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When it comes to impactful lifestyle changes, ditching soda is something we hear about frequently. It makes sense, considering soda is linked to ailments from obesity and tooth decay to type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. Despite all the harm, soda has long remained a favorite beverage for many families. But that may be changing, especially as soda alternatives continue to trend upward.
From weight loss to improved energy, cutting soft drinks out of our diet is touted as a way to achieve everything from better sleep to better health. Not for nothing, either. Science has long substantiated the claims that a soda-free life paves the way for many benefits, and finding a gratifying replacement for our favorite thirst quenchers is now easier than ever.
What Makes Soda Unhealthy?
Sugar is the main culprit in making soda unhealthy. Excess sugar consumption leads not only to weight gain and tooth decay but, over time, can cause diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.
Even with the rise of diet and sugar-free sodas, artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors present their own potential health risks when soda is a daily beverage preference. Beyond physical ailments, mental health can also be adversely affected by excess sugar in the diet.
Why Should You Consider Finding a Soda Alternative?
With a litany of adverse health effects to consider, soda alternatives have been on the rise in recent years. With so many people trying a soda-free life, several compelling effects of a switch away from soda have been seen.
Improved Hydration
Sugar and caffeinated beverages are refreshing in the short term, but they work to dehydrate the body, causing you to drink more to feel refreshed again. Soda substitutes contain minimal sugars, providing better long-term hydration, which can lead to more energy and an improved mood.
Nutritional Value
While soda is often viewed as “empty calories,” alternatives to soft drinks can be nutrient-dense. Vitamins, minerals, and probiotics are all found in various soda replacements and are a great way to support a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Dental Health
Sugary drinks, with their high acidity, are a leading cause of enamel loss and tooth decay. Switching to a soda-free lifestyle can have a tremendous impact on our oral health, which means preserving a healthy smile. Plus, oral health is linked to our overall health in a variety of ways, so keeping our teeth healthy helps keep the rest of our body healthy.
Environmental Impact
Beyond the immediate impact on our bodies when we forgo soda, we can often forget how our beverage choices can impact the environment as a whole. The supply chain contributes to the soda industry’s footprint, from soda manufacture and packaging to transportation and sale. Many soda alternatives provide less waste and less adverse impact on the environment.
Are Soda Alternatives as Tasty as the Real One?
With many ways to customize flavors or seek out certain health benefits, soda alternatives can be better tasting and better for us. Options exist across the board, from carbonated to non-carbonated, hot or cold options, and all without soda’s potential adverse health impacts. The growing popularity of health-focused beverages means finding variety is easier than ever.
7 Best Soda Alternatives That Will Help You Cut Down on Sugar
When deciding what to reach for to quench your thirst without the added sugar, these replacements will offer hydration without damaging your health.
Sparkling Water
Fizzy and able to be flavored to any taste, sparkling water is a favorite zero-calorie replacement to soda for those interested in cutting calories with the sugar. Carbonation is refreshing and light and will provide hydration to outlast any soda.
Herbal Tea
Tea is not just for a fancy party or a sore throat. Hot or cold, herbal tea is a refreshing alternative to soda, and many teas contain antioxidants and other nutrients to support a healthy diet. A little honey can help add sweetness without sugar, or throw a lemon wedge in and enjoy!
Infused Water
If you are looking for a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to soda, infused water is not to be forgotten. As simple as tossing some cut fruit or citrus into your water, infused waters are highly customizable to taste. Herbs like mint and cucumber or basil with strawberries are a great way to play with the flavor in your beverages.
Kombucha
A newer addition to the soda replacement lineup, kombucha provides some body and bite with bold flavors and minimal sugar. A fermented product, kombucha packs a punch of probiotics, making it an excellent choice to incorporate into your day.
Vegetable Juices
To lean into savory, filling flavors, vegetable juices are often overlooked by their fruit juice counterparts. With minimal sugar and maximum nutritional benefits, vegetable juices are more varied than spicy tomato mixes. Leafy greens, carrots, celery, and herbs provide diverse vitamins and minerals that can be included in your beverage blend.
Coconut Water
To rehydrate and replenish, coconut water is an electrolyte powerhouse that is sure to refresh. While delicious on its own, pairing coconut water with some tropical fruit can make a flavorful, refreshing, and sweet replacement for soda.
Homemade Lemonade
Nothing refreshes like lemonade on a hot summer day, and it doesn’t have to be skipped in a soda-free beverage lineup. Fresh lemon juice with honey, stevia, and water can make a light, bright lemonade alternative. Mix it up with some fresh thyme, cut strawberries, or raspberries.
Meal Kits That Contain Soda Alternatives
Planning your weekly beverage options is a big step in ditching the soda we reach for often. Luckily, many meal kit companies now include healthy beverage options to encourage making those healthy substitutes.
HelloFresh
While not always on the menu, HelloFresh’s add-on options have included healthy beverage options, such as kombucha and flavored sparkling waters, which make great pairings with their meal options and enhance the overall dining experience.
Blue Apron
Blue Apron has partnered with several beverage brands, meaning more healthful options are popping up on its menu plans. Herbal teas, flavored waters, and fun smoothies have all been spotted, providing a great way to explore new tastes. Their use of dates instead of sugar is an excellent example of a swap that can be made to add sweetness in a healthy way.
Factor
Factor is a leader in providing options for various lifestyles when it comes to building beverages into your daily routine. With smoothie lines in both regular and keto and fruit and vegetable juices, the add-on options are a great way to work your choice of beverages into your overall meal plan.
Green Chef
Known for its emphasis on organic and clean eating, Green Chef has added beverages to its add-on menu for different weeks. Offerings like organic lemonades and thoughtfully flavored waters complement their menu and provide variety and the opportunity to explore new flavors.
Bottom Line
We know that excessive consumption of sugary soft drinks leads to health issues, from weight gain to diseases and diabetes, and switching out soda for low-sugar alternatives is now easier than ever. Alternatives, from water and teas to juices and kombucha, will keep you hydrated and make you feel better than ever.
Order some options with your next meal kit delivery, or try your creation. Healthy beverages are only a glass away!
