Hard seltzers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a lower calorie and lower sugar alternative to beer and mixed drinks. Vizzy is one of the newer hard seltzer brands on the market, known for containing antioxidants from acerola cherry. But is vizzy actually a healthy option?
What is vizzy hard seltzer?
Vizzy is a hard seltzer made by the Anheuser-Busch company, which also makes popular beer brands like Budweiser and Stella Artois. It was first introduced in 2019.
Like other hard seltzers, vizzy is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting cane sugar. It is carbonated water mixed with alcohol, natural flavors, and often fruit juice. Vizzy sets itself apart with the addition of antioxidant vitamin C from acerola cherries in each can.
Vizzy hard seltzer comes in a variety of fruit flavors, each containing 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar per 12 oz can. The alcohol content is 4.5% ABV.
Nutrition facts for vizzy hard seltzer
Here are the nutrition facts for one 12 oz can (355ml) of vizzy hard seltzer:
| Calories | 100 |
|---|---|
| Carbs | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Vitamin C | 100% DV |
As you can see, a vizzy hard seltzer is low in calories, carbs, sugar, protein, and fat. The main nutritional highlight is that it contains 100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C.
Vitamin C content in vizzy
Each can of vizzy hard seltzer contains 100% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. This amounts to approximately 60mg of vitamin C per can.
Vitamin C is a nutrient that acts as an antioxidant in the body. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells. This helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
Getting enough vitamin C is important for immune function, collagen production, iron absorption, and more. It has also been linked to heart health benefits.
The high vitamin C content helps set vizzy apart from other hard seltzers that do not contain added vitamins or minerals. The vitamin C comes from acerola cherries, a tropical fruit that is naturally very high in this nutrient.
Is vizzy keto-friendly?
The low carb and low calorie content of vizzy makes it a generally keto-friendly beverage option. The keto diet involves restricting carbs to enter ketosis, a state where you burn fat for fuel.
With only 2 grams of carbs and 1 gram of sugar per can, vizzy can fit into a keto eating plan. It’s one of the lowest carb hard seltzer options compared to others with 2-15 grams of carbs.
Drinking vizzy in moderation, about 1-2 cans per day, should not knock most people out of ketosis. It’s smart to account for the alcohol and carb content if you plan to drink multiple cans.
Is vizzy gluten-free?
Yes, vizzy hard seltzer is considered gluten-free. It is produced without any wheat, barley, rye or other gluten-containing ingredients.
The gluten-free status makes vizzy a good alcoholic beverage choice for those with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. Many beers contain gluten, so vizzy is a helpful alternative.
Vizzy compared to other hard seltzers
Here’s how vizzy compares to some other popular low calorie alcoholic beverage options:
| Beverage (12 oz serving) | Calories | Carbs | Sugar | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vizzy | 100 | 2g | 1g | 4.5% |
| White Claw | 100 | 2g | 1g | 5% |
| Truly | 100 | 1-2g | 1g | 5% |
| Bud Light Seltzer | 100 | 5g | 1g | 5% |
| Michelob Ultra Infusions | 85 | 2.5g | 0g | 4% |
| Smirnoff Seltzer | 90 | 1g | 1g | 4.5% |
As you can see, most mainstream hard seltzers are fairly comparable in terms of calories, carbs and sugar content. Vizzy stands out for having antioxidant vitamin C added.
Low calorie and carb counts
With only 100 calories and 1-2g of carbs, vizzy fits right in with other leading hard seltzer brands like White Claw, Truly, and Bud Light Seltzer. This makes it a solid lower calorie option compared to beer, wine, and cocktails.
Moderate alcohol content
The alcohol content of hard seltzers ranges from about 4-6% ABV, similar to most light beers. Vizzy is on the lower end with 4.5% ABV. This moderate alcohol amount means it may produce less of an intoxicating effect compared to higher alcohol drinks.
Fruit flavors
Vizzy comes in unique flavor combinations like pineapple mango, blueberry pomegranate, and strawberry kiwi. Other hard seltzers offer similar fruit flavor varieties. The fruit flavors make them more appealing options than straight liquor.
Benefits of drinking vizzy
Here are some of the main benefits that drinking vizzy hard seltzer offers over other alcoholic beverages:
Lower calories
At 100 calories per can, vizzy is significantly lower in calories than most beers, wines, mixed drinks, and cocktails. Choosing lower calorie alcoholic options can help reduce overall calorie intake.
Less carbs and sugar
With only 1 gram of sugar and 2 grams of carbs, vizzy is low in carbohydrates compared to beer and mixed drinks. Lower carb and sugar intake has health advantages for weight management and blood sugar control.
Gluten-free
The gluten-free formulation makes vizzy a good choice for anyone following a gluten-free diet, which includes those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Antioxidant vitamin C
Vizzy stands out from other hard seltzers by containing 100% of your daily vitamin C. Vitamin C provides immune and antioxidant benefits.
Low alcohol content
With an alcohol content of 4.5% ABV, vizzy delivers a lighter-strength buzz compared to higher alcohol wines, beers and liquors. The lower alcohol amount may help limit intoxication and adverse effects.
Refreshing flavors
Vizzy comes in an array of interesting fruity flavors like pineapple mango, blueberry pomegranate, strawberry kiwi, and more. The flavor varieties can help satisfy your taste buds.
Potential downsides of drinking vizzy
Despite the potential benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider with vizzy hard seltzer:
Alcohol content
Despite being lower in alcohol than many other drinks, vizzy still contains alcohol and the risks that come with it. Drinking too much may impair coordination, judgement and driving abilities.
Easy to over-consume
The flavored, fizzy nature of hard seltzers makes them very easy to drink quickly and over-consume in one sitting. This can lead to intoxication and its effects.
Nutritionally void
While vizzy contains vitamin C, it offers little other nutritional value. It lacks protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals beyond vitamin C. Heavy consumption can displace healthier beverage options.
Not the healthiest alcohol option
While better than higher calorie beers, wines and mixed drinks, vizzy is still an alcoholic beverage with potential downsides. Pure spirits like vodka and tequila mixed with calorie-free seltzer may be even healthier.
Contains artificial sweeteners
Vizzy uses artificial sweeteners like sucralose rather than sugar to sweeten the flavors. Some people may wish to avoid consuming artificial sweeteners.
Is vizzy ultimately a healthy choice?
There are a few factors to consider when determining if vizzy is ultimately a healthy alcoholic beverage choice:
Consumed in moderation
Like any alcoholic drink, vizzy appears to be a reasonably healthy option if consumed in moderation. This means no more than 1-2 cans in a day for women and 2-3 for men, per US dietary guidelines.
Moderation prevents excessive calorie, carb, and alcohol intake that could counteract its low calorie profile.
As an occasional beverage
Occasionally enjoying vizzy hard seltzers is likely fine as part of an overall healthy diet. However, making it your main daily alcoholic beverage could promote constant alcohol intake and dependency issues.
Pay attention to your tolerance
Monitor your personal tolerance and how vizzy affects you. Factors like your body weight, gender, and genetic makeup determine alcohol tolerance. Stay within limits that don’t leave you impaired.
Avoid if you avoid artificial sweeteners
Vizzy isn’t the best choice if you strictly avoid artificial sweeteners and prefer to stick to all-natural beverages.
Healthiest ways to consume vizzy
If you want to incorporate vizzy into your diet in a healthy way, here are some tips:
Drink over ice
Pour vizzy over plenty of ice to help you drink it slowly and avoid guzzling it too quickly.
Alternate with water
Have a glass of water between each vizzy to stay hydrated and cut back on total alcohol intake.
Enjoy with food
Pairing vizzy with healthy foods can slow your drinking pace and minimize alcohol absorption.
Set a drink limit
Decide on a reasonable drink limit before you start drinking to avoid overdoing it.
Avoid other mixers with sugar or calories
Mixing vizzy with sugary juices, sodas or energy drinks negates its low calorie and low sugar benefits.
Calculate your calories and carbs
If tracking your diet, be sure to tally the calories and carbs from each vizzy you drink.
Hydrate well before and after
Staying well hydrated can counteract the dehydrating effects of the alcohol in vizzy.
The bottom line
Overall, vizzy appears to be one of the healthier hard seltzer options thanks to its low calorie, low carb, gluten-free formulation plus antioxidant vitamin C content.
In moderation, vizzy can be an acceptable alcoholic beverage choice as part of an healthy lifestyle. But it still contains alcohol, provides minimal nutrition, and has risks if over-consumed.
Pay close attention to your personal tolerance and aim for a maximum of 1-2 cans per day. Additionally, avoid making it your sole source of alcohol and be sure to stay hydrated. Within appropriate limits, vizzy can be enjoyed as an refreshing, low calorie drink option.
