This Drink Brand Wants To Help You Hit Your Daily Vitamin D Requirement
Per the National Center for Biotechnology Information, more than 35% of the U.S. adult population lives with a vitamin D deficiency. This is significant because of the role vitamin D plays in supporting bone and teeth health, and in bolstering the immune system. A vitamin D deficiency can cause bone diseases including osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. The Cleveland Clinic reports that those lacking the vitamin are also at an increased risk for heart disease and depression. For these reasons, it's wise to ensure we get an adequate amount of the vitamin daily.
People acquire vitamin D mostly through exposure to sunlight, but can also get the sunshine vitamin by way of supplements. A beverage called ShineWater is touting itself as a way to get 100% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin D without having to take a supplement. The name ShineWater, along with its trademarked slogan, "Sunshine in a Bottle," are references to sunlight being a natural source of vitamin D.
Unlike other sugary beverages that market themselves as health or sports drinks, ShineWater claims on its website that it contain no sugar or artificial ingredients.
ShineWater was developed by an FDA physician
Per an announcement obtained by Mashed, ShineWater was created by FDA physician Phillip Davis, who envisioned it as a way to help address the vitamin D deficiencies that he was seeing in his patients (per ShineWater). Dr. Davis worked with other professionals to develop the beverage, and after taking the product through clinical trials, ShineWater was born.
In 2021 ShineWater expanded its marketing reach by partnering with beverage industry titan Anheuser-Busch's network, ABONE, which is looking to further diversify beyond alcoholic drinks in response to decreasing beer sales, via Food Ingredients First. The vitamin-packed beverage is available at select retailers nationwide for a suggested price of $2.49 per bottle, and it comes in a variety of fruit flavors including mixed berry acai, strawberry lemon, and coconut lime.
While sunlight might be the best way for many to acquire a sufficient amount of vitamin D, depending of course on the weather, ShineWater offers another alternative for people to obtain adequate levels of vitamin D when sunlight isn't an option.