Propel Enhanced Water vs. Vitamin Water 10 - Which beverage is best? Or is it all just hype? Review

People today are concerned with their health and they want to do whatever they can to protect themselves from illness. We want to feel good and we want to eat and drink right. Enter vitamin enhanced waters. These waters are flavored and add generous amounts of different vitamins but what about calories? How are they sweetened? What do they taste like? And, most importantly, do we NEED that many vitamins in a drink that we may load up on all day long? I tried both Propel Enhanced Water and the new Vitamin Water 10. There is one I like better than the other. Let's look at the two.

Vitamin Content

Each flavor of both waters concentrates on certain vitamins. There is a flavor for antioxidants, energy (B vitamins), multi-vitamins, immunity (Vitamin C), etc. Obviously these waters are better for you than a soda but there is a such a thing as vitamin overkill. If you take in too much water soluble vitamins, you'll just flush them away, if you know what I mean. These waters stay on the safe side of vitamins that are fat soluble and can build up in the body and that's a good thing. You don't want to go overboard with Vitamins like A, D, E, and K although it's pretty difficult to really overdo these vitamins drinking a couple of bottles of eater even if you take a multivitamin as well. Each concentrates on antioxidants like pomegranate and blueberry which is a good thing. They're both naturally flavored as well.

As far as which brand is "healthier", a look at the labels tells me that Vitamin Water 10 (made by Glaceau) has higher concentrations of some vitamins but those are the ones that your body will eliminate when it gets enough and both waters have more than enough of those vitamins. I call this ...

Winner: A Tie

Calories

Each has 10 calories per 10 ounce serving. They both are sweetened naturally but contain suclaose (Splenda) as one of the main sweeteners. Studies show that this product is safe and derived from pure sugar but it's something to be aware of. Also, Propel uses High Fructose Corn Syrup as a sweetener which some claim is unhealthy.  Both waters have sugar as their second ingredient after water. Although they are low in calories, they still are filled with sugar. As far as calorie content goes though, they're the same so we have another...

The Winner: A Tie

Variety

Vitamin Water 10 has only four flavors to choose from while Propel has 10 flavors. Propel, by the way, is made by Gatorade. Anyway, they also have powdered drink mixes, something that Vitamin Water 10 doesn't. One big advantage that I feel Propel has over VW 10 is that the Peach Mango flavor also has 3 grams of fiber in it. Oddly, though, that flavor contains twice the calories (20 per serving) which makes no sense to me. Nonetheless, as far as variety goes, there is a winner.

The Winner: Propel Enhanced Water

Taste

Taste is very individual but I feel that Propel Enhanced Water tastes fresher and cleaner. It could be that it is clear, devoid of artificial colorants, that makes me feel that way but I rather enjoy the taste of all the flavors. Vitamin Water 10, to me, is much too sweet. I can stand the Lemonade flavor because it is a tad less sweet but the other flavors makes me cringe. I prefer just a splash of sweetness and flavor not an explosion of sweetness. In fact, neither really quench my thirst on a hot day or after exercise. They leave me thirsty! Still, I have several bottles of each at home because they were on sale and I know I need to get away from the dreaded diet cola pattern I am in. I reach for Propel unless I can't find any and then I go for Vitamin Water 10. For me...

The Winner: Propel Enhanced Water based on taste

Here is where I have to interject and say that I don't believe either of these waters really gives me an edge or makes me healthier. I don't believe they are all that great for me considering the sweeteners and other added ingredients in them. I also don't rely on them to give me the vitamins I need. I take a good multivitamin every day regardless of whether I drink these drinks. Honestly, I prefer an ice cold glass of water with a slice of lemon or lime when I am hot or thirsty. It's all natural, healthy, and much cheaper. No, I won't be getting a mega dose of Vitamin C or B when I drink plain water but neither will I be getting a bunch of natural but iffy sweeteners, added ingredients for freshness and color retention, and a mouthful of sweetness that makes me want to run to a water fountain. These waters have a place in my life but not a big place. They're better than diet soda for me and don't fill me up with a ton of calories. They're a nice change from regular, plain water. I choose Propel because I like the taste better. But really, both are so similar that it's all a matter of your personal preference and what's on sale, in my opinion.

Thanks for reading!

Patty