You probably have seen the commercials talking about Propel Fitness Water and how it has only 25 calories compared to vitamin waters that have 250 calories. Which is better before, during or after workouts? Which tastes better?

A scientific evening of label-comparing and taste-testing eight different water alternatives concluded that the best product depends on your selection criteria. All the drinks that were compared come in 20-ounce bottles, which actually amounts to two-and-a-half servings, so watch how much you drink of any of these products.

VITAMIN-HEAVY DRINK: Life Water by Sobe

If you're looking for a drink to supply you with vitamins and other feel-good ingredients, Life Water by Sobe is your best bet. At 40 per serving, Life Water has the fewest calories compared to Glaceau's Vitamin Water and Snapple's Antioxidant Water.

Life Water also has 100 percent of your Vitamin C intake for the day and was the only drink with niacin, a component of Vitamin B. However, the Snapple Antioxidant Water was the only drink with calcium. And while the Glaceau Vitamin Water had more B vitamins, it also had caffeine. As far as taste was concerned, Sobe Life Water was by far the best, because the other two drinks were too watered down.

DURING OR AFTER WORKOUT DRINK: Water

If you are looking for something to drink during or after your workouts, regular water is still the best. Unless you are doing high-intensity exercise for more than two hours, you really don't need all the extra stuff in sports drinks. But if you insist on a beverage with a little something extra, the healthiest choice is Propel Fitness Water. Even though it tastes super-sugary, it has the least amount of calories, sugar, carbohydrates and sodium per serving.

ELECTROLYTES: Powerade or G2

If you want the extra calories and sodium, which some people will translate into electrolytes, then you should be reaching for Powerade, which has 17 grams of carbohydrates. Another alternative would be Gatorade, or the new G2, both of which have 110 milligrams of sodium. All of these drinks come in 32 to 33.8-ounce bottles, or approximately four servings. You can buy smaller sizes, but G2 is the hardest to find because it is so new.

If you are a Gatorade fanatic, but want a low-calorie option, G2 is perfect for you. It tastes exactly like regular Gatorade, but has half the calories.

PROTEIN WATER: Kellogg's K20

Another new beverage is Kellogg's K2O Protein Water, marketed as a product to "keep the edge off hunger." This product has five grams of protein and five grams of fiber to help you feel full. One 16-ounce bottle has only 50 calories. It also has a few vitamins and calcium. It does contain a milk ingredient, though, to warn those who need to be cautious of dairy products. It tastes like a protein shake without the thickness that more people find unappealing. This product is great for between meals or after a workout when you crave a little protein.

There is a water-alternative out there for everyone, no matter what you want in a drink, whether you think taste, calorie-count or vitamin C content is most important. When choosing a drink, be aware of the serving size, as well as the calorie and sugar content. Just remember there is also nothing wrong with plain old water.

Kendall Hall is a senior in kinesiology and a certified personal trainer at the Peters Recreation Complex. Please send comments to sports@spub.ksu.edu.