If you’ve been eyeing that fruit bottle of Hint Water and wondering if it’s secretly hard on your kidneys, you’re not alone. Questions like this pop up because anything that tastes good and appears healthy often sparks suspicion. Let’s clear this up with the facts.
This blog article is not sponsored or endorsed by Hint Water or any of its affiliated companies. Just an honest look at the facts by a registered dietitian.
Table of Contents
The Short Answer
No – Hint Water is not bad for your kidneys.
It’s simply purified water with infused natural fruit essences.
There’s no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no dyes.
For most people it’s just a tasty way to stay hydrated.
The only caveat: if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or another medical condition that requires a fluid restriction, you should always follow your doctor’s specific guidelines.
Common Concerns about Hint Water and Kidneys
It’s natural to question anything that isn’t plain water. Here are a few common concerns.
“Flavored water must be full of chemicals”
Not in this case. Hint® uses natural fruit oils and essences. No artificial additives.
Propylene Glycol in Hint Water
A lawsuit in 2017 alleged that the propylene glycol used in Hint Water, which would make the “all-natural” terms used in their marketing false advertising.
However, propylene glycol is considered safe for food, drugs, and cosmetics. In the context of flavored water, it can be used as a flavor enhancer or flavoring agent.
Propylene glycol is safe when used according to FDA guidelines.
“Fruit flavoring could harm my kidneys”
The flavors are highly diluted extracts, not concentrated juices or syrups.
This means the amount of potassium is insignificant, even if you’re on a low potassium diet.
Benefits
As we have addressed that Hint Water is not bad for kidneys, here are some benefits of including Hint Water and other flavored waters.
Hydration
Hint Water and most other flavored waters are a great way to stay hydrated.
Water should be the primary source of hydration. This can include flavored waters.
Safe Swap for Soda
For those that are fans of sugar-sweetened beverages, flavored waters are a great way to add variety to hydration and cut back on added sugars.
In fact, research shows the more sugar-sweetened beverages like soda a person drinks, the higher risk of death.
Just swapping one soda per day with an unsweetened beverage like coffee, tea, water, or low- or non-fat milk reduced the risk of death by up to 25%.
Important Considerations about Hint Water and Kidneys
While the general consensus is that Hint Water is not bad for kidneys, there are a few things to remember.
Fluid Restrictions
Fluid restrictions may be necessary to reduce cardiovascular complications and protect the kidneys.
Follow your doctor’s fluid guidance when it comes to understanding how much to drink. A fluid restriction includes all types of fluids.
Phosphorus & Potassium
While some may need to follow a low potassium diet or low phosphorus diet, Hint Water does not include significant amounts of either.
Keep in mind, however, that companies may change their product and ingredients without notice.
Therefore, check the ingredients of all beverages you choose, including Hint Water to be certain they do not have added phosphates or potassium.
Summary
Hint Water is not bad for kidneys. It is a good option for flavored water. At this time, Hint Water flavors do not have phosphate or potassium additives.
For a more comprehensive article about drinks for people with CKD, read our article Good Drinks for Kidneys.
Jen Hernandez is a registered dietitian, board-certified specialist in renal nutrition, and author of Plant-Powered Kidney Nutrition: Proven Methods and Easy Recipes to Support Your Kidney Health (available on Amazon). She has nearly a decade of experience with kidney disease patients in all stages - from stage 1 through kidney transplant. Jen writes on the blog of Plant-Powered Kidneys to help reach and teach more kidney patients about how they can enjoy more foods in a plant-based diet while protecting kidney health.
