Consumption

Are you struggling to drink two liters of water a day? Not a fan of tasteless water? Today, more and more brands are offering an alternative to water, THE slimming drink par excellence, by bringing to a wide variety of flavored waters, with equally nuanced flavors to the market. The question arises: are these new dream drinks really good for your health?

In theory, sugar and sweeteners are permitted in flavored waters, which then makes them fall into the same category as soft drinks. In practice, their composition is often quite different. Flavored waters contain natural or synthetic flavors.

To be of natural origin, these substances must be extracted naturally (steam, fermentation, cooking, etc.). On labels, substances simply referred to as “flavorings” are extracted chemically.

When, on the other hand, one reads “natural flavors” in full, the process used is natural. Producers often opt for chemical synthesis for reasons of purity, quality and cost. The flavor is identical because the chemical structure is identical. But beware: the difference is sometimes just a word away.

An alliance of well-being and pleasure

Flavored waters contain no sugar, so you won't gain a single calorie. They are “mineral waters to which plant extracts (mint, lemon, orange...) have been added”. Available in a variety of flavors, these alternative drinks are sure to please every taste bud, no matter how discerning. Apart from their pronounced aromas, these waters are also rich in vitamins.

Although there are no scientific studies to prove that drinking this type of water improves the body's functioning or makes any nutritional difference, it does give consumers the feeling of combining well-being and pleasure, thus comforting themselves by drinking the “good stuff”.

For some flavored waters, moderation is called for. As most are mineral waters, they contain high levels of mineral salts. Ingested in excessive quantities, they're not always beneficial to your health. With no added sugar or fruit juices, you can enjoy these drinks without risk!

Note: labels indicating a sugar content of less than 6% (i.e. 10 lumps of sugar per liter) are to be preferred. The indication “natural flavour”, with details of the fruit or plant used, is a guarantee of quality. Finally, it's a good idea to check the presence of additives in the flavored waters you buy. The more additives, the less healthy the water.

(MH with AsD - EvG/ Illustration: Unsplash)