When I first heard there was a new bottled water called SmartWater I pretty much choked in exasperation. Just another marketing gimmick from the same company that brought us the sugar infused “Vitamin”Water. With all of my skepticism I refused to buy a bottle or even try it, until last week. One of my girlfriends was carrying a huge bottle back stage before our performance last weekend. She swore up and down that it really was amazing water that she religiously buys and drinks by the truckload.

A few days later my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to try it. To my surprise I could actually taste and feel the difference!! I have never tasted water so pure and refreshing. I could actually feel the water spread and hydrate through my digestive track. It was nuts!

So what’s so magnificent about SmartWater compared to other brands? It’s all in the process. Instead of collecting and bottling spring water that is contaminated, to some extent, by run off and the creatures that inhabit it, SmartWater is generated through a vapor distilling process. Glaceau recreated the cycle that occurs naturally among the clouds in the lab to create water as fresh as rain drops. After the distillation, electrolytes are added.

Sounds great, but what the hell are electrolytes anyway and why are they such a selling point? After digging up some research I found that electrolytes are basically the product of what happens when a salt is dissolved in a solvent like water. Sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are examples of a few of the key electrolytes. Our bodies need electrolytes because they regulate the hydration of the body, blood pH, and are critical for nerve and muscle function. Hence, why the electrolytes in SmartWater and sports drinks like Gatorade will increase your bodies ability to stay hydrated. It totally makes sense!

So, while I am a devoted Sigg reusable water bottle user and tap water drinker, I think I just might have to splurge on SmartWater every now and then. See what you think… oh yeah and don’t forget to recycle!