Are These Bottled Waters Healthier Than Regular Water?
When did water get so complicated? When I was younger, I was given only two major instructions on the subject of water: Drink the damn thing, and try to finish eight glasses a day.
Now, though, you can find water with pretty much anything in it, and each claims to be healthier than the next: One will magically help you lose weight, the other will get your skin glowing the way an infrared sauna session would. And, of course, this miracle water isn’t cheap.
But are the benefits for real? Who wants to be splurging on fancy tap water if it doesn’t have the benefits you're looking for? To get some answers, I turned to Lauren Slayton, MS, RD, founder of Foodtrainers, an NYC-based nutrition service. She separates the truth from the BS, below.
1/6Sakara Life Detox Water
The claim: Sakara Life is an organic meal delivery service run by a former model and a former finance exec. The service offers detox water with every meal program, which you can buy for $24 for a pack of four. The Sakara co-founders claim the chlorophyll and “72 trace minerals” in the water catalyze several reactions in your body, making you eliminate toxins.
The reality: Slayton wasn’t convinced, especially since the “propriety blend of 72 trace minerals” weren’t specified or mentioned. “Chlorophyll and magnesium are both healthy ingredients, but I’m not sure of the proposed benefits you get from the add-ins,” she said. Magnesium is good for reducing stress, while the chlorophyll contains antioxidants, so the water’s great if your goal is to just feel better. But toxin removal? Your liver does that just fine on its own.
Photo by Emma Fishman2/6Sway Lemon Ginger Water
The claim: Lemon and ginger are supposed to have a bunch of proposed benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties and alkalizing effects. The vitamin C found in lemon is meant to brighten one’s skin, and the ginger has been widely used in ancient cultures as a folk remedy to cure everything from aches to cold and flu.
The reality: Slayton says, “Lemon water taken before a meal helps to control blood sugar. Ginger is great for any GI woes—it’s anti-inflammatory, and a great ingredient for exercisers, since it’ll help prevent muscle pain.” But FYI: You can get these ingredients at your local grocery store for less than half the price.
Photo by Emma Fishman3/6Dirty Lemon Sleep Water
The claim: More lemon! This one also contains rose, a “proprietary blend” of the sleep-inducing ingredients lemon balm, chamomile, and passionflower, as well as magnesium. It claims to calm your nervous system and promote drowsiness so you can get the best sleep possible.
The reality: Apparently, this one isn’t far off—magnesium has been proven to regulate your nervous system, so, if you’re a really anxious person, some magnesium could definitely help calm you down. But, Slayton warns, "One bottle contains 20 percent of your daily value of magnesium, which is fine, but some forms of magnesium (particularly magnesium citrate) can cause GI side effects in high doses."
Photo by Emma Fishman4/6LuliTonix Black Magic (Charcoal Water)
The claim: The website claims activated charcoal is one of the most “badass absorptive and adsorptive agents known, able to extract and neutralize thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, toxins, poisons and other chemicals.” In order words, this heated charcoal—”activated” is just a fancy word for “heated”—will suck up all the toxins inside of you. Chlorophyll on steroids, if you will.
The reality: “I’m a big fan of NYC-based Luli’s drinks,” says Slayton. They have a ton of healthy, blended juices for sale, which contain the fiber from the fruits and veggies, so you’re not ingesting pure sugar like some juices make you do.” But, as for the charcoal, “This is not something I suggest daily,” says Slayton. “It’s an excellent hangover remedy for after a ‘too-fun’ weekend, but too much charcoal can make you feel like you have charcoal inside of you.” In other words, it’s constipating.
Photo by Emma Fishman5/6Juice Generation Holy Water
The claim: “Divine intervention.” No, really—apparently, it’s incredibly rich in minerals and vitamins, it fights free radicals, prevents inflammation, soothes the nervous system, and boosts energy. That sounds like a lot from a little algae, don’t you think?
The reality: Even though her face is on the website (she was the brand ambassador for the drink when it first came out), Slayton gives it to me straight. “The key ingredient here is a fantastic source of spirulina (algae) called blue majik—it’s great for energy and exercise recovery.” But, because it doesn’t taste great, it’s mixed with pineapple juice, which has a ton of sugar. So, Slayton says, “ It’s more of a juice than a true water.”
Photo by Emma Fishman6/6Sakara Life Beauty Water (Rose Water)
The claim: Rose water and silica apparently combine to provide “deep cellular hydration from the inside out.” This will boost rosy glow, and help promote collagen production—the most abundant protein in our bodies. The result? A younger, brighter you.
The reality: According to Slayton, these claims are a bit too far off. “If you think about it, all water (or all clean water) is beauty water, as it’s good for skin, digestion etc. So there’s a little bit of a leap with the name. But I’ll give props to the silica, since it’s definitely a good-for-you skin addition by helping to boost skin elasticity. As for the rose? It tastes good.”
