Staying hydrated is essential for every bodily process. It helps maintain body temperature, perform physiological functions, lubricate joints, deliver nutrients to cells, and facilitate digestion. It also boosts energy levels and improves cognitive function. Drinking enough water prevents health issues such as kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Two popular choices often spark debate when it comes to hydration. They are vitamin water vs RO water (reverse osmosis water). Both offer unique benefits and drawbacks, making the decision a matter of individual preferences.
What is Vitamin Water?
Vitamin water is a healthy beverage that combines hydration with the benefits of added vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamins A, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, and E to maintain body strength and function. Other ingredients found in vitamin water are minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc. Vitamin water is a healthier alternative to sugary sodas or sports drinks.
Nutritional value of vitamin water:
- Calories: Around 120 per bottle
- Sugar Content: 32 grams per bottle
- Vitamins: 50-120% daily recommended amount per saving
Benefits of Vitamin Water
- Additional Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin water contains added vitamins and minerals, which can be a convenient way to supplement your diet. This becomes all the more important if you have deficiencies or struggle to meet your daily intake. - Enriched With Electrolytes
Vitamin water with electrolytes is beneficial for individuals who engage in regular physical activity or athletes. It helps replace minerals lost through sweat. Therefore, it is great for gym enthusiasts who are looking for something beyond quenching their thirst. - Variety of Flavors
Vitamin water comes in different flavors like tropical mango, orange, and kiwi-strawberry. Hence, it is more appealing for people who don’t enjoy plain water and encourages better hydration habits.
Disadvantages of Vitamin Water
- Excess Sugar Content
Many vitamin waters have added sugars, which can contribute to excess calorie intake and potential health issues like weight gain and tooth decay. It also increases the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. - Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are incorporated in vitamin waters to cut down on the sugar content. While these may not contribute to calorie intake, they can have negative health effects. - Limited Nutritional Value
Despite containing some vitamins and minerals, vitamin water cannot be used as a substitute for a balanced diet. It may not provide all the essential nutrients your body needs. - If the particular enhanced water contains sodium or potassium chloride, those electrolytes may hinder the sensation of feeling hydrated leading you to drink (and spend $) more.
What is Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water?
RO water filtration systems use the reverse osmosis membrane separation process to generate clean, safe drinking water (RO water). The filtration method removes virtually all dissolved solids, including minerals, salts, and contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and microorganisms when installed and maintained as directed.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water
- Purity
RO water is highly purified, without any contaminants like lead, chlorine, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. - Improved Taste and Odor
As RO water is free from impurities, it has a better taste and odor when compared to tap water. - Reduced Health Risks
Removing contaminants reduces the risk of health problems associated with consuming those impurities. - Low Sodium
Reverse Osmosis water benefits people on low-sodium diets as the filtration process removes sodium.
Disadvantages of RO Water
- Mineral Removal
Reverse Osmosis water filtration systems require the addition of a remineralization system to replace the minerals removed during the reverse osmosis process. In short, RO removes virtually everything, including the good minerals. Home MasterⓇ offers Full ContactⓇ remineralization to restore lost calcium and magnesium minerals making the highly pure RO water slightly alkaline.. - Waste Water
RO systems can waste a significant amount of water during the filtration process. For every gallon of filtered water, most RO units produce four gallons or more of wastewater, however, this can be reduced to 1:1 with the addition of a non-electric permeate pump. - Cost
Installing and maintaining an RO system can be expensive.
Hydration – Which Is Better for Your Body?
Both vitamin water and RO water offer effective hydration. However, if we weigh the pros and cons of vitamin water and RO water, RO water is the better choice for most people. It offers pure, unadulterated hydration without the added sugar and calories found in vitamin water. While vitamin water offers some benefits in terms of added nutrients and flavor, the high sugar content is a major drawback.
Prioritize RO water for your daily hydration needs as the human body can absorb regular water efficiently and quickly. Vitamin water can take a little longer to be absorbed due to the additional ingredients and sugars. If you like the taste of vitamin water, go for low-sugar or sugar-free options and consume them in moderation. For athletes or highly active individuals, vitamin water is advisable as the electrolytes added will replace those lost with every sweat. However, people under a sugar-restricted diet should avoid vitamin water owing to the extra calories.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Hydration
As a gold standard, plain RO water offers pure calorie-free hydration, perfect for daily consumption. If the objective is to stay hydrated without any added calories, go for RO water. Contrarily, vitamin water is a good option for those who are looking for a refreshing drink in the middle of workout sessions.