We all know water is great for us and beverage companies are coming up with ways to help people drink more of it. One of the ways they are making water more fun is by flavoring it, but what is in this stuff?
Upon closer examination of “lemon” flavoring bottled water, I found that it contained the following ingredients: water, citric acid, natural flavors, potassium sorbate, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect taste), sodium citrate, sucralose, phospohoric acid, and acesulfame potassium.
So what are there things?
Potassium Sorbate: Used as a food preservative, it helps eliminate yeasts and molds in foods such as cheese, wine, yogurt, dried meats, and apple cider. It has the ability to cause health problems, trigger allergic reactions, destroy nutrients in food and cause nausea and diarrhea.
Calcium Disodium EDTA: This chemical is of concern in processed foods and beverages. When it reacts with active and unstable ingredients like Vitamin C and sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) it can form benzenes which are potent carcinogens.
Sodium Citrate: A food additive that controls acidity and prevents spoilage in food and beverages. High amounts of sodium in your body increase calcium excretion and decrease what is available for bone formation.
Sucralose (Splenda): In a 1999 study, The Japanese Food Sanitation Council reported that up to 40% of ingested sucralose is absorbed and can concentrate in the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, having a negative impact on overall health.
Phosphoric Acid: This is a clear, colorless, odorless liquid with a syrupy consistency. It is used as an acidifying agent to give colas their tangy flavor.
Phosphoric acid has been linked to lower bone density and believe if or not, it commonly used for rust removal.
Acesulfame Potassium: also known as “Ace-K”, is a low-calorie sweetener discovered in 1967. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar and adds sweetness to foods without adding calories or fat. This sweetener is not metabolized by the body. Rather it is quickly absorbed and then rapidly excreted unchanged.
Advertisers often trick consumers with these “healthy” gimmicks of natural flavoring and low calorie beverages by using artificial sweeteners that often cause more harm than good. You are better off drinking regular natural water and flavoring it the old fashioned way, with REAL fruit. After you pick up your water, take a walk to the produce aisle and grab some cucumbers, lemons, oranges or limes. Spice up your drink the organically natural way.
By Jeanette Kimszal