Zero Calorie Sobe Lifewater

Posted March 8, 2009 in Product Reviews 67 Comments »

Water is so good for you that you should be drinking at least 64 ounces a day. But try as we may, sometimes water gets boring and the 64 ounces don’t always make it down the hatch.

Sobe Lizard

Some of us turn to diet soda, some turn to coffee, while others turn to Crystal Lite or other 0 calorie drink mixes.

Relative to living a healthy lifestyle, those products are good in some ways and bad in some ways. Diet soda and Crystal Lite have nasty sweeteners and dyes. Coffee has caffeine and turns your teeth brown.

The point is to find a tasty 0 calorie beverage with added vitamins and minerals that not only tastes good but also has additional benefits. If you are interested you should read my review below.

I tried the 3 new flavors of Sobe Lifewater and I have to say 2 of them are excellent. You will find all three of these 0 calorie Sobe Lifewater flavors at your local grocery store:

  • yumberry pomegranate (for purification)
  • goji apple pear (for fat loss)
  • black and blue berry (with antioxidants)

What is Sobe Lifewater with PureVia?

Straight from the Sobe website:

“SoBe Lifewater with PureVia is a unique 0-calorie, naturally sweetened enhanced water beverage that not only gives you a high level of vitamins and antioxidants, but is also infused with natural herbal ingredients. With unique flavor combinations, Lifewater is naturally refreshing and thrilling!”

Which flavor was best?

Black and Blue Berry was my favorite flavor. It tasted like a blueberry/grape drink and is apparently “packed with antioxidants”. I would definitely buy this one on purpose.

Yumberry Pomegranate was pretty good too. I would buy it if Black and Blue Berry was sold out.

Which flavor was not so good?

Goji Apple Pear was boring. It just sort of tasted like a bitter pear juice. I wouldn’t buy it on purpose, even if all the other flavors were sold out. If someone gave it to me for free I would drink it though.

Check out the 2009 Superbowl commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJxa97wp1I

Did Sobe give me these products for free?

Yes. They sent me the 3 bottles in a tube, like as if it were a rolled up poster or something. I was pretty excited to get something other than a brown cardboard box.

Did Sobe pay me for this review?

No, I don’t do paid reviews. This is my honest review of the three Sobe Lifewater 0 calorie drinks. I have to admit I wouldn’t review this product if they didn’t send it to me.

Also, there are about five 40 calorie Sobe Lifewaters, but I didn’t try any of those flavors.

Would I buy this product for myself?

Yes, I already have. I enjoy the Black and Blue Berry flavor, which I sometimes pick up at my local convenience store.

More Information and FAQs

Get more info about those products at the Sobe Lifewater product page.

And here’s what they look like

Sobe Black and Blue Berry
Black and Blue Berry
Sobe Yumberry Pomegranate
Yumberry Pomegranate
Sobe Fuji Apple Pear
Fuji Apple Pear

Share the Swole!

Tags: , , ,

67 Responses to “Zero Calorie Sobe Lifewater”

  1. I buy SoBe at Walmart all the time. They have all the flavors and it’s a dollar a bottle. I’m totally addicted and use it to make slushes and even use it with protein powder for flavored smoothies…all kinds of things you can do with it and I do them all. My fav is the Black Cherry Dragonfruit…OMG!! It’s soooo good. I drink them daily and pay attention to the vitamins since each one has a different vitamin make up. If you mix them up, you should get plenty of vitamins in your diet. I’m glad I found this site because I was wondering if my drinking these waters was good or bad for me and did it hydrate the same as plain water. I see that it does so I won’t make any changes. I still drink plain water too but I love the SoBe waters.

  2. I love all the flavors but ymberry pomegranate is my favorite, which is frustrating because of all the flavors I can NOT open the tops on the yumberry. I have to have my husband crack them all open for me. Seriously something is wrong with these tops, I have had no problem opening any of the other flavors. I hope they rectify this problem soon!

  3. Yes, the tops are very, very difficult to open lately. In a very unusual way. My hands kill me from some of the bottles.

    I think one thing should be made clear. These are soft drinks, not water. I love them and drink them all the time but would never kid myself that I’m drinking water. For those of you who think it’s water…… so are all drinks before tons of stuff is mixed into them. These are a delicious, naturally sweetened FLAVORED BEVERAGE…in my opinion 🙂

  4. I never had any difficulty opening the tops they always open easily for me. Maybe you just got some that were screwed on to tightly
    I love the Acai Fruit Punch its the only one I can drink but sadly its almost always Sold out or hard to find. I tried the Yumberry Pom and it gave me bad stomach cramps and I had to keep running to the bathroom so I will be avoiding that one. But I will continue the Acai Berry Fruit Punch.

  5. We will not buy your product any longer because the tops are very difficult to remove. Many times we need to use vice grips to remove. You need to red-design as I think many others are expieriencing this same problem.

  6. Wondering what happened to the 0 calorie flavored “tangerine orange” Life water? Great flavor but can’t find it anywhere now. Don’t miss the market opportunities with the huge group of american who have had weight loss surgeries and need less than 5 calories drinks. The 0 calorie drinks could be direct marketed to the many groups catering to this groups specific needs. Where can if find this particular flavor 0 calorie flavored drink….. Help

  7. I love these, and from what I’ve read they are truly calorie free.

    Sometimes labels are false when they claim zero calories and the product contains a sugar alcohol such as mailtitol, but in the case of erythritol it is an accurate statement. If you want to read more on this, you might check out “Net Carbs” (https://www.mendosa.com/netcarbs.htm).

  8. I found two brief articles on erythritol that you should at least look at. First at about.com, at least a trusted neutral and informed site –

    https://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/erythritol.htm

    and then a wikipedia article which appears to say the same thing

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythritol

    They report on the FDA findings that concur with what Steve is saying and note the digestive issues that may occur with drinking excessive amounts of erythritol (80 grams) each day. I don’t know how many grams are in each ounce (the one I drank after a race doesn’t list the grams but that is typical) but I would think we’re talking an awful lot of bottles. The folks who are experiencing the digestive issues might be sensitive and might try cutting back? It also might be a cumulative issue as their body is not flushing the erythritol effectively.

    I liked the black and blue berry but was put off by the fact that the color only comes from black carrot concentrate and that there are no black berries or blue berries in it. FDA does regulate this (misleading names) but only after the product is issued provided that the product is labelled correctly.

  9. I tried the black and blue berry, it is OK, nothing special, I’d just like to know where is the black and blue berry as an ingedient in the drink? It’s not even listed as a flavor. But there is black carrot in it! “Great!”

  10. WOW, not one mention of the flavor “Cherimoya Punch!” Cherimoya Punch is my favorite flavor. The local gas stations have been selling Lifewater for just $1.00 lately. 0 Cal, 0 sugar, great taste, = Great choice to get hydrated without all the excess fat.

    • Cherimoya Punch is a great flavor too! I wrote this back when there were only 4 flavors, but now they must have about 10.

  11. I, too, just made the connection between drinking Sobe Lifewater, which I love, and stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Mango Melon and Fiji Apple Pear are my favorite flavors. I’m not sure if I can keep drinking it– haven’t lost any weight, either.
    I wrote and asked about the calorie / carbs… Their response was that not all carbs are 4 calories. The sweetener they use is less than 1 calorie. I was also interested to learn that FDA guidelines say any item with fewer than 5 calories can be called a “0 Calorie” food. I’m not sure who they justify that since 1 is more than 0 and 5 is also more than 0. I think the company should be more honest about the product even if the FDA tells them they can do otherwise.

    • Thanks for the correct explanation. It’s not a conspiracy, they are following the rules in place. And they do have the right to round up or down, but in all honesty if you (not directed toward anyone) can’t afford 10 extra carbs then you should be focusing on other aspects of your diet. Now if your doing a show and counting every carb I understand, but for daily life I think people should relax and be happy that a (hopefully) more healthy sweetener is being used. By the way, this happens on ALOT of nutritional labels, but its just not as noticeable because there is fat and protein in those products so the math isn’t as evident.

    • Just read on webmd that xanthan gum is also a laxative and that might be causing stomach issues for some. Here’s what they say:

      Xanthan gum is a sugar-like compound made by mixing aged (fermented) sugars with a certain kind of bacteria. It is used to make medicine.

      Xanthan gum is used for lowering blood sugar and total cholesterol in people with diabetes. It is also used as a laxative.

      Xanthan gum is sometimes used as a saliva substitute in people with dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome).

      In manufacturing, xanthan gum is used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in foods, toothpastes, and medicines. Xanthan gum is also an ingredient in some sustained-release pills.

      How does it work?
      Xanthan gum swells in the intestine, which stimulates the digestive tract to push stool through. It also might slow the absorption of sugar from the digestive tract and work like saliva to lubricate and wet the mouth in people who don’t produce enough saliva.

    • If you drink a lot of it, it might be the erythritol. This is normally absorbed in the small intestine, but if you drink way too much of it, it can get into the lower intestine. Wikipedia has an pretty good entry for it.

  12. I think I’ve tried most of the flavors now and I like most of them: pear, blue, yumm, pom, but I just tried the Mango melon today and two hours later I’m getting the rumblings in my tummy that are telling me I’ll need to find a bathroom soon. I read some other reviews and it seems that there is a few people that can’t digest the pur via. So I guess I’ll need to do more research.

  13. I was wondering the same thing about the zero calorie/six carb issue. It tastes pretty good. I like the yumberry pomegranate too. Its a nice alternative to expensive 20 oz soft drinks and I am sure it has to be better for you. Either way I think they nailed it with the taste.

  14. I absolutely love sobe life water, I’m drinking some now, but as well I’m trying to figure out how it taste sooooo sweet and yet its 0 calories ? Something just isn’t adding up, I surely hope while I’m over here feeling up on this stuff its really fattening! I guess I can easily go back to my lemon water

    • Well there’s no fat in Sobe Lifewater, but there does appear to be some number of unjustified carbs. As with everything else, there’s probably some undercover justification they use for not displaying the sugar content or something. Who knows.

    • I hope its not fattening, because I gave up all drinks once found zero Sobe. I’m addicted . I drink a least six or seven bottles a day

  15. I bought these drinks in an attempt to replace a high sugar organic juice. It made both my daughter and I severely ill with stomach cramping and diarrhea. They know about this side affect and are continuing to produce the drink. Shame.

    • Weird. I’ve never heard of that. Seriously, I’m drinking Sobe Lifewater right now and I pretty much have some every day, and I’ve never experienced discomfort from it.

      • Steve, I have not either. Not once have I had any effects. Why is it always someones fault for issues. Maybe it was something else that you ate with the drink?

    • I have been drinking Sobe Lifewater for three weeks and have had severe diarrhea everyday since. I’ve only recently made the connection and was “glad” to read it wasn’t just my imagination.

      • I think it’s the cherimoya. I’ve tried most of the flavors, but only the cherimoya gives me diarrhea.

        • Same deal….really bad stomach problems when drinking a whole bottle. It took me a little while to figure it out…but it is disappointing!

      • I didn’t know that so many were having issues with the drink. I stand corrected and rebuked! I appologize for my last comments. I have only had the Apple Par & Yumberry Pomegranate. I have not had issues with them.

      • My husband and I also had severe cramping and diarrhea after drinking this. We didn’t realize it was the water until we had it a couple of times. It’s a shame because it tastes good.

  16. I first tried this product at Costco and bought a case and now I absoulutely love this drink. I love fuji apple pear the best but I drink them all. I wish more stores carried the 12 bottle case.

    • Everyone seems to love the Fuji Apple Pear, but that’s honestly the one I like the least. Right now I’m sitting around drinking Yumberry Pomegranate and they have some awesome new flavors too. I get them at Walmart, Target, or KMart for a buck a bottle.

  17. this is the way america works, they can’t just tell you the truth … there are too many loop holes in the system and this is the way MANY labels lie to you to think they are lower calorie than they really are. Keep America Fat … so diets sell. Fitness is the number one product that people will spend money on to lose weight, if we keep them fat “we” keep making money.

  18. Well the last time I check the definition of a calorie was – a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree at one atmosphere pressure … since 6 carbs has 4 calories per gram which = 60 calories per bottle it would have an affect on your system. Show me the proof that erythrotol doesn’t have an effect. According to the FDA if its on the label, it has a outcome. This is the same way that many labels lie to you and why america is fat… we try to cover up the truth so products sell.

  19. I have to say this if far the best bottled water I have ever tasted!! I have never been a water drinker at all, but I have to admit that I have found myself drinking more than the required amount of water needed on a daily basis by drinking the sobe life water!! I feel much better and energized just from water. This is the best solution for anyone who doesn’t like the sweetner waters or plan old tap water!! This works just wonderful for me. I’m still trying to figure out how they get the sweetness in the water with no calories or sweetners added.

    Thanks, Sobe Sorry for taking so long to try.. You now have a customer for life with me!!! : }

  20. I can explain the 6 carbs/0 calories thing. If you’ll notice in the list of ingredients they use ERYTHROTOL. Erythrotol is a sugar alcohol. It is a carb BUT….our bodies cannot breakdown and use erythrotol and therefore we cannot get any calories from it. It just passes thru our sytem unused. So even though it has 6 carbs they are 6 unusable carbs that just pass thru our body and we dont get any calories from them.

    • Very Cool and Thank you for the carb explanation, I learned something new today, so now I can go play.

      Either way, I really like the stuff, and really don’t care that the ginger/dandelion mix tastes like Yummy Pomegranate SoBe got this stuff right.

  21. I love the zero calorie SoBe Lifewaters. But I have a question. The label says zero calories in an 8 oz serving but there are also 6 grams of carbohydrates. As far as I know 6 carbs is 24 calories. The bottle is 20 oz or 2.5 servings, so 24 X 2.5 = 60 calories per bottle.

    What am I missing?

    • Ed: it’s true. I can’t explain it, but they do have 6 grams of carbs and 0 calories, which definitely does not add up. You should call the company and complain. I don’t have time because I have to answer blog comments and questions.

      • i emailed pepsi about this because i was concerned too. they aren’t using normal carbohydrates but rather sugar alcohols, specifically ERYTHRITOL, which has .3 calories per gram.

    • Yes, I enjoy Purevia.

      Also, Sobe 0 Calories Lifewater has a couple new flavors. I tried one called Acai Fruit Punch today and it’s great!

      • I’m drinking the Acai as I type lol. I love it & since I can’t motivate myself to drink water every day, I bought quite a few of these as an alternative.

  22. I also quit artificial sweeteners like aspartame in “diet coke” and sucralose in “Lipton green tea to go”. I like almost tall the flavors in this Life water yet it is sweet. My question is what is the sweetner in this drink??

  23. I have only tried the fuji apple pear, and I feel like I’m addicted to it it’s so good!!

    I don’t drink things with artificial sweeteners, so I’m thrilled to FINALLY find a 0-calorie drink that I absolutely love, and feel great about drinking.

  24. About that Yumberry Pomegranate. Did you notice that the ingredients label did not include either? How does Pepsi get away with calling this Ginger/Dandelion potion “Yumberry Pomegranate?”

    • I guess they can name it whatever they want no matter what’s in it. No one seems to care. Clearly there’s no such thing as Yumberry, and I don’t recall the label not mentioning pomegranate, but it’s probably true. Huge corporations can do as they please in this society.

  25. The Fuji Apple Pear is the only flavor I’ve tasted so far and I have to say, it’s quite delicious. I love it!!

  26. This water is good! I started drinking the 0. cal ones and they are real good, the others are just as good but have the cals and suger. Highly recommend

  27. We took your rating into account and reviewed the Black and Blue Berry flavor and it was awesome. This vitamin water is the first sugar free drink we’ve tried with PureVia, and all I can say is I hope this new sweetener catches on. I’ve already been through two four packs.

    Thanks for the review!

  28. I haven’t tried the SoBe yet, but may give it a sip. I use a local product “Adirondack Spring Water” with zero calories and enhanced flavors to get my fill up.

  29. For those who are calorie conscious we just did a review of SoBe Lean Blackberry Currant at Glucoholic.com. We highly recommend it!

    OH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi

  30. For those who are calorie conscious we just did a review of SoBe Lean Blackberry Currant at Glucoholic.com . We highly recommend it!

Leave a Reply