These Are the Healthiest Flavored Waters You Can Buy, According to a Nutritionist
Including still, sparkling, and flavored water packet options.
Amenic181/Getty Images
Water is the ultimate hydrating beverage, but sometimes you need a little boost. That’s where flavored waters come in — they can deliver the same health benefits of plain water with a refreshing taste that livens up your palate.
Below you’ll find nine of my top flavored water picks, including sparkling, still and flavor water packet options. They all have something different to offer, so go ahead and decide which one works best for you.
What Should You Look for When Buying Flavored Water?
Flavored waters should provide a delicious hydration experience. They can range from a subtle hint of flavor to more pronounced tasting notes, depending on your personal preference. Below are some other attributes you may encounter when buying flavored water:
- Have fewer to no calories compared to sugary beverages like soda, flavored teas and lemonades
- Offer carbonation options — some flavored waters are flat, while others are sparkling
- Typically contain no added sugar, however there are options that contain low-calorie sweeteners
- May include add-ins, such as vitamins, minerals, protein, electrolytes, caffeine or other functional ingredients
- Are bottled, while others are sold as powdered flavor packets or drops you can mix into water
With so many options available on store shelves and online, make sure to read the nutrition facts panel to know exactly what you’re getting. Below you’ll find various better-for-you flavored water options, in sparkling, still and powdered form.
The Healthiest Flavored Sparkling Waters
PATH’s entire sparkling water line is calorie-free, with no sugars or sweeteners added. The brand’s sleek 20-ounce aluminum bottles are made to be refilled and recycled, which helps reduce single-use plastic waste. What's more, they’re made in the U.S. and can be hand-washed with soap and water. The lemon-lime flavor is my favorite and is one of the best effervescence I’ve tried in a sparkling beverage with smaller-sized bubbles. The citrus notes are light but still enough to make every sip interesting for your tastebuds; raspberry-orange and grapefruit-mango are mighty tasty, too.
Spindrift is known for having an endless variety of options. The brand uses real fruit to flavor their water, which adds a small amount of calories. This one is made using a combination of sweet and tart cherries sourced from orchards across the U.S. This combination gives the water a bold, yet tangy flavor. It contains 24 calories with 3 grams of sugar per can, but other flavors like grapefruit and raspberry-lime have 17 and 5 calories, respectively.
Each can of La Croix sparkling water has zero calories and is free from sweeteners and sodium. This hi-biscus flavor is unique, refreshing and features slight botanical notes, making it an ideal ingredient for mocktails.
Zesty notes of lime and a bold kick of ginger make this bubbly find enjoyable to sip on. Nixie’s sparkling water is free of calories, sugar, and sweeteners, and made with organic flavors. The cans are recyclable and feature BPA-free liners. Other fan-favorites include strawberry-hibiscus, watermelon-mint and black-cherry-lime. Per the brand, grapefruit-tangerine is also coming soon!
The Healthiest Flavored Still Waters
Like the name implies, Hint’s flavored waters contain just a “hint” of flavor, or just enough to impart flavor without being too overwhelming. The 16-ounce bottles are free of calories, sugar and sweeteners, and include just two ingredients: purified water and natural flavors. If you aren’t a peach fan, other popular flavors include grape, crisp apple, watermelon, coconut and more.
This still water is made from naturally alkaline spring water and is sold in eco-friendly, 100% recyclable box-like packaging. Mild notes of cucumber and mint give this water a refreshing zing. Other popular flavors include peach + blueberry, blackberry + hibiscus and strawberry + rose — all of which feature zero calories, zero sugar and zero sweeteners. You can buy the water in 500-milliliter or 1-liter containers.
If you’re looking for an enhanced flavored water, Shine Water has a variety of flavors including this sweet and bold strawberry-lemon option. It’s sugar-free but sweetened with Stevia, giving it a sweeter flavor than some of the other waters included on this list. A 16-ounce can contains 20 calories, 20 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of carbs and no sugars. It also has a few vitamins and minerals including vitamin D, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B12 and zinc. If you are taking other vitamins and minerals, do speak with your healthcare provider before purchasing and consuming this product.
The Healthiest Flavored Water Packets and Drops
You can also use powders and liquid drops to flavor your water. Although many come with add-ins like electrolytes, the two below simply add flavor.
If you’re looking for a substitute for a lime or lemon wedge, this crystallized citrus powder has you covered. It delivers the puckery and punchy flavor you love, without the pulpy mess of a freshly squeezed lemon. The mix, which is made from real lemon juice and oils, is free of calories, sugar, sodium and artificial sweeteners. Besides mixing it in water, you can add it into mocktails, cocktails, recipes and seasonings. Other available flavors include lime, orange and grapefruit.
Stur Liquid Water Enhancer is made from real fruit and Stevia, with zero sugar and calories, to provide a punch of flavor. It’s high in vitamin C and gluten-free. One squeeze is all it takes to flavor 8-ounces of water. Other varieties include blues & blackberry, coconut-pineapple, Concord grape, fruit punch, and orange-clementine.
Related Content:
