All You Need To Know About Flavoured Water Drops

You know that you need to drink more water. It’s good for you, and it will help you lose weight. Being hydrated will make sure your organs work fully and help you get better-looking skin and hair.

But we don’t all like the taste of plain water, do we? There can be something bland about it, and we start looking for ways to add flavour to it. There are all sorts of ways to do it and flavoured water drops are just one of them.

Before you start adding them to your water, you need to know as much as possible about them. You also need to know about all the other ways of getting flavouring in your water so you drink more on a daily basis.

Here’s all you need to know about flavoured water drops and water flavouring options.

Do You Really Need Water Drops?

First of all, there are other ways to get the flavour in your water. One of those is just to buy flavoured water from the shops. Surely that gets you everything you want quickly and easily.

Well, the flavoured bottles may be easy, but they’re not exactly healthy for you. Many of them are loaded with sugars and other ingredients that are bad for your body. They’ll hinder your weight loss efforts because of all the hidden sugars. Even those that say they’re made from natural flavourings will have some extra additives.

You should always check the ingredients before you start drinking something. Find out what you’re really putting into your water.

The other option is to put real fruit or vegetables into your drink instead. These can be great for those who have the time, but do we really have the chance every single day? And then we need to make sure we have the right ingredients to flavour our water, and find a water bottle that won’t turn the fruit and veg into a mushy mess at the bottom!

We’ll move onto this idea briefly at the end, but it can be messy.

Sometimes getting the flavoured water drops is just quicker, easier and healthier. Before you do buy one, here’s all you need to know about them.

Just How Can You Use Water Drops?

So, now you’ve decided you want to opt for the water drops, but how do people actually use them? How have they become so popular?

Well, it does help that the large beverage giants own the drops. These brands have trusted reputations for diluting juices, fruit juices, and flavoured water. It makes sense that people will turn to them because they feel they can trust the brand to offer what they need and want.

Those who prefer water over carbonated drinks benefit the most from the flavoured drops. They get some flavouring without extra additives, and they are very easy to use. All you need to do is pop a couple of drops of the flavouring into your water, and you can enjoy a refreshing drink.

The droppers come in small bottles that fit in purses, drawers, and glove compartments. They’re just so easy to grab and use as and when you need them. When you order a bottle of water at a restaurant, you can quickly add a couple of drops to enjoy a little extra taste. When you get bottles of water while out at a picnic, you can save money by getting the plain water and top with a flavouring.

In fact, you can also add some of them to tea and coffee to add some flavouring and reduce the sugar or sweeteners that you use. There are caramel, honey, and other flavours available that work well with cappuccinos and lattes.

It’s not just adults who buy them for themselves either. Parents want to encourage their children to drink more but stay away from the fizzy pop and high-sugared drinks. These flavoured drops are popular instead because children feel like they’re getting a special treat. There are plenty of claims that these drops are healthy too.

We’ll have to look into the claims of them being healthy options. They may be healthier than the carbonated drinks and energy/sports drinks that you can buy in stores, but really nothing is better than plain old water.

So what does get added to these flavoured water drops and what do you need to know about them?

What Are You Really Putting in Your Body?

Many liquid enhancers proudly display that they have no calories or sugars. They tout themselves as healthy alternatives for adults and children, so why shouldn’t you trust them?

Well, there are limited restrictions on marketing. The companies can market that they have no calories in their enhancers, but they don’t need to market clearly all the other ingredients they have. They just need to make sure there is a list of ingredients included on the back of the product.

And you really should check the back of products. You want to make sure that those no calorie/no sugar options are healthy for you in many other ways.

Sure, you’ll mostly drink water when you use the recommended serving sizes of the drops, but you’re also adding citric acid (okay, maybe not too bad if it comes from the natural sources), taurine, caffeine, sucralose, and much more.

Let’s look at some of those extra ingredients, shall we? Let’s just see if they really are good for you.

Taurine

Yes, taurine is included in many water enhancement drops, and it’s not good for you in large amounts.

Taurine is the main ingredient in sports drinks. It’s also an amino sulfonic acid that is found in the body and is needed in small amounts to help build those protein blocks. It’s found in the heart, brain, retina and many other parts of the body where the body needs it.

You don’t need to add more from flavoured water drops, though. There’s enough taurine in meat and fish to keep your body protected.

In fact, you really don’t need to add it into your body through your diet. It’s known as a “conditional amino acid,” which means the body can manipulate other amino acids and chemicals to turn it into taurine for protein building blogs. Sure there are some people who can’t make it, but you can get it from meat and fish and some supplements. Your doctor will be able to help you if you really suffer from not being able to make it.

Taurine is added to infant formula, so why is it not okay to drink it in water enhancements? Well, infant formula is heavily regulated to make sure babies get the best start in life. It’s only added in small amounts to help with the basics. An infant’s body will naturally do all the rest.

Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid getting any extra taurine in their diet. Studies are inconclusive about how dangerous it can be for your little one and your overall health.

Caffeine

You know what caffeine is. There’s a reason you don’t let your kids drink coffee! As much as we as adults will drink it to help us function throughout the day, it’s not good for our bodies in large amounts. It’s a stimulant and does lead to a crash later on when the body uses up all the energy.

There are studies that large amounts of caffeine cause damaging effects to foetuses, and can possibly lead to miscarriage. If you’re pregnant, you’ll be recommended to stick to a lower limit of caffeine on a daily basis, and you’ll need to include the caffeine in your water flavourings.

Caffeine isn’t the most dangerous ingredient on the list in water enhancements, but you do need to be aware of it.

Sucralose

So, what about sucralose. What exactly is that and what does it mean for you and your kids?

Sucralose is a sweetener. In fact, anything that you see with an “one” at the end in ingredients is usually a type of sugar or sweetener. You’ll know this one better by the name Splenda—that’s the brand that uses sucralose.

The good thing about sucralose is that it’s more powerful than ordinary sucrose (sugar). You’ll need to add less to be able to get the same sweet kick, and it is better for the body when it comes to glucose and insulin responses.

Unfortunately, it’s not free from debate. It’s not proven to be as damaging to the health as the sweetener aspartame, but there are rumours that it is dangerous to the health. There are fears that it will cause cancer, which aspartame has been linked to.

The problem is people are scared of the unknown. Until research can back up any claim—good or bad—it’s impossible to know what it will really do to your body.

In small amounts, it’s not likely to be that bad for you. It’s up to you whether you want to put your and your child’s health at risk.

It’s worth pointing out that the FDA has done a serious of strict tests and not found any risk when consumed in normal amounts. That doesn’t mean something is healthy or good for you, but it may support that it isn’t especially bad for you.

Propylene Glycol

This is the most damaging ingredient added to many water enhancements, and you really do need to watch out for it.

If I told you that it is used in deodorants, shaving creams, and disinfecting gels, would you even consider putting it in your body? You wouldn’t expect a company to add it to a drink or a product for human consumption, considering what the ingredient is actually used for, would you?

Well, surprisingly, manufacturers do! It’s even the main substance in antifreeze—you know, that product that has been used in poisoning cases in the Western World because it is harder to trace?

But it’s okay, isn’t it? It’s used in e-cigarettes, too. Humans breathe them in, so it must be okay! Well, it’s also used in brake fluid.

What does the FDA say? It’s “generally recognised as safe.” That’s surprising considering the damaging effects of consuming the other products that it’s included in. Really, it has a “no cancer” designation, but just because it doesn’t knowingly cause cancer, doesn’t make it safe for use! You’re putting your kid’s health at risk for the sake of water flavouring.

While it doesn’t cause cancer, it has certainly been linked to many other health problems. It’s linked to liver and kidney damage, skin damage, and so much more!

And you know why it’s used? It stops the food from discolouring. Seriously, that is the main reason manufacturers will opt for it.

Do yourself a favour and look at the list of ingredients before you buy any type of water flavouring. They’re not always going to be as healthy as they make it out on the front of them.

But There Are Good Factors Right?

I promised you an all you need to know the account of the water flavours, so that’s what you’ll get.

Yes, there are negatives, but there are also some good points about opting for flavoured water drops. One of those is the vitamins that you can get from them.

You may notice that many promote the vitamin C and antioxidants that you’ll get from the products. This isn’t a lie, and they are needed by your body. Vitamin C isn’t stored or made in the body, so you need to get it from your diet. Vitamin C helps to support the look and feel of your skin, and it’s essential for a fully working immune system.

Antioxidants help to fight against cancer-causing free radicals. When your cells die or damage, they will grow back and repair normally. Antioxidants also help to support and boost the immune system.

You’ll also get some B vitamins in the products. They can help boost organ function and protect against some damage. The question is whether they do enough against some of the damage that other ingredients can cause.

They can also help you lose weight. There’s no doubt about that when you do consider the sugar and calorie intake in them. This is one of the main reasons people buy them.

You see, they are better for you than most flavoured bottled water that you can buy. They aren’t full of the sugary juices and hidden calories. You only need to add a couple of drops, so when drank in moderation, you will not likely suffer negatively from the risks mentioned above.

If you are going to use them for weight loss, don’t believe the hype that the B vitamins will give your metabolism a boost. This really isn’t the case. All you’re doing is supporting the energy burning in a typical day. What you’re doing is encouraging yourself to drink slightly healthier by getting away from the fizzy pop that leaves us bloated and fatter.

Your kids don’t end up full of sugar on a daily basis. You don’t need to deal with the hyperactivity at the end of the day like you would with bottled pop and water.

Why Not Naturally Add Flavours?

You don’t need the flavoured water enhancements to make your water taste better. You can opt for natural methods instead. These are so much better for you because you know exactly what you’re putting in your body: and none of it is going to be damaging!

Just think about it; you’re avoiding the propylene glycol for one! You’re not adding the antifreeze into your body. When you do it organically, you’re only putting natural sugars into your system; sugars that your body can actually benefit from and deal with on a daily basis.

So, why aren’t you adding natural flavours to your body? The main reason is that it is harder work, but it doesn’t really need to be. Your kids will love having natural fruit tasting water, and you’ll know that you’re not putting their future life at risk.

With a bit of forward planning, you can create a natural enhancement that you quickly throw in on a daily basis. There are also bottles that you can get with an insert. It has little holes that will allow the juice of the fruit to seep into the water, but you don’t end up with the mushy fruit at the bottom after a day of being submerged in water.

Here are a few ideas to make natural water enhancers:

Just Use Frozen Fruit

If you don’t have time to mix up fruit and get to chopping, why not buy frozen options? You can grab a handful and put it straight in your water. All it’s going to do is defrost in your water, and that just means more water and the fruit juices. There’s nothing else added to it.

This is a great way to enjoy a cooler drink without worrying that you have ice cubes made up and ready to use. You can also get a variety of fruits, including mixed berries, strawberries, melon, and mango.

Chop Up Lemon And Lime Wedges

You don’t need to spend hours chopping up fruits and vegetables to throw in your water. Fill up a jug with water and chuck in some roughly chopped wedges of lemons and limes. You can keep filling up the jug for a couple of days without replacing the lemons and limes, as long as they’re kept in the fridge.

The citrus juices will spread out into the water, offering a refreshing taste. Lemon water is actually one of the most beneficial options to have on a morning since it gets the body ready for a full day of activities. You’ll also give your metabolism a small boost to kickstart your morning routine.

If you want to keep the cost down, you can chop into slices instead. Cover up the unused lemons and limes with film wrap or kitchen foil and keep them in the fridge. You can then chop a few more slices as and when you need them.

Make Mint Ice Cubes

Rather than making plain ice cubes, what about adding some flavourings to them? You can add all sorts, but mint is one of the most effective. You’ll be able to smell and taste the flavour as soon as the ice hits the water.

Just ad a mint leaf to each part of the ice cube tray, so you always get a bit of taste. You can then top up your plain water and allow the minty ice cubes to dissolve. The mint leaves will drop to the bottom, giving an extra flavour that has been preserved in the ice.

You can do this with other fresh herbs and spices. Try some cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger ice cubes to add something a little different. Some of these will be great for your iced coffees and ice teas!

Add A Bit Of Fruit Juice

Pure fruit juice doesn’t have the best rep, but it can be better than opting for the flavoured water drops. The benefit is the fruit juice is usually 100% natural. If not, they won’t add some of the most dangerous chemicals. Do look at the back to find out what all the ingredients are to keep you and your kids safe.

You don’t need a lot of fruit juice to add a bit of flavour. Just a drop or two of the water and you’ll have something that kids will love to have on a daily basis.

Cranberry juice is one of the most effective and does offer health benefits for those with urinary tract infections and other similar problems.

There are some sugars in the fruit juices. It’s best to opt for natural fruit wherever possible.

Now you know all about the flavoured water drops. They’re certainly not as bad for you as some of the products on the market and they are better for you than some of the sports and carbonated drinks that kids love to drink. However, you need to do your research and check the ingredients. If you want to add flavouring to water, consider natural options to keep everyone safe.