Originally published September 27 2005
Beware of drinks' health claims
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
As more and more drink manufacturers try to appeal to health-conscious consumers with claims that their drinks can boost health and fight the signs of aging, it is important to read the labels and know what you are getting, and to always remember that water is usually the best thing for you.
In keeping with the American craze for one-stop solutions, the newest line of designer drinks is claiming to cure people's health woes and fulfill their nutritional needs, all while tasting great and looking pretty.
Two brands at the forefront of this movement are Glaceau VitaminWater and Borba Nutraceuticals, although they represent separate ends of the spectrum.
It offers nutrients without the high-fructose corn syrup that is omnipresent in most commercial drinks.
The packaging is doused with clever blurbs bathed in neon colors only slightly brighter than the beverages themselves.
It comes in three promising flavors - Age Defying (a�a�), Replenishing (lychee) and Clarifying (pomegranate), and is housed in a bottle that is probably more suited for high-end shampoo.
While it can err on the sugary side, VitaminWater is generally delicious (the "Perform" flavor notwithstanding).
My personal favorites are the dragonfruit-flavored "Power-C," which is reminiscent of a Capri Sun at the height of its glory, and the apple-raspberry "Defense," which, like Apple Jacks, doesn't taste much like apples.
Unfortunately for Borba, the zero-calorie sweeteners are definitely detectable to discerning drinkers, and for those who can't taste the chemicals, all that's left is a slightly watered down version of Kool-Aid.
If you were to drink as much Borba as its website recommends - two bottles a day for 28 days - you'd be shelling out a whopping $135 per month.
The claims made by the companies are not supported by available scientific evidence, and are basically a marketing gimmick, said Lisa Young, a nutrition consultant and an adjunct assistant professor at NYU.
Young said regular food is a much better source of nutrients than fortified beverages.
"Whole foods will also contain lots of other healthy constituents as well, so you get a double bonus," she said.
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