Over the past many years, our office has suggested that parents please limit the amount of pop, gatorade, juices and energy drinks their children drink. Drinks containing sugar and drinks that have a low pH increase demineralization of teeth which result in an increase of caries (cavities). Therefore, when parents ask what they should then offer their kids I always say water. We live in a high dry elevation and it is very easy to become dehydrated. The problem for some parents is that their children do not like water.
There are several types of flavored waters that you stumble across when shopping and it seems that every flavored water has at least one of the following ingredients (sugar-natural or not, additives, preservatives, etc…)
Just recently a friend turned me on to an infused water that tastes great! It comes in many flavors and it is not sweet. The name of this drink is Hint. Hint claims “Hint is pure water + a splash of natural fruit. 0 calories, 0 sugar, 0 diet sweeteners!” Hint uses oils and essence to deliver the flavor without the sugar. so far I have found it at King Soopers and Sprouts stores.
How is Hint Water Made?
Hint Water is essentially a mix of water and natural fruit flavors. Their key selling point is that they do not include anything artificial in their water. Unsweetened, all-natural, ultra-pure water that is infused with natural fruit flavors. No sugar, no GMO ingredients, no calories, no preservatives, trace minerals, and without diet sweeteners.
After researching the “all natural” flavors, all natural flavors that come naturally or all natural flavors that are synthetically derived, I found that propylene glycol was used in the process of making this water and trace levels have beed found in the water. Propylene glycol is FDA approved for “all natural” products for ingestion. If you are not comfortable with the trace amounts of propylene glycol, there is a solution! Make a large healthy batch for you and your family at home.
Follow the link to home made infused water recipes. They are terrific!