Water consumption is crucial for overall health and well-being.
But not everyone appreciates the flavor, or lack thereof, of plain water.
They might look for other ways to drink more fluids.
Water-enhancing goods like MiO have gained popularity because they can flavor water without adding calories or sugar.
In this article, we define MiO, describe its applications, and examine its potential health benefits.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ A concentrated substance called MiO is used to flavor water.
✅ It could encourage you to consume more water during the day without consuming additional sugars or calories.
✅ All four product lines are kosher and vegetarian-friendly, and three of them are caffeine-free.
✅ Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) and sucralose are artificial sweeteners that are present in the majority of its products.
✅ As these sweeteners continue to be divisive food additives, this calls into question both their environmental safety and health benefits.
✅ The decision to use MiO is entirely up to you. Just remember that there are healthy substitutes available that don’t contain extra sugars and preservatives, such as herbs and fruit.
What exactly is MiO?
The Kraft Heinz food company produces a liquid water enhancer called MiO.
The word “Mio,” which may be translated from Spanish or Italian to mean “my,” is said to signify the ability of users to create their water into whatever they like, according to the firm.
MiO claims to be the first water enhancer of its kind. It has four product categories and a variety of flavors (2):
- Original MiO
- MiO Supplements
- Electrolytes MiO
- The MiO Energy
Every option is vegetarian-friendly and kosher. Plus, all of them — excluding the MiO Energy range — are caffeine-free.
What is used to create MiO?
The vitamin B3, B6, and B12 content of three of the four MiO product lines—Electrolytes, Vitamins, and Energy—is said to be 10% of your daily requirements.
There are various flavors for each product line. The artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) are included in the majority of tastes. The MiO Vitamins range only offers two of the five tastes as “naturally sweetened” with stevia leaf extract.
Caffeine is only present in one product line, MiO Energy. It has eight flavors, two of which include coffee, and each serving has 60 mg of caffeine. Also included in every Energy flavor are ginseng, guarana, and taurine.
What does it do?
Dehydration affects 16 to 28 percent of adults on average, with older people being more susceptible.
Dehydration can impair cognitive and physical function and may be related to chronic disorders. Maintaining proper hydration is crucial since severe dehydration may possibly necessitate hospitalization.
Utilizing a taste enhancer like MiO may increase your daily water intake if you have trouble getting enough to drink. Depending on the product, each bottle of MiO has merely 1.62 ounces (48 mL) but offers 10–24 servings.
Here is a quick guide on how to use this product:
- Portion size. Half a teaspoon (2 mL) of MiO flavors 8 ounces (237 mL) of water in one serving.
- Weed it out. The purpose of this concentrated liquid is to flavor water. As a result, it should be diluted rather than ingested straight from the container.
- Mix it. You can combine any MiO flavor as you like, just don’t combine them with alcohol.
- Expiration. After opening, MiO must be used within 30 days. Since it does not require refrigeration, you may take it everywhere you go.
- Storage. Don’t leave it in your car because the heat will degrade the product’s quality. Similarly, MiO shouldn’t be frozen in its natural state, even though the manufacturer advises making MiO-flavored ice cubes.
- Travel. It is advertised as being safe and practical for travel because of its spill-proof lid, which closes with an audible double click. MiO can be brought on a plane, although it can spill because to changes in air pressure during flight.
- Recycling. The bottle is made of #7 plastics and is recyclable.
Calories and flavors
You can consume MiO without being concerned about consuming too many calories or gaining weight.
The MiO product lines come in a range of tastes, from iced java and açai berry in the Energy line to black cherry and lemonade in the Original line.
You can buy a variety pack in several internet stores to select your favorite flavor. This gives you the chance to explore several possibilities while possibly making some savings.
Potential advantages and drawbacks
The sweeteners used in MiO, Ace-K, Sucralose, and Stevia Leaf Extract, are all deemed generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their safety is still a subject of current investigation.
Sucrose and Ace-K
LNCS (low and no-calorie sweeteners) give sweetness to meals and beverages without increasing caloric intake.
It’s interesting to note that sucralose from LNCS is 385–650 times sweeter than sucrose, the common name for table sugar. This implies that very little sugar is required to sweeten meals or beverages.
Despite their potent sweetness and lack of calories, their use is still debatable, and both their environmental and health benefits are frequently questioned.
A 2020 evaluation, for instance, revealed that Ace-K persists in the environment for a long time. It is currently thought to be a low threat to aquatic life.
It’s also important to note that Ace-K altered the gut flora and caused male mice to gain weight in experiments using mice. To find out if it also negatively affects human health, more research on humans is required.
Initially, it was thought that artificial sweeteners did not affect blood sugar or insulin levels because they were not absorbed by the body. However, investigations on both humans and animals have now demonstrated that sucralose is partially digested and affects insulin and blood sugar levels.
Sucralose may also have mild mutagenesis potential, according to small rat research. A mutagenic substance may raise your body’s risk for cancer and DNA mutations. However, to discover whether these results also apply to humans, more human study is required.
Stevia
Stevia is a plant-based alternative. It comes from the South American native Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, which is then extracted and refined. Despite being 50–350 times sweeter than normal sugar, it is non-cariogenic, which means that it does not promote tooth decay.
The least researched LCNS to date is stevia. It has however been demonstrated to lessen hunger and not raise blood sugar levels after meals.
Although further human studies are required, it is also being looked into for potential therapeutic advantages, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive effects.
Can you consistently consume MiO?
MiO might be okay to use on a regular basis if your budget and flavor preferences work with it. According to recent studies, selecting the ones sweetened with Stevia might have the fewest dangers. This is due to ongoing research into the health effects of the other artificial sweeteners used, Ace-K and sucralose.
Your general diet and general health should be taken into account when determining whether MiO is a good fit for you and whether you can consume it on a daily basis.
However, remember that using MiO is not mandatory. The most natural way to improve your water intake is not by using this product.
What alternatives are there available?
Without using any artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives — like those included in MiO — there are numerous ways to organically flavor water.
Try sparkling water or fruit and herb infusions, for instance. If you decide to make fruit infusions, let the components around 4 hours to steep.
Here are some suggestions for flavored water:
- Basil leaves and slices of lime or lemon
- Apples and sticks of cinnamon
- Slices of cucumber and lemongrass
- Vanilla bean or vanilla extract and orange slices
- Berries and pineapple