Dietician: Vitamin Water not healthy

Some UA students are trading in their regular bottled water for supposedly vitamin-packed beverages, such as Vitamin Water.

The product is gaining popularity nationwide, partly due to promotion from the product's creator, rapper 50 Cent.

Vending machines at the Ferguson Center and the Student Recreation Center contain more water substitutes that claim to offer vitamins, anti-oxidants and weight-loss supplements.

However, Lori Greene, coordinator of Nutrition Education and Health Sciences for the University, said the supplements may not be everything students think they are.

"You really have to be aware of how many calories some of these drinks have in them," Greene said. "Plus, most students are usually on a budget, and the specialty drinks are very expensive."

Greene said Vitamin Water is basically a glorified soda, primarily made with sugar cane or cane juice, which is a significant source of empty calories.

Research shows that drinking calories, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages, may promote weight gain, Greene said.

"I'd rather see students spend their money on healthier foods than these high-calorie beverages that offer little nutrition but a lot of calories," Greene said.

Greene said she talks to students about the problems with water substitutes.

"The biggest misconception that I see are the misconceptions that some students believe regarding a lot of the newest products and information that they hear from the media or see on the Web," Greene said.

Greene gives students individual counseling on nutrition at the Student Health Center.

"I get a lot of questions from students regarding these new products and information that comes out," Greene said.

Drinking too many calories from sweet tea, sodas, flavored beverages and alcohol is another problem students have with nutrition, Green said.

"In most cases, I recommend water, a multivitamin and, for women, a calcium supplement. It is more important, in my opinion, to get your nutrients from food and not beverages," Greene said.

Each flavor of Vitamin Water claims to have a different benefit inside, such as endurance, balance, energy, defense and focus.

Erin Wimberly, a junior majoring in interior design, said she drinks the product on a daily basis for the vitamin intake.

"I like Formula 50 and I like the Multi-V. It says it on the bottle, 'Who wouldn't want to live like 50?'" Wimberly said.

Students, Greene said, don't always research the products they spend their money on.

Greene said it is not easy for students and consumers to separate the reality from what's being marketed.

Recent marketing by the flavored water company Propel has exposed the amount of calories that Vitamin Water contains.

"Vitamin Water is delicious and 50 is the man, so how can you go wrong?" said Baldwin Justice, a junior majoring in finance.

Sarah Watts, a senior majoring in international business, said she was surprised to learn about the amount of calories in Vitamin Water.

"I would just rather drink water after working out," Watts said. "There is no point in putting all of those calories back in your body after spending time working them off."