We can find water almost everywhere we go.  We can drink out of drinking fountains, get tap water and numerous kinds of bottled water, but what are we really paying for?  Listed below are a variety of different options that are available at almost every grocery store, gas station and convenience store around.  Look to see what you are drinking.

Zero-calorie options:  These drink options are good for those who want to drink a beverage with zero calories and maybe a little flavor or carbonation.

· Purified Drinking Water can come from any source (spring water, well water, seawater, or municipal water) and is processed to contain no dissolved solids.  Some name brands include Dasani, Aquafina, and Nestle Pure Life (Nestle Pure Life has been re-mineralized for taste).

· Natural spring water comes from a natural spring.  Sometimes natural spring water has mineral content.  Some name brands include Deer Park, Evian, Fiji, and Spring by Dannon.

· Distilled water is water that has almost all of its impurities removed through distillation.  This water is boiled then evaporated and the vapor is condensed to make distilled water.  This water is free of most minerals, though, so another water choice may be more beneficial to get some minerals.  Many beverage companies use distilled water to assure purity and taste.  This is sold mostly in jugs.

· Mineral Water is water that contains minerals.  This can alter its taste and sometimes gives therapeutic value.  Some mineral waters are carbonated.  A brand that you can get is Perrier.

· Sparking water is carbonated.  Some sparkling waters are sweetened with aspartame, which gives them flavor.  Some name brands include La Croix and Crystal Clear.  Sparkling water is also sold in cans at your grocery store.

· Seltzer water is carbonated mineral water.  One name brand at Kroger is Vintage.

· Tonic water is carbonated water flavored with a very small amount of quinine, which gives it a bitter taste.  NOTE: Tonic water has 90 calories per serving unless you get Diet Tonic Water.  The diet tonic water contains saccharin.  Some name brands of Tonic Water are Golden Crown and Schweppes.

· Club soda is either identical to plain carbonated water or may contain small amounts of additives such as salt for taste.  Some name brands include Canada Dry, Schweppes, and Big K.

· Fruit2O is a non-carbonated water that is fruit-flavored with sucralose, or Splenda®.  Fruit20 also comes in Fruit20 +10, which contains 10 vitamins and minerals.  Beware that most of the vitamin content contains only about 10% of your recommended daily value, though.

Low-calorie options: These drink mixes are a good option for those who want a little bit of flavor in the water they are drinking without adding too many calories. 

· Crystal Light Drink Mix contains five calories per serving, and is sweetened with aspartame or sucralose (Splenda®).

· Wylers Light Drink Mix is a brand similar to Crystal Light drink mix.  It contains five calories per serving.

· Store brand sugar-free performance mix also has five calories per serving, so it does not contain more “energy” (calories) per serving than the other drink mixes.

· Propel Fitness Drink contains 10 calories per serving and about 30 per 700 mL bottle, and Propel Calcium contains the same amount of calcium in 700 mL (about 24 ounces) as an 8 ounce glass of milk- 300 mg of calcium.  Each serving provides 10% of your adequate intake amount of Vitamins B6, B12, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.

Energy Drinks: These drinks are a good choice if you are looking for a drink that will provide you with some calories during your workout, and if your body can handle a bit of extra sodium and potassium.

· Gatorade Thirst Quencher contains 50 calories per 8 ounces.  It also contains 110mg sodium and 30mg potassium per serving.  It contains 14g total carbohydrates.  This is beneficial for during hard training or competition to replace lost energy stores and electrolytes.

· Gatorade Endurance Formula contains 75 calories per 12 ounces. However, it contains 135 mg of sodium and 300 mg of potassium, so be aware of that if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems.

· Powerade Advance contains 98 calories per bottle (12 ounces).  There is a little less sodium and potassium in this drink, which contains 47 mg of potassium and 78 milligrams of sodium.

· Powerade Light is a good alternative drink for less calories.  Powerade Light has 42 calories per 12 ounces, but still has 43 milligrams of potassium and 84 milligrams of sodium.