FitSugar

Vitamin Water Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0700

While on the road, you may hit up a convenience store and find yourself staring at the rows and rows of Vitamin Water. Although they may contain more calories and sugar than regular water, they also contain vitamins and minerals. So check out this breakdown to see what each flavor offers your body.

The numbers are based on one 8-ounce serving. Keep in mind that there are 2.5 servings per 20-ounce container.

Drink	Calories	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Vitamins and Minerals
Power-C: Dragonfruit	50	13	13	Vitamin B3 20%, Vitamin B5 20%, Vitamin B6 20%, Vitamin B12 20%, Vitamin C 100%, Chromium 10%, Zinc 10%, Taurine 16 mg
Defense: Raspberry Apple	50	13	13	Vitamin C 60%, Vitamin B3 10%, Vitamin B6 10%, Vitamin B12 10%, Vitamin B5 10%, Zinc 10%

There are tons more flavors so read more.

Drink	Calories	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Vitamins and Minerals
Focus: Kiwi Strawberry	40	9	8	Vitamin A 25%, Vitamin B3 25%, Vitamin B5 25%, Vitamin B6 25%, Vitamin B12 25%, Vitamin C 100%, Vitamin E 25%, Ginkgo biloba 10 mg, Gotu kola 10 mg, Siberian ginseng 10 mg
Balance: Cran Grapefruit	50	13	12	Vitamin A 10%, Vitamin B3 10%, Vitamin B5 10%, Vitamin B6 10%, Vitamin B12 10%, Vitamin C 40%, Vitamin E 10%, Selenium 2%, Calcium less than 2%, Zinc 10%
Endurance: Peach Mango	50	13	13	Vitamin A 10%, Vitamin B3 10%, Vitamin B5 10%, Vitamin B6 10%, Vitamin B12 10%, Vitamin C 60%, Vitamin E 10%, Astragalus 10 mg, Siberian ginseng 10 mg
Essential: Orange Orange	50	9	13	Vitamin A 50%, Vitamin B3 25%, Vitamin B5 25%, Vitamin B6 25%, Vitamin B12 25%, Vitamin C 25%, Vitamin E 25%, Calcium 2%, Iron 5%, Potassium 5%, Selenium 5%, Zinc 25%
Energy: Tropical Citrus	50	13	13	Vitamin B3 20%, Vitamin B5 20%, Vitamin B6 20%, Vitamin B12 20%, Vitamin C 40%, Guarana 10 mg, Natural Caffeine 20 mg
Rescue: Green Tea	40	9	8	Vitamin B3 25%, Vitamin B5 25%, Vitamin B6 25%, Vitamin B12 25%, Vitamin C 100%, Rosemary 8 mg, Chamomile 8 mg, Hibiscus 8 mg, Lavender 8 mg, Rose hips 8 mg
Multi-V: Lemonade	50	13	13	Vitamin A 25%, Vitamin C 100%, Vitamin E 25%, Vitamin B3 25%, Vitamin B6 25%, Vitamin B12 25%, Vitamin B5 25%, Calcium 10%, Folic Acid 25%, Magnesium 10%, Zinc 25%.
Formula 50: Grape	50	13	13	Vitamin C: 20%, Vitamin E: 20%, Vitamin B3 20%, Vitamin B6 20%, Folic acid 20%, Vitamin B12 20%, Vitamin B5 20%
Revive: Fruit Punch	50	13	13	Vitamin B3 20%, Vitamin B5 20%, Vitamin B6 20%, Vitamin B12 20%, Vitamin C 40%, Potassium: 140 mg
XXX: Acai Blueberry Pomegranate	50	13	13	Vitamin C: 100%, Vitamin B3: 10%, Vitamin B6: 10% ,Vitamin B12: 10%, Vitamin B5: 10%
Charge: Lemon Lime	50	13	13	Vitamin C: 40%, Vitamin B3: 20%, Vitamin B6: 20%, Vitamin B12: 20%, Vitamin B5: 20%, Potassium: 60 mg
Vital-T: Lemon Tea	50	13	13	Vitamin C: 60%, Vitamin E: 20%, Vitamin B3: 10%, Vitamin B6: 10% ,Vitamin B12: 10%, Vitamin B5: 10%

Berry Juice Squeeze vs. Vitamin Water

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I have nothing against water. I drink it all day long. Occasionally I need more flavor than just plain water. The dilemma then becomes, what to choose? There are many options that seem healthy, but how to choose. Well I decided to compare the Revive flavor of Vitamin Water with a Wild Berry Juice Squeeze by Crystal Geyser.

To see how these two drinks compare, just read more.

	Wild Berry Juice Squeeze (12 FL oz.)	Revive Vitamin Water (20 FL oz.)
Serving size	One bottle	8 ounces
Calories	130	50
Sugar	30 g	13 g
Sodium	0	0
Vitamin C	40% RDI*	40% RDI
Vitamin B12	40% RDI	20% RDI

*RDI=Recommended Daily Intake

Both drinks are fortified with vitamin B 12, but the Vitamin Water contains three other B vitamins as well as 350 mg of potassium per bottle, or 140 mg per serving. The main difference in ingredients is the Juice Squeeze is made from 70 percent juice and has no added sugar, but the Vitamin Water is mostly water and contains only one percent juice and is sweetened with crystalline fructose and cane sugar. The Vitamin Water is considerably less sweet, which I prefer, but is not carbonated and I miss the bubbles. Taking all that into consideration, I must say I prefer the Vitamin Water but I'd definitely drink the bottle, all two and a half servings of it, in one sitting. What about you? Do you have a preference between these two drinks? Tell me in the comments section below.

Fittingly Mad: Serving Sizes are TOO Small

FitSugar — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Alright so I know portion sizes at restaurants have gotten out of control, but what about serving sizes on packages? Is it me or are companies totally duping us into thinking their products aren't so bad for us, when really their tiny serving sizes aren't even close to what a person would actually eat.

Take Vitamin Water for example. When I first looked at the label I thought, "50 calories - that's not so bad." When I took a closer look, I realized that that little bottle of flavored water actually contains 2.5 servings. That means that it really has 125 calories per bottle. How very sneaky because everyone knows I'm going to down that entire bottle in less than 5 minutes.

OK, well 125 calories - that's not so bad, but what about the Alternative Baking Company? I took a peak at their cookie's nutritional info and felt a little guilty eating a cookie with 250 calories and 10g of fat. Then I felt mortified and slightly betrayed when I realized that there were actually 2 servings per cookie! How could I ever eat just half the cookie? The other half would be calling my name and I wouldn't be able to resist. These cookies were tasty but definitely NOT worth 500 calories a pop. I'd rather have 1/2 a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia for that many calories!

I also love those blue corn chips from Garden of Eatin'. They are so tasty and they better be, since there are 7g of fat per serving. Guess how many chips equals 1 serving? Yup, just 7 chips. What's that? Each chip has 1g of fat? Now that's just wrong!

My point is that I wish companies would come up with real serving sizes that people would actually sit down and eat. Don't try to trick me into thinking your food is healthy for me. Just give it to me straight up!

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Vitamins: Water-Soluble vs. Fat-Soluble

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Vitamins are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. But what does that really mean...

Here's the deal. When you take a vitamin supplement that is water-soluble, your body metabolizes what it can and flushes out the excess through pee. Your body does not store theses vitamins so it is important to get them daily through diet or a supplement. Vitamin C, vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) are all water-soluble.

Unlike water-soluble vitamins that need regular replacement in the body, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues, and are eliminated much more slowly than water-soluble vitamins. You also need a little fat in your diet to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble. Since these vitamins are stored in the body, you generally don't need to take supplements of them. You can actually create a toxic build up - oh my!

Fit's Tips: If you are taking supplements, make sure you're not taking more of the water-soluble ones than your body can absorb at one time. If you do, you're literally flushing your money down the toilet.

Water-Soluble vs. Fat-Soluble Vitamins

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Now that cold and flu season is headed our way, I'm sure many of you are filing up on your fair share of vitamin C. You've probably heard that if you take too much, you just end up passing the excess. This doesn't happen with all vitamins, only ones that are water soluble. Vitamin C and all eight B vitamins are water soluble, which means water is required for their absorption. These nine vitamins are found mostly in fruits, veggies, and grains. You need to ingest water soluble vitamins every day, because your body metabolizes what it can, and the excess is flushed out as waste when you go to the bathroom.

On the other side of the spectrum are fat-soluble vitamins. To find out how they differ from their water-soluble brethren, just read more.

Unlike water-soluble vitamins that you need to consume daily, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your liver and fatty tissues, and are eliminated much more slowly. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble, and are mostly found in fatty foods such as meat, dairy, vegetable oils, and oily fish. You have to include a little fat in your diet in order to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Since they're stored in your body, supplements of these vitamins are not really necessary. Actually if you consume excessive amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, they can be harmful to your body, so pay close attention to your diet.

Fit's Tip: If you want to know how much you should be getting of each, click on the name of the vitamin above.

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Vita Splash: Add a Lil' Something Extra to Your Water

FitSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Sick of drinking plain ol' water?

Vita Splash is a Sugar Free water enhancer. They are low in calories and come in small, individual serving packets which can fit in a purse, backpack pouch, desk drawer, gym bag or even in your pocket. They can go anywhere and can be consumed anytime. If you're not getting enough water because you just don't like the taste, then this may be the answer for you. I'm not kidding when I say, there are TONS of flavors in each of the five categories: Calcium, Joint Support, Multi-Vitamin, Fiber Infusion and Immune-Boost. I am drinking the Grape Immune-Boost right now (I kind of feel a cold coming on) and I've got to say, it's quite tasty.

I will say, however, that they are all very sweet (they use Sucralose so they're all still sugar free) so you may want to add more water than the recommended amount -- Plus then you end up drinking more water! If you have an aversion to Sucralose, then you're not going to be a fan.

You can find Vita Splash near you at Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Brookshire Grocery, Hannaford Brothers, Pathmark, HyVee, Spartan Stores and JH Harvey. Or you can buy it online at discountcoffee.com for $4.99 (for a pack of 8 packets).

I've got a whole stash in my drawer for when I am not feeling like another cup of water... If you try it, let me know what you think.

Food Review: Code Blue Recovery Drink

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:30:47 -0800

I must admit I'm not big on special fitness drinks, especially recovery drinks. They're often full of extra calories, and I usually opt for water since most exercise physiologists believe you don't need to worry about replacing electrolytes, carbs, and protein unless you have been working out and sweating for more than an hour. I often think a lot of these drinks have added coloring and chemicals, so when I saw Code Blue marketed as an all natural post-workout drink I was curious to try it. I must admit, I liked its tropical flavor, and although it only has 40 calories per eight-ounce serving (the can contains 12 ounces, equal to one and a half servings) Code Blue does not have that artificial sweetener taste of many low-cal beverages.

To see how this drink is sweetened and if it is an unnatural color, just read more.

Looking at the ingredient list on the back of the Code Blue can, I can't say I felt like I was drinking something "natural." After water, the next three ingredients are: crystalline fructose, agave nectar, and malic acid, which adds tartness more than sweetness. Further down the list I found stevia leaf extract listed as well, which is a bit more natural. Code Blue contains the electrolytes potassium and sodium, but also contains the supplement milk thistle to help detox the liver (trainer Bob Harper believes in the treatment), and prickly pear extract to reduce inflammation.

The first time I tried Code Blue, I drank it straight from the can. You can imagine my surprise when I poured it into a glass and found the liquid to be a vibrant unnatural blue. Which prompts the question, what natural ingredient was used to color this drink and why even bother coloring it?

Ingredients: Filtered Purified Water, Crystalline Fructose, Agave Nectar, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, D-Ribose, Fruit Juice (for color), Sustamine™ (L-Alanine L-Glutamine), Pectin, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid, Prickly Pear Extract (Opunitia ficus-indica), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) Leaf Extractives, Soy Protein and Rice Flour, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), DL-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Selenium Complexed with Amino Acids and Polypeptides, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

I'm not really sold on the drink, but I'm not completely opposed to it either. I would certainly drink this over other recovery drinks, but more likely I will sip some water instead. Have you tried it?

This just in: The color comes from blueberries.

Does Anyone Drink VitaminWater For the Vitamins, Anyway?

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

With colorful bottles and a variety of appealing flavors, VitaminWater products took convenience store refrigerators by storm. Water is ideal for thirst quenching, but I'm not shy to admit I've sampled a few VitaminWater flavors here and there. My gripe with the beverage is that a bottle of these beverages (equal to more than one serving) contains a ton of sugar, and The Center for Science in the Public Interest has a much bigger problem with the drink line and is taking it to court. To learn what has the advocacy group all riled up, read more.

There's now a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola over the company's "deceptive claims" about VitaminWater's health benefits. Stephen Gardner, director of litigation for the advocacy group commented, "It truly shocks the conscience that a company like Coke would try to keep customers by selling them a soft drink and telling them it's a vitamin."

Do you think VitaminWater pulled one over on consumers looking for a beverage that would benefit their health, or do thirsty people buy the drinks because they enjoy them, regardless of a health component?

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Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:28 -0700

Afraid of candy? Check out this Halloween survival guide - Fit Bottomed Girls
Burn up serious calories with vigorous leaf raking - Fresh Fitness Tips
Five unorthodox ways to beat a cold - Vitamin G
Get your workout on with this spooky Halloween playlist - DailySpark
Competitive yoga lands in the Big Apple - Social Workout
Keep your world viral free with the Pocket Purifier - Vital Juice
VitaminWater teams up with New Moon - FitCeleb

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:55 -0700

A healthy twist on a comfy standard: Shepherd's Pie revamped - Mark's Daily Apple
Simple fitness prop for a great workout: a wall - Fresh Fitness Tips
Musicians are cooking up low-cal meals for late night Denny's menu - FitCeleb
Remove your roadblocks to healthy eating - Shape
Tales from the frontline battle against H1N1 - Vitamin G
Taste test: three coconut waters compared side by side - Mind Body Green
Does purslane measure up to its omega-3 hype? - Nutrition Data Blog