Crystal Light is a powder that is designed to be mixed with water to impart an effervescent flavor, and keep the beverage low or without calories. Read Crystal Light Nutrition Facts here!
Prepared Crystal Light is available in a variety of flavors, that are like fruit juice sweet tea, lemonade.
Although similar drinks made of powder are generally unhealthy, you may be wondering what Crystal Light is an alternative.
This article examines the question of whether Crystal Light is a healthy drink, and what considerations to take into consideration before deciding to consume it.
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Ingredients and nutrition
Crystal Light has been available from the beginning of the 1980s and has since then, it has been offered in a variety of flavors. The most popular categories of products are Classics, Tea, With Caffeine and Pure.
The names of the majority are easy to understand, one significant distinction is that Pure does not use artificial flavorings, sweeteners, or preservatives. Instead, it utilizes cane sugar and dried corn syrup and stevia as well in natural colors such as black carrot extract or turmeric.
The essential ingredients of traditional Crystal Light include:
Citric acid is natural compound that is used to impart a sour taste and to preserve food items
Potassium citrate, a form of potassium employed as preservative
The taste enhancer, preservative and flavor booster
Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener.
Magnesium oxide, an ingredient in food that is used as a drying agent and also to retain color and pH adjustment
Maltodextrin is a sweetener thickening, stabilizing, and sweetening agent
Furthermore, traditional Crystal Light may comprise less than 2% natural flavorings. They include the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium the emulsifying agent soy Lecithin as well as artificial colors and the preservative, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).
Also, read Kraft Mac And Cheese Nutrition Facts!
Although the nutritional content can vary between brands but a typical 1.5-packet (2-gram) portion of Crystal Light with the ingredients that are listed above have the following nutritional profile (1Trusted Original Source):
Calories: 5
Protein: 0 grams
Total fat Total fat: 0 grams
Total carbs: 0 grams
Total sugar is 0 grams
Sodium 35 mg
The calories in the four primary Crystal Light varieties ranges from 40 to zero energy per serving. Most packets are comprised of up to eight servings.
Summary
Crystal Light comes in several types, including fruitsy flavors, teas caffeinated varieties Pure, which makes use of sugar, natural flavors and colors in lieu of artificial colors and flavors. The nutritional content of all varieties is similar.
Considerations for health and possible adverse negative effects
The artificial sweeteners and colors used in all kinds of Crystal Light, including Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1 aspartame and sucralose and stevia have created some controversy among consumers.
Although there is evidence that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declares that these ingredients are generally considered safe, some experts in the field of health claim that there isn’t enough evidence from the long-term to claim that they’re safe for everyone.
Indeed some studies suggest that artificial colors in food and beverages could be connected with allergic reaction, behavior issues in children and even autoimmune diseases (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Aspartame is comprised of two major components, aspartic acid and phenylalanine that are both amino acids found in the natural world. There are studies that suggest that people suffering from a neuromuscular disorder known as tardive dyskinesia should avoid itsince they could be afflicted by it. (6Trusted Source 7Trusted Source).
Furthermore, aspartame isn’t safe for people suffering from the rare genetic condition that causes phenylalanine build up within the body, which can cause neurodegenerative damage if untreated (8Trusted The Source).
Sucralose, sometimes referred to Splenda is made of sugar by a process which changes chemically the hydrogen and oxygen groups by chlorine atoms.
Although the long-term health consequences of its use aren’t clear However, some studies suggest that it could decrease insulin sensitivity and alter the gut microbiome (9Trusted Source 10Trusted Source).
Stevia is a plant-based sweetener that has zero calories, derived from the Stevia plant.
Certain experts warn that excessive usage of stevia could cause low blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels. It is also recommended that the sweetener must be avoided when it comes to people suffering from diabetes as well as people taking blood pressure medications (11Trusted Source 12Trusted Source, 13TrustedSource).
In addition, artificial sweeteners can cause depressive and headaches and can increase the chance of negative consequences for kidneys or the heart. Certain scientists recommend that further studies are needed to prove that they aren’t involved in the onset of the development of type 2 diabetes (14Trusted Source 15Trusted Source).
Summary
The most controversial components that are found in Crystal Light comprise artificial sweeteners and colors. Although the FDA generally considers them safe, there are some who claim that sucralose, aspartame and other artificial colors do not have long-term proof and could cause negative effects.
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Are Crystal Light healthy?
While Crystal Light offers a flavorful method of breaking up your routine It appears that the majority of the options are made up of artificial sweeteners as well as colors that some consumers might prefer to stay clear of, particularly when used in large quantities.
These drinks don’t meet the criteria for healthy beverages, since they’re not a source of any health benefits, but there are better drinks that are available.
It is the Crystal Light Pure option, that uses more natural ingredients, is a superior option, even though it contains added sugar.
So, Crystal Light could certainly be enjoyed at times however plain water is the most effective way to satisfy your water needs.
If you’re bored with simple water, you could add flavor to it with fresh fruits, berries or cucumber. Alternately, you can go for a naturally-flavored seltzer water.
A SUMMARY
Crystal Light isn’t the worst offenders when it comes to drinks however it’s not healthy food. The best option for water is plain water or naturally flavored water, with Crystal Light as an occasional alternative.
The final line
Crystal Light is a low or no calorie powdered beverage mix that is promoted as a practical method to break the monotony of basic water and keep well-hydrated.
The ingredients used in Crystal Light are diverse but generally consist of sweeteners and preservatives that are not conventional and synthetic colors as well as flavors.
But, Crystal Light Pure offers powders made with sugar that contain natural flavors and colors and without preservatives.
For the average person who is healthy having a glass of Crystal Light occasionally is unlikely to cause problems. The best way to remain well hydrated is to drink water plain and then flavor your water with a couple of slices of fruit that is fresh like berries, cucumbers or cucumbers or opt for seltzer water.
