The Truth About Flavored Water: Is It a Good Substitute for Plain Water?

"I just can't drink plain water. I don't like the taste. What do you think about flavored water as a solution?" was the question posed to nutritionist Maya Rosman on her program on 103FM.

"I think it's a bit of a deception because it looks clear like water, comes in bottles like water, even has the word 'water' on it, and it's marketed as a water substitute - but it contains sugar," the nutritionist emphasizes. "Sure, it's a bit of sugar, but you're not just drinking a little. The label shows 15 calories per 100 ml, so a half-liter bottle is 75 calories. It's like eating an apple, but when you drink water, you don't count calories."

"And if you drink a liter?" Dr. Rosman continues, "That's 150 calories. More than a light pita with cheese, and we're not counting it because we think we're drinking water."

"Flavored water is not a good substitute for water, especially for those with diabetes, of course," she concludes.

What about those who don't like plain water? Dr. Rosman recommends trying soda water: "It's refreshing. It feels good and is more satisfying, plus it's 0 calories."

And concerning the acidity of soda water? She responds: "It's not an issue; the stomach's acidity is thousands of times stronger, and store-bought carbonated drinks are much more acidic than soda water."

More on the same topic:

How Many Glasses of Water Should You Really Drink a Day?

What Happens to Your Body if You Only Drink One Glass of Water a Day? You Don't Want to Know