What's your verdict on Crystal Light?

[li10up]

I've been trying to cut back on the caffeine-free diet soda that I've been drinking but now I'm finding that I'm even more dehydrated than before because I can't seem to drink enough water. I only like water when it's really, really cold and then usually only when I'm working out.

So, I've been thinking about Crystal Light. I like the taste and it will get me to drink more water...but is it a bad idea...kind of like drinking diet soda?

[rocknrollgirl]

I avoid artificial sweetners in all forms. Try the one made by Celestial Seasonings, called Zingers To Go, it is sweetened with stevia which is derived from an herb and all natural.

[Eden]

I'm a fan of NUUN, it keeps me from getting headaches (it contains electrolyes), doesn't have any carbs and is fairly light tasting. It does contain a small amount of sorbitol, which some people can be sensitive too (in large amounts it can act as a laxative ) , but sorbitol is a natural fruit sugar unlike asptertame (nutrasweet), which is a man made chemical.

[TexanCzexican]

I'm a fan of True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange (hard to find)

It has no sweeteners or anything artificial and you can find it in the same section as Crystal Light.

That being said, I keep a box of Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade in my cupboard, sometimes I just want the artificialness

[kelownagirl]

I drink it. I like the iced tea. I'm not afraid of a little aspartame and I figure if it makes me drink more fluids it's a good thing. But that's just me...

[Zen]

Better living through chemistry. I love 7-11 Crystal Lite Slurpees.

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi li10up, it is right to be concerned about ingesting artificial sweeteners. There are a lot of doctors out there who do not want their patients to consume any of it because the chemicals are believed to remain in the liver. And there are other reasons.

When I get tired of drinking plain iced water and tea, I add a bit of fruit juice to my water. I take a tall drinking glass, fill it with ice cubes, add about 1/4 glass of cranberry or blueberry juice, then fill the remainder of the glass with cold water. Or you can add several tablespoons of lime and lemon juice to a glass of ice cubes and water. When the juice is diluted like this, it should not raise your blood sugar, and you will still get some of the nutritional benefits of the juice.

Darcy

[Veronica]

I too only like my water really cold. I freeze water in my Polar water bottle to take to work. The ice lasts most of the day in my classroom. The fake sugars give me a headache. My MIL uses them in her cooking and I had to ask her to stop.

At home I do what Darcy does - mix water and either lemonade or OJ. I tend to go about half and half though.

I do not mix my Red Bulls with anything though.

V.

[KnottedYet]

If diet sodas give you trouble, so will Crystal Lite. (it's also notorious for causing urinary incontinece, like other diet drinks)

What about dropping a teabag (herbal or whatever) into a bottle of water for flavor? I like to toss a peppermint bag into my water sometimes.

[Torrilin]

Every artificial sweetener I've tried gives me a rather nasty aftertaste. Very bitter, and it sticks around for a while. No other ill effects. Splenda and sorbitol are less awful than most, but they all taste bad enough that I won't have 'em willingly.

Yay for weird taste genetics.

I find a small amount of lemon or lime juice in plain water tastes sweet to me, particularly when dehydrated. So if I must have something and I'm avoiding sugar, I do that.

[kelownagirl]

I do not mix my Red Bulls with anything though.

V.

Oh V - have you never tried a Chambull? Red Bull and Champagne - yum!!

[Veronica]

I drink most of my Red Bulls while riding my bike... so no. I can't imagine mixing it into the champagne we drink. It's good stuff as it is.

V.

[kelownagirl]

Well it definitely wouldn't have been something I'd ever do but I was at an art show and they were serving them and my daughter convinced me to try one. What a surprise taste!

[Running Mommy]

I try to avoid artificial sweetners as much as I can.
Any of the "itols"- sorbitol, malitol, etc give me the big D even in small quantities. They also give me horrible crampy gas.. - Sorry I know TMI, but I'm just sayin'...

And I can only tolerate a bit of spenda, otherwise it makes me sick.

My body just seems to reject the artificial stuff I guess??

Oh and Stevia- Dr. Oz (yeah I like him, but I don't take anyones word as gods) say's that it may cause sterility in men. Don't know if it's true, I'm just sayin'... And I guess WE don't need to worry about that, but I dunno, I just think I'll pass.
If I need a little sweet I use agave nectar. Super sweet punch in just a small amount.
As for your water, try adding orange, lemon, or lime slices. Mint works well too.
I'm a big water drinker, so sometimes I add a slice of orange to spice things up. I also drink a ton of fresh brewed iced green tea. YUMMERS!

[7rider]

I'm a fan of True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange (hard to find)

It has no sweeteners or anything artificial and you can find it in the same section as Crystal Light.

I never heard of this stuff until yesterday.
I saw it in the sunday coupons, thought, "Hmmmm, this might be interesting."
Then, found the orange in the "discontinued items - 50% off" shelf a the local grocery. Got the package for $0.64 with my coupon! For that, I figure I can toss it if I don't like it. But it might be tasty enough to encourage me to drink my otherwise preferred plain, room temp. water (sensitive teeth...don't care for cold).