Is Bubbl’r Good For You? A Dietitian’s Review

I was recently asked by someone on Instagram: is Bubbl’r good for you? 

As a registered dietitian, I needed to know more about these cutely packaged drinks. They claim to be an antioxidant sparkling water but are they actually healthy or are they just good at marketing? 

In this blog post, I’ll dive into what’s in Bubbl’r and whether or not they’re healthy.

What is Bubbl’r?

Bubbl’r is an antioxidant sparkling water. It’s made by the US-based company Bubbl’r. 

These sparkling waters are available in several different flavors such as Watermelon Lime, Peach Raspberry, Wild Cherry Chill, Tropical Dream, Triple Berry Breez, and more. They’re sold on their website, and other major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Amazon. At my local Target, the price is $6.89 for a 6 pack – so they’re slightly more than $1 for each 12 oz can. 

Bubbl’r boasts that it’s “bubbles with benefits”, citing these benefits:

• Immune support
• Low glycemic
• Gluten free
• Soy free
• Vegan

It also touts that Bubbl’r features natural flavors and colors, no artificial sweeteners, and naturally sourced caffeine. 

Sounds good, right? Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside Bubbl’r antioxidant sparkling water drinks.

What’s in Bubbl’r Drinks?

Bubbl’r antioxidant sparkling waters come in multiple different flavor options. Each flavor, however, contains essentially the same ingredients and nutrition facts. 

Each 12-oz can of Bubbl’r will give you 5 calories and approximately 7 to 8 grams of total carbohydrates. There’s zero grams of added sugar. 

Among the ingredients list, there’s a few notable ingredients in these antioxidant sparkling waters that I’ll outline below. 

Vitamin A

Each 12 oz can of Bubbl’r contains 450 mcg vitamin A palmitate. This is 50% of the recommended daily value of vitamin A for adult men and 64% for adult women, respectively. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. It plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy vision, skin, and immune function while also acting as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals. This ingredient is why they can call Bubbl’r an antioxidant sparkling water.

Food sources of vitamin A include several foods such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, fortified dairy, mango, cantaloupe, and red peppers. 

In the United States, vitamin A deficiency is very rare. Since it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, excess vitamin A can build up in the body and lead to acute vitamin A toxicity. While this isn’t super common, it is a possibility to be aware of…especially if you’re combining drinks like Bubbl’r with high vitamin A foods and dietary supplements like multivitamins that have vitamin A added. 

B Vitamins

Each 12-oz can of Bubbl’r contains approximately 50% of an adult’s recommended daily value for a few different B vitamins: niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. 

B vitamins are involved in a lot of different functions in our bodies. They’re commonly added to energy drinks to boost energy levels and improve focus and mental clarity. While they’re thought to boost energy levels like caffeine does, B vitamins actually increase energy levels indirectly by helping your body break down carbs, protein, and fats from the food you eat into usable energy.

Unlike vitamin A, B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins. If you’re deficient in any of these vitamins, a dietary supplement or drink like this could help. However, if you get adequate amounts of these vitamins through your diet or other dietary supplements, your body will just flush out the extra B vitamins that it doesn’t need through your urine.

Sweeteners

Bubbl’r boasts that it contains zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners…but it has to use something to give it that sweet taste. Erythritol and stevia are used to sweeten this drink, which I do tend to personally opt for over other artificial sweeteners. 

Caffeine

Among the ingredients, there’s both “caffeine” and “guarana seed extract” listed. Guarana seed extract is often used in energy drinks to provide a natural caffeine source to boost energy levels. When caffeine is listed as a standalone ingredient, it typically means that it’s synthetically made caffeine. Synthetic caffeine and natural caffeine are identical so it really doesn’t matter. But it’s just something to note: the term “natural caffeine” is typically used as a marketing tactic since it’s typically perceived as healthier. 

One can of Bubbl’r has about 69 mg of caffeine, which is slightly less than your average 8oz cup of coffee that contains about 95mg of caffeine. For most healthy adults, it’s advised to stay under 400 mg of caffeine per day, so this drink is well within those guidelines. For some people, too much caffeine can cause issues such as increased heart rate, anxiety, and jitteriness. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, the caffeine content of Bubbl’r is something to be aware of. 

Is Bubbl’r Good For You?

Bubbl’r antioxidant sparkling waters contain the necessary ingredients to provide a boost in energy. When you consider other energy drink alternatives, I’d consider Bubbl’r to be a better option compared to traditional energy drinks. For context, traditional Red Bull contains 110 calories and 26 grams of added sugar. Bubbl’r contains 5 calories, no added sugar, and no artificial sweeteners. 

While Bubbl’r may contain added nutrients like vitamin A and B vitamins, if you already eat a balanced diet or take a multivitamin, you likely don’t need these extras. These ingredients also can’t replace the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle for overall health.

So while I wouldn’t necessarily say these energy drinks are healthy in the same way that I’d say broccoli or an avocado are good for you, I would say they’re a better option if you’re looking for a low calorie drink that provides a boost of energy. 

The next question to ask though: are Bubbl’r drinks bad for you? 

Is Bubbl’r Bad For You?

For most healthy adults, there’s probably little risk to drinking Bubbl’r antioxidant sparkling waters in moderation. 

There is about 69 mg of caffeine in each can, which is slightly lower than your average cup of coffee. For most people, this is just something to be aware of. If you have any medical conditions or are sensitive to caffeine, I’d probably steer clear and talk to your medical provider. 

These drinks do contain about 50% of the recommended daily values for vitamin A and vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12. If you have a diet that’s well-balanced or take any dietary supplements that contain these nutrients, you may be getting a lot more than what you need. Excess B vitamins are typically excreted through your urine, but excess vitamin A over time may build up in the body and cause negative effects. 

Ultimately, for the occasional boost of energy, I think these drinks are a healthier option for the average healthy adult.  

The Bottom Line

Bubbl’r is a 12 fl oz canned antioxidant sparkling water beverage. It’s available in a variety of flavors. It prides itself on using only natural flavoring and colors, no artificial sweeteners, and naturally sourced caffeine. 

Ultimately, these drinks are carbonated flavored water with added vitamin A, B vitamins, and 69mg of caffeine. Erythritol and stevia leaf extract are used to sweeten these drinks, allowing them to only contain 5 calories and zero grams of sugar. 

If you’re looking for a low calorie beverage that boosts your energy, I think Bubbl’r is a good pick when consumed in moderation. Since they do contain added vitamins, I wouldn’t recommend drinking endless amounts of these on a daily basis. 

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Disclaimer: this is for informational information only. It is not intended to substitute for or replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about your own health.