Water Enhancers? Good or Bad?

rdmitche1
rdmitche1 Posts: 400 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I stopped drinking soda (although it was Diet Dr Pepper) over a year ago. I don't drink alcohol, coffee, tea. or milk. I really only drink water, but because just water is boring, I have started using some water enhancers (like Mio) ...is that good or bad??

Replies

  • quiltlovinlisa
    quiltlovinlisa Posts: 1,710 Member
    You will get different opinions from both the "pure water" only crowd and the "as long as you count any calories, it still hydrates you" crowd.

    Personally, I can only drink "so" much plain water. My kids were swiping my mio (or whatever other flavor additive I was using) so I'm drinking lots of herbal tea right now, either hot or cold depending on the weather.

    I say if it works for you, go for it. :)
  • 6502programmer
    6502programmer Posts: 515 Member
    You'll get all sorts of opinions, but this one is just mine. If it gets you drinking water, roll with it. I like water and take mine unflavored about half the time, but use all manner and sort of add-ins the other half. If I tried to drink 104 ounces of water every day completely without them, I'd go bonkers. I'd also go bonkers if I tried to cut all sugar out of my diet, all red meat, all processed foods, or anything else some folks try for.

    Just about anything is acceptable, in moderation.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I'd say neither good nor bad. They're just flavor. If it helps you drink more water then it is good - but as far as nutrition wise they're nothing. I love Mio personally - I get bored with plain water.
  • ultrahoon
    ultrahoon Posts: 467 Member
    I also get bored with plain water, but I solve that with Sainsbury's basics double strength orange squash. Next to zero nutritional value in it (you need to drink about a litre of it diluted to reach 10 calories and 1g of sugar). Plus it's dirt cheap at 85p a bottle.
  • ferryjl
    ferryjl Posts: 1 Member
    What is Mio? Interested in adding something to water as long as no artificial sugars or calories!! Thx
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I use Mio and the other water flavors - some are very tasty with no real adverse events. The Mio sport is a cheaper alternative to other sports drinks.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    ferryjl wrote: »
    What is Mio? Interested in adding something to water as long as no artificial sugars or calories!! Thx

    :huh:
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I don't add anything to my water, but I don't care if you do. If you want to drink it, drink it! :)
  • quiltlovinlisa
    quiltlovinlisa Posts: 1,710 Member
    ferryjl wrote: »
    What is Mio? Interested in adding something to water as long as no artificial sugars or calories!! Thx

    This is where I use herbal teas. Fruit tinsanes can be naturally sweet, but I don't have a problem adding stevia if I want it a bit sweeter.

  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    ferryjl wrote: »
    What is Mio? Interested in adding something to water as long as no artificial sugars or calories!! Thx

    Mio is a small bottle of concentrated artificial flavors, colors, and sugar that you add to your water ...
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,747 Member
    Like with anything else it's important to read the labels. There's a large variety of these out there now, so looking to see what they contain is a good idea.

    Also, you can flavor your water with lemon juice (or just the peel), cucumbers, fruit (if you prefer sweetness). There are unlimited ways to flavor water naturally. I also have a large mint plant in my backyard that I use to flavor both my water and my tea.
  • DoreenaV1975
    DoreenaV1975 Posts: 567 Member
    edited July 2015
    I hate plain water... I tried really hard to drink it when I first started. I did really well actually... but after 91 days of this, I am truly so sick of water! So I use the drink enhancers. Be careful which you use. Only because some have calories and some don't. If you use the ones w/ calories make sure to log it. I use Mio and so far all the ones I've tried have zero calories, but I still measure and log how much I use just because I am OCD like that, LOL!
    I will sometimes include diet tea and diet soda in my day, and always drink 2 cups of coffee a day, but even w/ those additions I try to average 4-6 cups of water a day.
    So basically my opinion is...drink it if it helps you drink water.
  • Colorista
    Colorista Posts: 1 Member
    I have tried a number of the additives. Most of them, like the Mio and Crystal Light and the store brand ones, do have a lot of artificial color and sweetener. The more you use, of course, the more artifical stuff you're putting in your body. I don't want Kool-Aid, so I keep the amount very light, almost like a hint of flavor.

    There is a GREAT water enhancer that's all natural: H2WOW (h2wow.com). No artificial color, flavor, or sweetener. It's NOT sweet like kool-aid; it's like a spa water. I love the cucumber lemongrass and the lemon spearmint.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    edited July 2015
    Drinking water is boring?
  • Leka1000
    Leka1000 Posts: 160 Member
    Gets me drinking water! I use MIO, Dasani Drops and Crystal Lite
  • hurleycutie142
    hurleycutie142 Posts: 479 Member
    i use it sometimes... i love the mio and crystal lite ones... i bought over 50 of them when i got them for free (couponing) just like with anything just have a limit... dont use it for every cup of water but an occasional drops here and there wont hurt...
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    I love them. I use whatever brand is on sale.
  • MondayJune22nd2015
    MondayJune22nd2015 Posts: 876 Member
    To me plain water has a rusted metal/metallic taste, unless I am drinking it via a fountain, so I have to flavor my water or I buy the propel (which is already flavored water bottles) & flavored sparkling water bottles, to replace soda.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Good or bad in what sense? Like it is adding calories? Just budget for them, or get the lite versions and fahgetaboutit.
  • caroldavison332
    caroldavison332 Posts: 864 Member
    read something by dr mark human about how artifical sugars set you up for diabetes. So I don't use them. I only drink plain water I save my calories for pizza and cheeseburgers.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    yopeeps025 wrote: »
    Drinking water is boring?

    yes, sooooooo boring

    I use mio, crystal lite, minute maid, or teas/tisanes
  • rdmitche1
    rdmitche1 Posts: 400 Member
    You guys can all be my friends. Those were great answers, not like some of the other posts I have read. The MIO I use says 0 calories. (Too Bad the can't make a Mio that tastes like Pepsi or Dr Pepper!!
  • E_Brault
    E_Brault Posts: 362 Member
    quiltlovinlisa wrote: »
    ferryjl wrote: »

    This is where I use herbal teas. Fruit tinsanes can be naturally sweet, but I don't have a problem adding stevia if I want it a bit sweeter.

    I knew nothing of Fruit Tinsanes. Thanks for the mention - looks like I will head to the health food store.
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
    Coffee.
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    edited October 2015
    caroldavison332 wrote: »
    read something by dr mark human about how artifical sugars set you up for diabetes. So I don't use them. I only drink plain water I save my calories for pizza and cheeseburgers.

    I'm assuming you actually meant Dr Mark Hyman? If so, he's a total woo doctor. His only aim is to mislead people and sell books and detoxes to make money. He practises 'functional medicine' (which is complete pseudoscience) rather than actual medicine. Artificial sweeteners won't 'set you up for diabetes'.
    Unless you were being sarcastic (so hard to tell...) in which case, good going!
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    MarziPanda95 wrote: »
    caroldavison332 wrote: »
    read something by dr mark human about how artifical sugars set you up for diabetes. So I don't use them. I only drink plain water I save my calories for pizza and cheeseburgers.

    I'm assuming you actually meant Dr Mark Hyman? If so, he's a total woo doctor. His only aim is to mislead people and sell books and detoxes to make money. He practises 'functional medicine' (which is complete pseudoscience) rather than actual medicine. Artificial sweeteners won't 'set you up for diabetes'.
    Unless you were being sarcastic (so hard to tell...) in which case, good going!

    Never heard of him before, so I had to Google him. Just another crackpot "doctor" with an agenda, prostituting his profession in the name of money. He goes on the "woo" list with other such snake oil peddlers as Dr. Oz, Mercola (aka MercoLOLa), etc.


    As to the OP - nothing at all wrong with water enhancers such as Mio. They contain artificial colors and sweeteners in very small amounts, none of which are harmful to you.
  • debsdoingthis
    debsdoingthis Posts: 454 Member
    ferryjl wrote: »
    What is Mio? Interested in adding something to water as long as no artificial sugars or calories!! Thx
    I add a squeeze of lemon or lime to water. You can purchase fruit infuser/water bottles so you can use any kind of fruit you love to flavor your water.

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