Smart Water is a bottled water which first came to market in 1996 in the United States. It uses a vapor distillation process to purify water in a similar way to the water cycle seen in nature. It is available in a number of countries across Europe, America, Australasiaand Asia.
Is Smart Water Healthy?
Smart Water guarantees it is free from sugar, sodium, gluten, fluoride, artificial flavors, artificial colors and GMOs. It also states it is free from the ‘big eight’ allergens which include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. It also meets all FDA bottled water regulations and standards of quality.
Smart Water does not make claims about the health benefits of drinking Smart Water, stating that their vapor-distilled process and added electrolytes are aimed at providing a great taste. As with all water, Smart Water is hydrating which is important for many aspects of health including immune function, digestion and skin health.
What does Smart Water do for you?
Standard Smart Water claims to offer ‘smart hydration’ for every occasion. It does not make additional health claims and focuses mostly on taste. Staying well hydrated is important to a wide range of crucial functions including regulating temperature, digestion, immune function and cognition.
There is an antioxidant version of Smart Water which has added selenium, an antioxidant which plays a key role in metabolism. There is also an alkaline version which some claim can have health and anti-aging benefits by neutralizing acid in your bloodstream. However these claims are controversial and mostly disputed by doctors and scientists, with research suggesting alkaline water is unlikely to significantly impact blood pH.
What makes Smart Water different?
The Smart Water ‘vapor distillation’ process is what sets Smart Water apart from the competition. While most water is bottled at the source, Smart Water is first purified before being heated into steam so that any remaining contaminants are left behind. It is then cooled down, the pH is balanced, and electrolytes are added to further enhance the taste.
This process is designed to mirror the hydrologic cycle of water in nature and aims to ‘create water that’s as pure as the first drop of rain’.
Smart Water FAQs:
One cause for concern could be the presence of plastic in bottled water. A 2018 study tested 11 globally sourced brands of bottled water purchased across 19 locations in nine different countries. After testing, 93% were found to have some signs of microplastic contamination. This isn’t specific to Smart Water of course - but is a potential cause for concern if you regularly drink water bottled in plastic.
| Sources |
| Smart Water information: https://www.drinksmartwater.com/faqs |
| Smart Water Alkaline: https://www.drinksmartwater.com/products/smartwater-alkaline |
| Smart Water Antioxidant: https://www.drinksmartwater.com/products/smartwater-antioxidant |
| Supporting info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaceau_Smartwater |
| Microplastic contamination: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6141690/ |