Examining the Health Impact of Different Soda Options
Sodas have long gotten a bad rap for containing excessive sugar, artificial ingredients, and acidity that harms teeth. However, the recent surge in low-calorie, low-sugar, and functional soda alternatives makes the marketplace far more dynamic.
With an array of sodas now touting organic sources, added vitamins, antioxidants, and less sweetener, deciphering the healthiest choices takes some deeper investigation.
Factors Impacting Soda Healthfulness
Elements influencing how healthy a soda truly is include:
- Sugar and low-calorie sweetener content
- Acidity level impacting dental health
- Level of artificial colors and preservatives
- Added nutrients like antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, etc.
- Natural, organic, and non-GMO ingredients
Comparing sodas across all these metrics paints a clearer picture than simply indicting all sodas equally. Lets explore some of the top contenders for healthier options.
Best Low-Calorie Soda Options
Foremost, diet sodas with zero sugar and minimal calories limit risks from excess blood glucose and weight gain. Leading picks in this realm include:
Zevia
Zevia uses stevia leaf extract to sweeten its line-up of zero-calorie sodas. With no sugar or artificial sweeteners, flavors like ginger ale, cherry cola, and lemon lime contain substantially fewer health risks.
Bubly Sparkling Water
PepsiCos Bubly waters infuse bubbly filtered water with natural fruit juice flavors. With no calories or sweeteners whatsoever, Bubly offers a refreshing flavor experience without health detriments.
La Croix
Also capitalizing on fruit essence-infused fizzy water, La Croix pleases tastebuds without sugar or substantial acid biting at tooth enamel or disrupting blood sugar.
Ichitan Unsweetened Teas
Ichitans line of sparkling unsweetened green, black, and herbal teas bring zero calories yet packed with catechins, polyphenols, antioxidants from natural tea sources.
Best Low-Sugar Soda Substitutes
Cutting back on sweetener alone makes standard sodas a bit healthier. Wise options in this sphere include:
Hansens Natural Sugar Free Sodas
Hansens swaps out aspartame and saccharine for more natural stevia and erythritol sweeteners across unique flavors like ginger peach, root beer, and strawberry.
Maine Root Wild Blueberry Soda
Sweetened with fair trade cane sugar, Maine Root infuses just a touch of maple syrup and wild blueberry essence into bubbling filtered water for a refreshing treat.
Blue Sky Organic Sodas
Blue Sky achieves its decadent sodas using unrefined, low glycemic cane sugar aimed at a more gradual metabolic effect than high fructose corn syrup sodas.
Boylan Heritage Cane Colas
By relying solely on old fashioned cane sugar for 80% less sweetness than conventional colas, Boylans reduce sugar content for a classic flavor touch.
Best Organic & Natural Soda Options
Sodas made from all or mostly organic ingredients also rate higher on the health scale by avoiding synthetic colors, acids, chemical preservatives, and GMO corn syrup.
Blue Sky Organics
Certified organic and free from synthetic fixings, Blue Sky gets its lift from organic lemon and lime juices, vanilla, and ginger extract in flavors like root beer, cola, and orange.
Santa Cruz Organics
Santa Cruz Organic sodas are sweetened with organic unrefined cane sugar and boosted by herbal extracts, fruit juices, and natural caffeine sources like yerba mate and tea.
Maine Root Organic Root Beer
Free of synthetic stabilizes and made with all Fair Trade ingredients, Maine Roots old fashioned root beer teems with anise, birch bark, cloves, and vanilla.
Izzy Organic Sparkling Juice
Izzy blends fruit juice and spring water for a gently sweet, organic, refreshing sip that beats traditional soda on all nutritional metrics.
Most Functional & Nutrient-Dense Soda Options
Finally, some sodas actually contain extra vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, electrolytes for hydration, protein, fiber, or herbal ingredients driving functional benefits:
Hint Water
Unsweetened Hint Water harnesses the flavor and nutritional assets of real fruits like blackberry, watermelon, and cherry to create an essence water with functional perks.
Feliz Drinks
With 5g of plant-based protein, Feliz sodas fueled by yerba mate stand out for delivering steady, sustained energy plus vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants.
Olipop
Olipop adds prebiotic fiber from sources like chicory root, seaweed extract, and Lucuma fruit to create a gut-healthy soda brimming with mangosteen, elderberry, and other antioxidant superfoods.
Tempo Sparkling Beverage
Formulated with vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12 plus 200mg of L-theanine, Tempo aims at sustained calm, focus, memory, and reaction performance.
Smartest Soda Consumption Strategies
When sodas cant be avoided altogether, implementing harm reduction techniques limits health risks:
- Treat soda as an occasional indulgence for celebrations rather than routine
- Savor small 4-6oz portions rather than mega servings
- Minimize acidic colas which erode dental health over time
- Swish water after drinking acidic varieties to neutralize pH on teeth
- Incorporate nutritious, filling snacks alongside soda to balance blood sugar response
Taking the time to inspect soda ingredients and nutrition panels clearly illuminates healthier soda selections.
The Healthiest Soda is No Soda At All
While innovative soda options now skew far healthier than classics like Coke and Pepsi, the healthiest beverage choice always comes down to plain, pure water optimized with fruit essence or modifiers:
- Plain or mineral water
- Hint essence water
- Unsweetened sparkling water
- Organic fruit juice blended sparkling water
- Herbal tea or coffee
- Organic whole milk
When thirst strikes, reach for these more nutritious alternatives at least 80% of the time, indulging in a naturally sweetened soda just 20% to limit health risks.
The Takeaway
Rather than universally vilifying sodas, taking a more measured look reveals plenty of decent alternatives. But straight up water still triumphs as the outright healthiest sip around.
FAQs
What is the healthiest low-calorie soda option?
Zevia, La Croix, Bubly, and unsweetened sparkling teas like Ichitan rate as the top low-calorie sodas for avoiding sugar and calories without unhealthy artificial sweeteners.
Is ginger ale soda healthy?
Some ginger ales cut sugar substantially compared to regular soda. But the healthiest options choose natural sweeteners like stevia or erythritol rather than artificial substitutes. Hansen's and Zevia make quality diet ginger ales.
Is soda acid bad for teeth?
Yes, acidic sodas gradually erode tooth enamel over time, increasing decay and staining risk. Avoiding acidic colas in favor of flavored sparkling waters protects better dental health.
Should kids drink soda?
No, the high sugar and acidity in conventional sodas pose too many risks for still-developing children. Occasional small portions of low-sugar organic varieties offer a safer treat if sodas can’t be avoided.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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