Since the 80's, people have been using Crystal Light to give their water a little bit of extra flavor. Crystal Light comes in powder form--you add it to your water to give it a nice taste. While it is low in calories and very convenient, many people wonder, "Is Crystal Light bad for you? Well, today we are taking a closer look at Crystal Light. What is in it? What does it do to your body?

What Are the Harmful Ingredients of Crystal Light?

You may be asking yourself, "Is Crystal Light healthy?” We are here to tell you that a lot of ingredients in Crystal Light are not good for your body.

1. Citric Acid

You have no doubt heard of citric acid. In Crystal Light, it is used to help preserve it. Citric acid is actually a rather weak acid, but it can cause some abdominal pain, indigestion, and it can even give you a sore throat. If you consume Crystal Light and other citric acid high drinks regularly, it can actually start to cause erosion of your tooth enamel.

2. Malic Acid

To be fair, malic acid is one of the least harmful parts of Crystal Light. Malic acid can cause worse problems if you consume a lot of it. So, if you are pounding down many glasses of Crystal Light, then you can start to have problems with nausea and diarrhea. These might be attributed to malic acid.

3. Potassium Citrate

Potassium citrate is used in Crystal Light to help with its acidity. However, the problem with potassium citrate is that it makes you need to urinate more. It is actually used by doctors to help treat kidney stones. So do not be surprised if shortly after you drink a glass of Crystal Light you are peeing it out!

4. Potassium Sorbate

This ingredient is not even a natural additive! It is a manmade compound. As well as nausea and diarrhea, it can also lead to nutrient deficiencies. Next time someone wonders "Is crystal light bad for you?” You can tell them that it contains potassium sorbate, an ingredient which is not good for you.

5. Soy Lecithin

Soy lecithin is an emulsifier, and many, many different products use it. Does this shed any light on our topic today: "Is Crystal Light healthy?” Well, since soy lecithin is one of the ingredients, we see that it is nowhere near as healthy as they would like you to think. In extreme cases, soy lecithin can cause problems with the reproductive system.

6. Color

What we are talking about here? Tartrazine, which is what Crystal Light uses for its color, can cause many, many problems. Insomnia, heart problems, hot flashes, and anxiety are just some of the more common and well-known issues that tartrazine can cause.

Recommended Tastiest and Healthiest Drinks

While we know that Crystal Light may be cheap, easy, and low in calories, it clearly is not something you want to be putting into your body on a regular basis. While you should always speak to a doctor if you have any concerns. We want to share with you some drinks that are not only tasty, but are also healthy.

1. Alo Drink

Not only does Alo Drink come in all kinds of good flavors, it is also very well made. They use sea buckthorn berry, which is great for you. It can keep your skin looking good, help with digestion, and help your muscles feel good.

2. Harmless Harvest Coconut Water

More and more people are realizing just how tasty coconut water is--and you do not get any better than Harmless Harvest Coconut Water. It does contain a little sugar, so don't have six bottles each day. However, Harmless Harvest Coconut Water is great if you want a drink that is good for you and will make you feel super hydrated.

3. Celestial Seasonings Kombucha

Packed with B vitamins and made with a combination of organic black tea, natural sugars, and SCOBY, Celestial Seasonings Kombucha is delicious. It comes in many different flavors and it can even help with your blood sugar levels.

4. Dry Soda

A soda? Really? Well, yes. If you absolutely must have a soda, instead of going for a Coke, try Dry Soda. Natural flavors, carbonated water, and a sprinkle of sugar--these are the only ingredients used to make Dry Soda. This makes it the best soda if you want to be hydrated and not put a ton of harmful additives into your body.

5. PitayaPlus Super Juice

PitayaPlus Super Juice is awesome. They mix two things together, such as pitaya and mango, to make one great taste. PitayaPlus Super Juice is packed with antioxidants, making it great for the body. One bottle has as many antioxidants as 100 blueberries. Not only is this good for you (and very tasty), the people who make it are also very environmentally conscious--which is cool.

So is Crystal Light bad for you? Well, clearly, the number of different ingredients that they put in there can cause you harm if you consume Crystal Light on a regular basis. In all honesty, you are better off looking at healthier alternatives. Speak with your doctor, check out the five suggestions we have listed today, and do some research. There are a ton of healthy drinks out there, and you can find some that are not only good for your body, but also treat your taste buds, too.