Drink to your health

By PAIGE HERMAN and MARIE KUECHEL
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
You see them everywhere you look: bottled beverages that claim everything from health to beauty benefits. Read the label of any nutraceutical beauty beverage and you'll find water mixed with a plethora of vitamins, antioxidants and rare herbal extracts. Most researchers claim these wonder waters and good-for-you sodas have no real health benefit, yet hydrating yourself is essential. So as you are taking in those essential fluids, why not reap some potential beauty benefits as well? Cheers!

FOR ENERGY

THE DRINK: OGO Oxygen Water

WHAT IT DOES: This natural spring water claims to increase oxygen levels in your body, in turn boosting energy and helping to detoxify.

HOW IT WORKS: A patented process during bottling heats and quickly chills the water to capture the oxygen molecules, supplying the body with 35 times more oxygen than regular water. $2.59 per bottle; ogolife.com

THE DRINK: TAB Energy

WHAT IT DOES: This pink, five-calorie, carbonated drink is designed especially for women to rev up energy levels.

HOW IT WORKS: Ginseng and guarana extract as well as taurine (an amino acid found in meats and seafood) are said to increase energy and boost alertness. Approximately $1.79 per drink; grocery stores nationwide

TO FIGHT WRINKLES

THE DRINK: airforce Nutrisoda Radiant

WHAT IT DOES: According to the manufacturer, it improves and maintains skin elasticity and firmness.

HOW IT WORKS: Amino acids like L-lysine stimulate collagen production, vitamin D nourishes the skin, alpha lipoic acid fights free radicals and green tea protects against environmental damage and premature aging. $2 per can; nutrisoda.com

FOR GLOWING SKIN

THE DRINK: Borba Clarifying Skin Balance Water

WHAT IT DOES: Borba claims it frees pores of impurities while reducing blemishes and softening skin.

HOW IT WORKS: A blend of walnut husk extract stimulates the removal of toxins, and pomegranate and green tea extracts reduce redness and irritation, while retinyl palmitate, a vitamin A supplement, helps keep skin clear. $2.50 per bottle; sephora.com

THE DRINK: Pom Tea

WHAT IT DOES: Studies have shown pomegranate promotes heart health and neutralizes the effects of free-radical damage.

HOW IT WORKS: From the creators of Pom Wonderful juice, this ready-to-drink iced tea contains POMx, a highly concentrated form of polyphenol antioxidants, including flavonoids and tannins derived from pomegranates. $2.99 per drink; pomwonderful.com

DID YOU KNOW: Pomegranate juice is one of the oldest-known natural remedies. Doctors in ancient Greece would prescribe it as an anti-inflammatory and as a cough suppressant.

Paige Herman and Marie Kuechel are editors of New Beauty, a semi-annual magazine about cosmetic enhancement. Reach them at editors (at)newbeauty.com. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com