She Says: A Sub is a Sub is a Sub.
Good afternoon all! I decided to hold off on getting new sneakers because I think I want to go to a running store and get fitted and all that jazz. Hopefully this week I will get to it as this Sunday marks the first official “long run” of my half marathon training.
I just bought 10 SoBe Life 0 Calorie drinks at Target because they were $1 each and I got a $5 Target gift card in return. I’ve seen them in other stores for $1.69 each. They are “naturally sweetened” with PureVia, which is made from stevia. It’s times like this when I feel like a silly consumer, but what can you do. Anyway, I cannot drink things like this straight. I think stevia has an aftertaste, so what I do is pour a little bit in a big glass of water. I love water plain, but sometimes I want a little something in there.
I’ve tried most of the flavors now. They all kind of taste like melty popsicles, but like I said, I ike to add them to water. I do not like the Pear Apple Fuji and I think I like the Mango Melon best. Jenn did a Bender Family review recently.
As I mentioned, they have 0 calories and are sweetened with PureVia.
So the million dollar question is what is PureVia? From their website I learned that PureVia is “derived from stevia rebaudiana, or stevia, a plant native to Paraguay, South America ….The primary sweetener in PureVia™ is rebaudioside A, or Reb A which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf.”
Primary sweetner? What else is in there? Neither is made of just stevia, something I was first made aware of by Gena.
Side by side comparison of PureVia and Truvia that I found here.
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Other ingredient in both: Erythritol (a substitute low calorie sugar-alcohol sweetener) & natural flavors.
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Other ingredient in PureVia: Isomaltulose and Cellulose Powder
Moral of the story? I am not sure I have one. I am not a doctor, nor do I know about the health affects of these items. I don’t feel shaky or a stomach ache like I do with some other sugar-alcohols, but I do get an aftertaste, but my gut tells me these are barely better for me than splenda, etc. I guess I should suck it up and stick with water or get some straight up stev.
Just had some Cocoa Java Dr. Lankin’s Awesome Almonds that Kristina from Nikes and Ponytails sent me.
They really taste like coffee, which I kind of enjoy and am looking forward to the caffeine buzz! Now I’m off for a run. 
July 15th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Heather, do you like seltzer? I usually have some in the evenings to help break up the boringness of water. Or I add frozen fruit to water for some kick and something different.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I was wondering about stevia- I don’t think it’s authorised for sale in the UK (yet? who knows?)
Those almonds look great- I made my own a few days ago and love the coffee chocolate taste
July 15th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I like adding lemon, lime or orange wedges to water. My favorite is actually a lemon and an orange wedge at the same time
I use truvia from time to time but mostly just stick to things being unsweetened or I use honey or agave.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I get so frustrated with drinks…I just want an option other than water sometimes that tastes good and is not loaded with sugar/aritificial sweeteners. So hard to find!
I might have to check this out, though, just out of curiousity.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Those Cocoa Java Dr. Lankin’s Awesome Almonds look amazing! great way to get a caffeine fix!
July 15th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Silly consumer or not, thanks for the review! I don’t mind the taste/aftertaste of stevia so I think I’ll have to try these out sometime.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
m’mm the whole sugar substitute thing is such a mystery to me! but i do love those sobe life waters — regardless of what the heck is in it.. and i haven’t died yet so i think i’m okay with ‘em
July 15th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
interesting about the comparison and “other ingredients”.
add a slice of orange, lemon, or lime to your water! or some sliced apple, sliced grapes, etc.
have a good run!
July 15th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I’m on the fence about stevia. I don’t really like the flavor much and have been hearing that its not really much better for you than splenda. Oh well- I think a little bit of it is more than fine! Glad you found a fun water add in
Those almonds sound incredible.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Aw, thanks for the Bender family review shout out
I did not know that about Truvia and PureVia – thanks for pointing it out. I guess, like all things that promise “zero calorie,” a little research is always necessary! Glad you like the Mango Melon!
Mm, coffee flavored almonds? Sounds pretty “awesome” to me! Have fun on your run, Hangry Heather!
July 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I haven’t tried those yet. I do really like the Hint waters. They don’t have any sweeteners in them, just natural flavors and no colors. The flavor is really light but just enough to make it more interesting than regular water. They have a melon hibiscus flavor that I absolutely love.
July 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
i never drink coffee, but i love that flavor of it. and the smell! those almonds look yummy!
July 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I get confused by the ingredients so I stick to plain old fashioned water. Or I brew up a pot of tea and then stick it in the fridge and drink it with some ice if I want to be fancy
I’ve had those almonds and they’re delicious!
July 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Coffee in the form of almonds?! I need to find me some of those
Anything that gets me more java is a must have!
July 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
hmm, i had no idea stevia-based sweeteners had fake sugar! oh well, i get the same way about water sometimes though!
July 15th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Truvia confuses me. They were giving away those drinks in Times Square when I was there a few weeks ago. I thought it was too sweet.
July 15th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I get WICKED bad headaches from anything contain fake sugar.. especially aspartame but including stevia and his friends too. I wish we had some other agency apart from the FDA (which I have never trusted) to help us decipher what is good and what is bad. I will say that adding some to a bit of water sounds like a fab idea!
if you come up to rhodey rhode runners on south main does a good job fitting sneakers to ur foot/running type!
July 15th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I absolutely love the 0 cal Lifewaters (I like some of the ones with calories, too, but I don’t drink them because I don’t need to drink unnecessary calories). Unlike you, I do drink them straight, usually one a day. Walmart also carries them for $1, as does County Market (not sure if there is one in your area). My favorites are Mango Melon, Fuji Apple Pear, and Yumberry Pomegranate.
July 15th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
since you are always sharing great giveaways, wanted to make sure you stop by for some workout gear!
I love dr.lankins haven’t had them in awhile thanks once again for a good reminder!
July 15th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Shoot, I feel a bit uneducated because I did not know that about how Truvia was made. I hate that I fell prey to their marketing whims…. guess plain Stevia is better but nothing is best?
July 16th, 2009 at 12:22 am
I definitely think Stevia straight up has an aftertaste, so if you are sensitive to that, it might not be enjoyable for you.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:47 am
There was a really interesting article on artificial sweeteners and stevia blends in the New York Times a while back: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/dining/15sweet.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=stevia&st=cse
I love to add a slice of orange to my water. It is so refreshing to me!
July 16th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Wow, those almonds look amazing. They remind me of the candied nuts cart that was right outside the T stop that I took everyday in Boston. I usually bought the nuts as a T ride home snack. Mmmmmmm!
July 16th, 2009 at 4:41 am
YAY for half marathon training! new shoes definitely are appropriate. i am excited to see what you get!
i will play devils advocate about your comment on sticking to water or stevia — how about just a small splash of natural juice like pomegranate, a lemon wedge, OJ, etc? while drinking tons of juice straight adds a lot of calories, 1-2 oz mixed with water or sparkling water (my favorite) definitely doesn’t, and it tastes great after a run.
sometimes i really wonder what fake sugars do to the body’s ability to regular blood sugar (ie, effects on hunger levels and energy).
July 16th, 2009 at 5:29 am
those almonds DO look amazing…never had em.
and, alas, I know that as much as I adore my sparkling water w/splenda it is terrible for me as far as sparking cravings for SUGAR (not to mention the chemicals and the fact it doesnt slake my thirst).
July 16th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Thanks for that review. I had heard about the new sobe and wanted to try it but I am not so sure now. I like buying fizzy water and adding lemon, lime or both and a little stevia for a homemade sprite
~Justine
July 16th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Good to know about the Purvia/Truvia I have had a couple of those drinks and was fine with the taste. I just assumed that Purvia and Truvia were just straight Stevia. Guess I’ll just stick to plain old water!
July 16th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Sarah: I do that sometimes with juice and water as well.