Plain water does not appeal to everybody. Hence, sometimes people look for alternatives to retain their fluid intake and prevent dehydration.
An easy trick to do this is to replace regular water with flavor-induced water.
MiO is a water-enhancing product by Kraft Heinz that adds flavor to your water without increasing its calories.
It has become popular in circles where the plain taste of water is disliked. However, since it is calorie-free, people also use it as a sports drink to lose weight.
MiO is not bad for weight loss. If anything, it is good as it provides hydration without burdening you with extra calories.
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What Does MiO Mean?
MiO translates to ‘mine’ in Spanish or Italian.
The company advertises this product as having the ability to transform a regular drink into whatever you want it to be.
Hence the name ‘MiO’ is quite apt for this water-enhancing product.
What Does MiO Products Contain?
The product’s main ingredients include citric acid, propylene glycol, natural flavors, artificial sweeteners, and food dyes Red 40 and Blue 1.
MiO products fulfill roughly 10% of your daily vitamins B3, B6, and B12 requirements. It has four product lines, namely:
- MiO Original
- MiO Electrolytes
- MiO Vitamins
- MiO Energy
Each product line offers multiple flavors. Most flavors are artificially sweetened using acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) and sucralose.
The ‘naturally sweetened’ products use stevia leaf extracts for sweetening and are sweeter than regular MiO products.
Except for MiO Energy, none of the other products contain caffeine.
Each squeeze of MiO Energy used to flavor eight fl. oz. of water contains 60 milligrams of caffeine to help you get through the day.
It also contains guarana, taurine, and ginseng. These substances are generally found together in products and are known to enhance energy levels.
Each of these substances accounts for less than 2% of the product’s total weight.
MiO Electrolytes contain electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. It comes in four flavors.
How To Drink MiO?
Since it is a highly concentrated liquid, it cannot be drunk directly from the container.
MiO needs to be diluted with water to be consumed. One serving of it means half a teaspoon of MiO to flavor 8 ounces of water.
It shouldn’t be left in cars or kept frozen as extreme conditions can affect the quality of the container and the product inside.
MiO does not need to be refrigerated and should ideally be consumed within 30 days of opening it.
What Are The Side Effects Of Drinking MiO?
Those who are susceptible to heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms may experience a burning sensation after drinking it.
Other problems can include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Artificial sweeteners used in the products are also known to increase the risk of having a stroke, coronary diseases, and high blood pressure.
Although health hazards from artificial sweeteners are unusual, and MiO is generally considered safe to drink, it’s best to be cautious.
Naturally sweetened flavors that contain stevia are considered to possess little to no health risk.
In fact, they have many potential health benefits. Hence, it can be safer to opt for those flavors which contain natural sweeteners.
Can Flavoured Water Make You Gain Weight?
Flavored water can make you gain weight. However, the MiO-infused water is sugar-free and calorie-free, which is proven to help in weight loss.
It is high in electrolytes and Vitamin B, which helps with hydration. The increased hydration is known to aid weight loss in a number of ways.
Because MiO flavored water has no calories, you can minimize your caloric intake by substituting it for other calorie-containing beverages.
If you want to lose weight but do not want to give up on flavored beverages like juices and sodas, MiO is a healthy and fun alternative.
Hydration makes you feel full, which helps you avoid overeating. It reduces the amount of food you consume while also keeping you satisfied.
It boosts your metabolism and assists in breaking down fats and lipids through the process of lipolysis.
Since it contains zero calories, it does not promote weight gain even on daily consumption.
Is MiO For Everybody?
MiO is generally considered safe to drink for everybody.
This includes children and pregnant women, except for MiO Energy products, which contain a small quantity of caffeine and should not be given to children.
Because all flavors have 0g of carbohydrate per serving and are considered a free exchange, MiO can be an ideal beverage alternative for those with diabetes.
Nevertheless, it is still always better to consult a doctor for medical advice before consuming such products.
All MiO products are vegetarian-friendly and Kosher certified. Hence, they can be used by literally everybody!
Are MiO Products Healthy?
Ingredients such as citric acid, propylene glycol, and natural sweeteners pose no serious health concerns if consumed in moderate amounts.
But on the other hand, artificial sweeteners and food dyes may pose a greater risk.
Both artificial sweeteners, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium, meet the safety standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, they have been demonstrated to disturb the gut microbiome and affect blood sugar and insulin levels.
Food dyes are highly controversial because of their health risks, but they are nonetheless present in a wide range of processed foods.
Carcinogenic chemicals and hypersensitivity responses in animals have been related to Red 40.
In Europe, Red 40 is prohibited, and food goods containing the component must bear a warning label.
Animal studies have shown that Blue 1 is also connected to hypersensitivity reactions.
Food dyes have yet to be proven to have any short or long-term health effects, although many health professionals are doubtful.
There are potential health risks associated with the ingredients used in MiO products. Hence, they can only be considered healthy if consumed in moderation and avoided on a regular basis.
To sum up, everything that has been stated, drinking MiO is a great way to stay hydrated and lose weight.
However, its long-term usage can present health risks, so it is better to be safe than sorry.
