The 9 Best Flavored Water Brands to Help You Cut Back on Soda

Sipping on plain H2O might not be the most exciting thing for your palate, but keeping up with your hydration needs is key. Enter: Flavored waters.

Many flavored waters are sparkling, as they are meant to replace sodas and other fizzy drinks high in sugar. Sparkling mineral water comes from the ground and is naturally carbonated; it also contains trace amounts of minerals, such as calcium, sodium and magnesium. Seltzer and club soda are waters infused with carbon dioxide for carbonation and usually don't have minerals.

In fact, mineral water can be a source of bioavailable calcium to support bone health, per a December 2018 review in ‌Nutrients.‌ Because of their bubbles, the benefits of sparkling waters include filling you up and reducing your chances of overeating (FYI, that makes carbonated water good for weight loss).

Their delicious flavor might also help you get more H2O (which is always a good thing). So yes, flavored water still counts as water for your hydration needs.

As far as the drawbacks of carbonated water go, they're minimal. Fizzy waters may cause a little bloating and gas because of their carbonation. And while sparkling water and seltzer are more acidic than regular water, they're not as acidic as soda and some juices, so they're less likely to damage teeth enamel and cause cavities, according to UCLA Health.

Here, we tapped May Zhu, RDN, LDN, founder of Nutrition Happens, and Keri Glassman, RD, CDN, founder and CEO of Nutritious Life for the best flavored water brands to buy. We chose the products below based on the following criteria:

• Calorie count
• Added sugar content
• Ingredients
• Taste

‌Per serving: 3 calories, 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 1 gram carbohydrates (0 grams sugar, 0 grams added sugar), 0 grams protein‌

Tickle your taste buds with a subtle burst of pineapple, grapefruit, lime and orange mango. Spindrift's flavored sparkling waters are a top choice for Zhu and Glassman because they contain a hint of freshly squeezed fruit juice — not from concentrate.

"I always like recommending Spindrift because it's made with real fruit juice and puree. Every flavor has less than 3 grams of sugar, and it's from the fruit," Zhu says. Choose from 11 refreshing flavors, including one that's half unsweetened iced tea and half lemon sparkling water.

‌Per serving: 0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 10 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugar), 0 grams protein‌

San Pellegrino is an Italian brand that takes pride in its mineral water and has been in business for more than 120 years. Made with zero artificial sweeteners and zero calories, this European flavored water will elevate your dinner.

San Pellegrino's hydration creations claim to pair perfectly with certain foods. The Tangerine & Wild Strawberry sparkling water, for example, goes well with medium-flavored dishes, such as sauteed veggies, chicken or fish and fresh pasta. You can even use these as mixers for healthier cocktails.

‌Per serving: 0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugar), 0 grams protein‌

LaCroix's sparkling water flavors are made from extracted natural essence oils from fruit. The flavored waters also have zero calories, artificial sweeteners and sugars.

Take your pick from dozens of flavors, including Mango, Tangerine, Passionfruit, Coconut and Peach-Pear. You'll love their subtle taste and they'll quench your thirst for something sweet minus the calories and sugar.

‌Per serving: 0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugars, 0 grams added sugars), 0 grams protein‌

Regular soda and diet soda aren't exactly great for your health, so in response, PepsiCo created a line of sparkling waters called Bubly that's free of sugar and artificial sweeteners.

The colorful cans come in 15 different flavors, such as Cherry, Apple, Strawberry, Lime and Orange. Use them in place of sugary juices and mixers in alcoholic drinks and sip on their deliciously effervescent taste.

‌Per serving:‌ ‌0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugars, 0 grams added sugars), 0 grams protein‌

Known as "the champagne of table water," Perrier has been making bottled water since 1863. Pop a bottle of this bubbly, and you can pretend you're vacationing in the French Riviera.

Much like the other sparkling waters on this list, Perrier uses natural flavors. Its clean and crisp flavor makes it a perfect canvas for healthier homemade cocktails.

‌Per serving: 0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 10 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugar), 0 grams protein‌

Sourced and bottled in Monterrey, Mexico, Topo Chico is a fizzy mineral water that boasts some sodium, magnesium and calcium.

"I'm personally a big fan of the original, plain Topo Chico. If you want additional flavor, it's great with a splash of fresh lemon or lime juice," Zhu says. A cult favorite, people who swear by it say that it has a slightly salty flavor and has a little more carbonation than other sparkling waters.

With Classic plain, Lime and Grapefruit flavors, you're sure to find something that matches your mood.

‌Per serving:‌ ‌0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugars, 0 grams added sugars), 0 grams protein‌

Hint flavored sparkling water provides just that — a touch of watermelon, blackberry, clementine, ginger and many others.

A great way to ween off of your soda addiction, Hint's waters are infused with natural flavors from fruits and contain zero calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Consider this a hint that you should grab a few bottles of this carbonated H2O.

‌Per serving:‌ ‌0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugars, 0 grams added sugars), 0 grams protein‌

JUST Water's bottles are made with paper from sustainably managed forests and the brand claims to use 82 percent renewable resources.

As for the water, JUST Water uses organic fruit essences, so the flavor is light yet refreshing. Certified USDA organic, JUST has no sweeteners, artificial flavors and calories, and sources its water from Glens Falls, New York.

‌Per serving:‌ ‌0 calories, 0 grams fat (0 grams saturated fat), 0 milligrams sodium, 0 grams carbohydrates (0 grams sugars, 0 grams added sugars), 0 grams protein‌

Waterloo uses purified carbonated water, so it's free of fluoride, sodium, additives and impurities.

It uses extracted fruit essences and oils for flavor and comes in Blueberry, Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, Black Cherry, Mango, Coconut, Grapefruit and Plain. Plus, Waterloo is more affordable than many other brands, clocking in at around 50 cents per can.

The natural flavors in flavored waters are flavors derived from spices, fruits and vegetables, herbs, bark leaves and even meat, seafood, poultry and eggs.

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines natural flavors as ingredients derived from a plant or animal matter that serves to add flavor and not nutrition, so it's not a source of carbs, protein, fats or vitamins and minerals," Zhu tells LIVESTRONG.com.

Because the FDA hasn't defined the term "natural," it can be an umbrella term to describe almost any type of food. And to extract the flavor, additional chemicals must be used to process the ingredient, Zhu says.

To add to the complexity, Zhu says food manufacturers aren't required to disclose their processing procedures, so as long as they are extracting flavors from plants or animals, it can be classified as a natural flavor.

The FDA currently identifies natural flavors as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). This is all to say that while natural flavors aren't found to be harmful, you should try to keep track of your intake of them.

"There are no definite health risks associated with consuming natural flavors, but the best practice here is to be more aware of how much you are consuming over time and continue to focus your diet on whole-food ingredients without natural or artificial additives," Zhu says.

Isn't water just water? Well, in the case of flavored waters, some may contain artificial sweeteners and added sugar from fruit juices.

Zhu suggests limiting added sugar from flavored water to under 6 to 8 grams max per serving. FYI, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a daily total added sugar intake of 25 to 36 grams, depending on your age, sex and weight.

"If you're looking for alternative ways to add flavor, try adding fresh fruit, herbs or even a little bit of fruit juice to plain sparkling water as a way to be more mindful about the total sugars consumed from drinks," she says.

"Ideally, our beverages would not be a source of sugar at all," Glassman adds. "Around 15 grams of sugar is how much you'd get in a piece of fruit — use that as a frame of reference and remember that the water doesn't come along with fiber and vitamins and minerals. Personally, I'd rather have the sugar from a real piece of fruit, which will also provide the antioxidants and natural fiber along with it."

Ideally, your flavored H2O should have minimal ingredients. It's water, after all. But if your flavored water is touting things like CBD oil and adaptogens, the effects may be minimal and you're unlikely to see any real benefits.

"Keep in mind that as active ingredients, you need a specific amount to really make a difference. So don't be fooled into thinking that you're definitely reaping all of the benefits of these ingredients from your beverage," Glassman says. In reality, the dosage of these ingredients might be just enough for the product to say that they include them.

"Ingredients such as adaptogens and CBD might need to be consumed more regularly over a period of time to maximize any effects, so benefits happen with consumption habits over time," Zhu says.

Waters with collagen provide some protein and contribute to your overall daily protein intake, but again, the health claims are subject to how often you drink them, she adds. If you're seeking sips with more carbs and protein, you're better off with a smoothie or protein shake instead.

It's OK to drink flavored waters every day so long as they're not contributing to your added sugar intake too much.

You'll also want to try to avoid drinking flavored waters with artificial sweeteners daily because the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners are still pretty murky. Instead, you can make your own flavored water at home by infusing water with fresh fruit and/or veggies and herbs (try cucumber and mint, for example).

Still, flavored water is a better choice than soda and diet soda so long as it doesn't contain any added sugars or artificial sweeteners. And it's a good way to get fluids if you don't like to drink plain water.