IN WITH THE NEW: Sparkling Water
Welcome to my weekly featured ”IN WITH THE NEW” CLEAN SWAP! This week we are taking a closer look at Sparkling Water!
I’m always fielding questions from clients and friends about how they can swap out some of their favorite products for safer, toxin-free options without a loss in quality, taste, or performance (depending on the product). Every week, I cover food, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning and laundry products, and even behavior, so if you enjoy these Clean Swaps, please follow me on Instagram and sign up for my 360° OF WELLNESS Newsletter (⬅️by clicking on this link to the left) so that you never miss a new one.
LET’S TALK FLAVORED SPARKLING WATER 🍋🍊🍓🍒
If you have found yourself on a path to a healthier lifestyle, you probably know the importance of avoiding sugary drinks like juices & sodas. So what’s left? Water & sparkling water?
Boooooring!
I bet you were excited when you found LaCroix! Sparkling water WITH FLAVOR! 🙌
SO WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT LACROIX? 💁♀️
Well, let’s start with the fact that LaCroix has been deceiving their consumers about being “all-natural,” while in reality, containing artificial ingredients.
According to a class action lawsuit filed against the company, LaCroix intentionally misled consumers into believing that it's beverages were “all-natural” in order to drive sales. However, LaCroix contains ingredients that the FDA identified as synthetic. These chemicals include:
🚫 LIMONENE, which can cause kidney toxicity and tumors
🚫 LINALOOL PROPIONATE, which is used to treat cancer, and
🚫 LINALOOL, which is used in cockroach insecticide. 🕷😳😱🙈.
In addition, LaCroix contains a mysterious cocktail of “natural flavors.” Although that doesn’t sound bad, just like “fragrance” or “parfum,” this is an innocuous-sounding term meant to hide ingredients (nope they don’t have to tell us what we’re eating) and mislead consumers. After all, “natural flavors” conjures up images of fruit extracts and herb essences, and certainly not secretions from the anal glands of beavers (I wish I were joking!).
So here are some facts about “natural flavors” that you might find interesting:
🚫 The ingredients in natural flavors are considered proprietary (just like those in fragrance or parfum) and not disclosed either on the label or to a customer who inquires – so we have no clue what is in them.
🚫 Each natural flavor may contain up to 100 ingredients, including synthetic chemicals such as the solvent propylene glycol, the preservative BHA, and GMO-derived ingredients (unless organic or Non-GMO Project verified).
🚫 The only difference between natural and artificial flavors, is that natural flavors are derived from things found in nature, which isn’t necessarily a good thing (psst: lead and arsenic are also natural).
🚫 The loophole is that for non-organic foods, regulations do not restrict the dozens of other ingredients (e.g., preservatives or solvents) that can go into a so-called “natural flavor.” In other words, you’ll never know what’s in that can of pamplemousse.
🚫 They can also legally contain naturally occurring “glutamate” by-products that act like MSG, which is an excitotoxin. Excitotoxins make food irresistible to eat but may lead to strokes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, obesity, migraines, fatigue, and depression.
🚫 Flavors are designed to have addictive qualities and increase food cravings. They trick your brain into thinking it’s hungry for more. If you experience increased food cravings while guzzling down drinks full of “natural flavors,” you may want to switch to another beverage.
READY FOR A CLEAN SWAP?🙋♀️
There is a better flavored seltzer out there. It’s called Spindrift. Not only does it taste better, but it contains REAL, fresh juice instead of the mystery cocktail of “flavor.” It’s crisp and refreshing… and REAL JUICE!
And because Spindrift contains between 3 and 10 percent juice, each can adds up to about 15 calories and a couple of grams of sugar. It’s not a zero calorie drink, but fifteen calories is a reasonable price to pay for a significantly better tasting, and more nutritionally sound and transparent beverage. Nothing good comes in zero calories except water.
In addition to ordering it from Amazon, you can pick it up at Target, Kroger, Costco, and Trader Joe’s.
Do you have a favorite clean brand?
Send me a message to tell me Leave a comment below and share what it is. If I like it, I may feature it (and give you props) in a future Clean Swap.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Victoria Gregory is an Integrative Nutritionist and founder of NEWTRITION NEWYOU. Her focus—whether with private clients, readers of her blog, or her followers on social media— is whole body wellness, incorporating whole-food nutrition, supplementation, exercise, toxin-free living, and mindset coaching. Victoria’s personal mission is to help make the world a healthier place, one person at a time, and she has helped thousands of people find joy and self-love through better eating habits and mindfulness. Learn more about Victoria.