Water, Water Everywhere, but Can It Boost Your Brain?

March 6, 2009— -- Chances are you've seen the bright bottles and flashy displays at your supermarket: Vitamin Water … Sobe Life … Oxygen Water … waters with protein and fiber … even waters that offer to cure your hangover or pump up your sexual vitality.

Water may be the oldest drink there is, but enhanced bottled waters are the newest, hottest thing in beverages.

The enhanced water category has become a $1.5 billion industry, with more than 150 products available, says Barry Nathanson, editor of the trade publication Beverage Spectrum. The question: Are there any benefits?

Nutritionist Dr. Pamela Peeke believes that you should think before you drink.

While a little more water can't be bad, some of the purported pluses these enhanced waters tout might not entirely live up to the hype, she says.

For example, what health benefits come from adding more oxygen to water -- as in Active O2? Peeke said you can easily have 10 times more oxygen just by breathing in and out than you'd get by consuming one of these oxygenated waters.

"The bottom line is if you wanted more oxygen, open your mouth and breathe," she said.

Vitamin Water is the country's best-selling enhanced water -- it's even endorsed by such celebrities as Shaquille O'Neal and Carrie Underwood. But along with the water's vitamins, Peeke says it packs another punch too: calories. In fact, an entire 20 oz. bottle of Vitamin Water has 32.5 grams of sugar, just 6½ grams less than the sugars in a 12 oz. can of Coke.

So, are these healthy beverages?

"Define healthy for me," Peeke said. "There's no peer-reviewed research that we're aware of that says in those kinds of combinations and percentages of vitamins and refined sugar, that you're going to suddenly become healthy."

Coca-Cola, the maker of Vitamin Water, told ABC News in a statement that "we don't make health claims beyond nutrient content claims for our products. We state very clearly on our label what's in our product and consumers can be sure they are receiving the nutrients listed in each bottle of Vitamin Water."