What's your verdict on Crystal Light?

[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.

[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).

[li10up]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess I should have mentioned I'm pretty lazy when it comes to food. I know me and I won't lug around lemon and/or lime juice, etc. I like it quick and simple...open a packet of Crystal Light, pour it into a bottle of water, shake and drink. I work around computer equipment so big glasses of water, etc. make me nervous. I'm afraid it will get spilled on the equipment. Small opening containers are for me.

So, I guess I should have asked...Is Crystal Light better for me than the caffeine-free diet soda I've been drinking for years? I'm hoping it's a somewhat better alternative to the carbination.

[KnottedYet]

open a packet of tea, drop the teabag into the bottle, shake and drink.

I'd be more concerned about the artificial sweetners than about the carbonation. Especially if that's your main source of fluid.

Are you buying bottles of water at work?

[li10up]

open a packet of tea, drop the teabag into the bottle, shake and drink.

I'd be more concerned about the artificial sweetners than about the carbonation. Especially if that's your main source of fluid.

Are you buying bottles of water at work?

Yes, I have two standard Ozarka water bottles (small opening) that I refill with water. I'm trying to work on staying better hydrated and know that soda, even diet soda, isn't a good choice. But given that I don't really like water I was thinking the Crystal Light would be a good choice.

A tea bag would not fit into the water bottle...guess I could use a bike water bottle. But I like that the Ozarka bottle will fit into my kozzie to keep it cold. I haven't seen the True Lime products but haven't looked for them yet. I'll keep an eye out.

[TexanCzexican]

I like it quick and simple...open a packet of Crystal Light, pour it into a bottle of water, shake and drink.

Back to my pushing True Lime products, they come in basically the same containers/form as Crystal Light

[csr1210]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess I should have mentioned I'm pretty lazy when it comes to food. I know me and I won't lug around lemon and/or lime juice, etc. I like it quick and simple...open a packet of Crystal Light, pour it into a bottle of water, shake and drink. I work around computer equipment so big glasses of water, etc. make me nervous. I'm afraid it will get spilled on the equipment. Small opening containers are for me.

So, I guess I should have asked...Is Crystal Light better for me than the caffeine-free diet soda I've been drinking for years? I'm hoping it's a somewhat better alternative to the carbination.

To answer that last question, I would say a definite YES. It may not be the BEST option, but crystal light at least has less (to none depending on flavor) caffeine, and it can be diluted so that you are getting less sweetner if that is a concern. Water is better, but I do think that crystal light is better than most sodas.

HTH,
Christy

[Pedal Wench]

I use the little single-serve packages too, but dilute them. I use one in a 1-liter water bottle (Zefal or Elite make one-litre bottles that fit in bottle cages) and one package, so it's about half-strength. Like you, I don't tend to drink plain water, so this helps me get something into the system. In cooler weather, I drink unsweetened decaf green tea.