VitaminWater: For It or Against It?

In recent years, the Coca-Cola company has been getting heat and even sued because of its health claims on its line of VitaminWaters.

For It
Many bottled-water fanatics embrace the opportunity to get hydrated as well as obtain some well-needed vitamins with every bottle of vitamin water they consume. Glaceau, the maker of fruitwater, vitaminenergy, smartwater, and vitaminwater, enriches their flavored water with nutrients to re-energize and help you get through your day. According to Glaceau’s Brand Overview of VitaminWater,
“A recently-completed clinical study proved what we have known all along: the vitamins in vitaminwater power-c (dragonfruit) are absorbed by the body equally as well as those in traditional foods… Glacéau products are specially formulated to help people on the go feel better, perform better and live healthier lives through better hydration. As such, we are proud to partner with athletes, artists, actors and other individuals who embody the ideal of good health and wellness and who genuinely incorporate glacéau products into their healthy lifestyles.”
Many celebrities who endorse in Glacéau’s products are 50 Cent, Jennifer Aniston, Shaquille O’Neal, and Tom Brady.

 
Against It
According to some researchers, the amount of vitamins in these waters is only about 10-20% of your daily value. Though vitamins have been added to these waters, it is uncertain how much of the vitamin really gets absorbed by the body. For example, vitamins A and E are fat soluble vitamins and are only able to be absorbed with fat – which water does not contain. Also, vitamins in bottled water slowly lose their potency as time goes on. On top of all this, for every 20-ounce bottle of vitamin water, you get about 100 to 125 calories and 33 grams of sugar. Many feel like the name “Vitamin Water” is misleading because if you do not pay attention to the ingredients listing, you would not have guessed that sugar is the third ingredient. So, to many, this “vitamin” water is actually “sugar” water. What is the most shocking is that Coca Cola’s attorneys' response in a court session to the latest charge made against them was: “…no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage.”

What do you think? Are you for VitaminWater or against it?