal to increase satiety and curb junk food cravings.

Healthy fats also keep your brain, nails, skin, and hair healthy and enhance vitamin absorption.

Choose avocados, nuts, seeds, nut butters, olive oil, or other plant-based oils.

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Get Plenty of Sleep

In addition to drinking plain or flavor-enhanced water and eating a variety of nutritious foods, it's important to get plenty of sleep in order to train hard and recover properly after workouts.

Sleep also maximizes mental focus at work, helps you maintain a healthy weight, keeps your hormones balanced, and reduces the risk of accidents.

Aim to get at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night whenever possible.

Reduce Stress

Reducing stress is an important part of being your healthiest self, controlling your appetite, keeping chronic disease risks low, and living life to its fullest.

Make time for yourself to unwind and relax each day.

Consider massage, yoga, guided sleep meditation, going for a walk, or spending time outdoors with friends and family.

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Try a Healthy Living Program for Men

To move toward a healthier lifestyle and adopt good habits, consider trying a healthy living program for busy dads.

Doing so can help you lose weight, get fit, build muscle, improve athletic performance, and gain energy and self-confidence!

When you join the Fit Father Project, which has helped millions of members achieve and maintain healthy weights, you receive custom meal plans, menus, daily workouts, weekly newsletters, motivational support from medical experts, and much more!

If you struggle to drink enough water to meet your body's daily demands, try all-natural water enhancers and sign up for the Fit Father Project free meal plan and workout!

You and your health are worth it!

Erin Coleman, B.S. Nutritional Science, R.D., L.D.
Writer, Fit Father Project

Erin Coleman is a registered and licensed dietitian with over 15 years of freelance writing experience.

She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her dietetic internship at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Prior to beginning her career in medical content writing, Erin worked as Health Educator for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Internal Medicine.

Her published work appears on hundreds of health and fitness websites, and she’s currently working on publishing her first book! Erin is a wife, and a Mom to two beautiful children.

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*Please know that weight loss results & health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on water enhancers.

Erin Coleman, B.S. Nutritional Science, R.D., L.D.
Writer, Fit Father Project

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Thanks for checking out the blog. We can’t wait to support you toward greater health, energy, and vitality. – The Fit Father Project Team

 

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