For those who haven’t tasted the trend, spoiler alert: Caffeinated water is basically tasteless water mixed with tasteless caffeine in order to make a drink that tastes like, well, water. (Some brands like Avitae, Caffeinated Club, and Krank20 also come in a variety of flavors, with no added sugar, but we’re not talking the taste potency here of a Monster Energy, folks.) Depending on the brand, your H2O pick-me-up could contain anywhere from 45 milligrams to 125 milligrams of caffeine in a bottle. MORE: Four Hacks To Turn Coffee Into The Ultimate Health Drink Why not get your caffeine fix from coffee or tea? Our thoughts exactly. But if you think you’d prefer a cold beverage in warmer weather (and haven’t been sucked in by the iced coffee trend) or are into the idea of being amped up all the time—we get it—here is what you need to know about the myths and truths of the caffeinated water trend. Claim: It’s calorie-free and a healthy way to get my caffeine.Reality: Yes, caffeinated waters like Element and Water Joe are not only calorie-free, but also sugar-free. Then again, one cup of black coffee has just one calorie and is also sugar free, while tea clocks in with a whopping 2 calories per serving. So your calorie-free argument? It doesn’t really hold up. Plus, why drink something out a plastic bottle (hello, BPA and BPA-free chemicals) when you can drink something out of a nice toxin-free ceramic mug? MORE: Four Things To Know Before Ever Ordering Cold Brew Coffee Claim: Coffee and tea dehydrate me, but caffeinated water won’t.Reality: Caffeine, in any form, is a diuretic. “Even when you’re getting caffeine in coffee, you’re still consuming a fluid. Water doesn’t negate the effects of caffeine,” says Felicia Stoler, RD, a nutritionist and exercise physiologist based in New Jersey. And despite their tendency to go right through you, caffeinated beverages won’t cause dehydration, adds Stoler. Claim: It has just as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.Reality: The 125 milligrams of caffeine in a 16.9-ounce bottle of Avitae (the strongest dose we could find) has just as much caffeine as a cup of coffee—if you’re drinking a weak brew or something out of a Keurig. Caffeinated water, though, is no match for a tall coffee from Starbucks, which contains a whopping 260 milligrams of caffeine. You might not want to know how much caffeine a venti has. (Of course you do—it has 415 milligrams of the good stuff). Our verdict? Stick with your usual coffee or tea. They’ll give you just as much (if not more) caffeine than caffeinated water would, they’re packed with antioxidants, and they actually have a taste that you can enjoy (if brewed correctly). All those other reported health benefits from coffee and tea aren’t so bad, either. MORE: How Science Is Messing With Your Morning Coffee
