What Exactly Does Flavored Water Do For Your Body? [Slideshow]

Lowers Your Calorie and Sugar Intake

Flavored water can improve hydration while lowering caloric intake in people who are used to consuming beverages like fruit juices or soda throughout the day. If you find yourself reaching for sports drinks, energy drinks, or other high-calorie/high-sugar drinks frequently, flavored water is a healthier alternative. It often has zero calories and zero sugar, so you'll be saving yourself from the negative effects that come with the calories and added sugars in those drinks.

May Cause Tooth Erosion

"But it's water!" Many people believe that because flavored water is "water" that it's pure and free of harmful ingredients. This may not always be the case. A popular way of flavoring water is to add citric acids. These acids can wear away at tooth enamel, weakening your teeth over time and leading to cavities. If you're selecting flavored water, check the ingredients and see if there are fruit acids listed. If so, you may want to stay away. 

Links to Diseases

Some flavored waters include artificial coloring, which can lead to health problems. Some artificial food colorings have been linked to diseases such as cancer, while others have been shown to increase hyperactivity in children.

The major culprits have been identified as Blue 1, Blue 2, Citrus Red 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. Just because water is colored, though, doesn't mean it's unsafe. Some food colors are derived from natural ingredients, such as beets or paprika. Again, it's important to read the ingredients before choosing a bottle.

Slows Your Metabolism

Flavored water might slow down your metabolism if it includes artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose. Consuming artificial sweeteners essentially tricks your body into thinking it's getting real sugar. This can cause our bodies to stop releasing hormones that boost our metabolisms. The negative result is that when you eat later in the day since your body is lacking that metabolic boost from earlier, you won't be able to break down the calories as well.

Spikes Your Sodium Levels

If you're on a low-sodium or no-sodium diet, beware. Flavored waters often contain sodium. While our bodies do need a certain amount of sodium to help our muscles and nerves function properly, be cautious of how much you consume. The right amount of sodium actually helps us stay hydrated, but if your levels are too high, it does the opposite and leads to dehydration.

Additionally, too much sodium can have adverse effects on those who suffer from hypertension or kidney problems. When reading the label, look for flavored waters that contain less than 30mg of sodium to stay safe.