Nutritious Water Additives?

April 29, 2009 9:05 AM

Are there any good nutritional/metabolic water mixes out there for sedentary desk workers who are perhaps over-reliant on fast food?

I consume several bottles of water a day at work. Normally I use Propel mix in the water, since it only has 20 calories per serving and it makes the decidedly plasticky water more drinkable. My diet is probably a little more reliant on fast food than it should be, especially with the economic crunch lately, and I was wondering if there is anything on the market to mix in the water to help me with nutrition or metabolism. I'm working two jobs, which means on 3 weekdays I work straight from 8AM to 9:30PM with just a lunch break. This also predictably lowers my will for exercise.

I know that there are lots of snake-oil products out there on the market, but I'm curious if there's anything to help me along health-wise without jamming in too many calories. I certainly don't feel ill, but I know my lifestyle isn't necessarily optimal and I'm wondering if I'm missing an opportunity with all the water I'm taking in.

posted by Phyltre to health & fitness (9 comments total)

Green tea :)
posted by greenish at 9:11 AM on April 29

You might want to try and get a Klean Canteen, which is a stainless steel water bottle, no worries about plastic taste and you don't have to worry about all the plastic being wasted.. a lot of places sell them now.
posted by iamabot at 9:13 AM on April 29 [1 favorite has favorites]

An ancient Asian herbal energy drink. It has many health benefits, can be served hot or cold, has zero calories, and requires only minimal preparation.
posted by leapfrog at 9:13 AM on April 29 [1 favorite has favorites]

First, if your tap water is anything short of poison, get away from the bottled water-get a nalgene or what-have-you.

Directly to your question, though, there are Crystal Light packets that have caffeine in them - a strawberry, a peach-mango, and a citrus. I mix these with propel to make my own liquid candy. Plus I get my daily caffeine without soda, and without coffee which, though I love the stuff, does a number on my guts.
posted by notsnot at 9:14 AM on April 29

you could also add some lemon to your water. add a few slices to a bottle in the morning and refill the bottle as you like.
posted by lizbunny at 9:15 AM on April 29

@EmpressCallipygos:

We're kind of obligated to all go eat, we usually hash work assignments and things out at lunch. I could abstain, but seeing as my supervisor (the guy responsible for any raises and allocations in my favor) is one of us four, that doesn't seem wise.
posted by Phyltre at 9:31 AM on April 29

Here's a long thread on water additives (not necessarily nutritional).
posted by desjardins at 9:32 AM on April 29

There's actually a Green Tea water additive powder (comes in the little foil packets just like Propel or Crystal Light) but it's kind of expensive and so far I've only seen it on vitamin supplement websites.
posted by philotes at 2:24 PM on April 29

After putting up with Nalgenes for years, I now have a Sigg bottle and I love it. No nasty plastic taste after a few months that makes you wonder how many heads your offspring will have.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 2:42 PM on April 29