All Things Soda: What are the Healthiest Sodas Out There? (2024)

FAQs

All Things Soda: What are the Healthiest Sodas Out There? ›

Sparkling water made with natural flavors or real fruit juice (like Spindrift) can stand in as a great soda alternative. Pure fruit juice contains almost as much sugar as soda per cup, but these options bottle up plenty of fruity flavor with little to no sugar.

Sparkling water made with natural flavors or real fruit juice (like Spindrift) can stand in as a great soda alternative. Pure fruit juice contains almost as much sugar as soda per cup, but these options bottle up plenty of fruity flavor with little to no sugar.

Check out these options, including sugar-free soda: Diet co*ke. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. DASANI.

Sugar-free drinks e.g. sugar-free cola, sugar-free lemonade, and no-added-sugar squash. These drinks contain artificial sweeteners, which will provide a sweet taste but won't have an effect on blood sugar levels, which is good for people with diabetes.

Juice, smoothies, iced coffee, ice tea, protein shakes, milk, and other drinks can be excellent alternatives to water. You should avoid relying too much on drinks with a high sugar content, such as soda, certain fruit juces, energy drinks and chocolate milk.

A 20-ounce serving of Gatorade's Thirst Quencher contains 36 grams of sugar. While that's a bit less sugar per ounce than your average soda, it's not exactly healthy. In fact, Berkeley researchers say the sugar in sports drinks may be contributing to the child obesity epidemic by increasing caloric intake.

Is there a soda good for you? ›

As well as a balanced diet and active lifestyle, fluid intake is also important to good health.” That's the British Soft Drinks Association talking. It's in their best interests to convince consumers that sodas are healthy, or at least harmless. In fact, soft drinks like co*ke or Sprite have no health benefits at all.

Sprite is a caffeine-free lemon-lime soda. Yet, its high added sugar content can provide a quick boost of energy. That said, Sprite and other sugary sodas should be limited in a healthy diet.

Despite the health benefits of ginger, ginger ale still falls into the category of soft drinks or sodas, so it's not a health food. If you choose to consume ginger ale, it's best to do so in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.

Seltzer water

Seltzer water is a great fizzy, sugar-free alternative to other carbonated beverages, such as soda. Like regular water, seltzer water is free of calories, carbs, and sugar. Carbonated water is a great way to stay hydrated and support healthy blood sugar levels.

Water is the drink of choice for heart health. If you're thirsty, drink water. When the weather is warm or we're exercising, our bodies need more water than usual. Unflavoured milk, tea and coffee can be enjoyed in moderation.

Your risk for heart disease drops

And quitting diet soda is heart-smart, too — one study showed that 61% of people who drank diet soda daily had a higher incidence of heart disease and stroke. Especially if you're already at risk for heart disease, stopping the soda habit is a good way to stay healthy.

The most controversial ingredients in Crystal Light are artificial colors and sweeteners. While the FDA generally recognizes them as safe, some claim aspartame, sucralose, stevia, and artificial colors lack long-term evidence and may have adverse effects.

Gatorade is not unhealthy, but it does have high amounts of sugar and salt. People who are inactive or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease should take into account the salt and sugar in a bottle of Gatorade if they want to live a healthy lifestyle .

What is America's number 1 soda? ›

According to Beverage Digest, Coca Cola is by far the best selling soda in the United States.

co*ke Zero does not contain any calories or sugar and is not a significant source of nutrients.

Infuse water with fresh berries, pineapple or melon. Or freeze bits of fruit in ice cube trays for a more subtle flavor and an interesting look. Slice cucumbers and add to water for a fresh, clean taste. Enhance water with fresh mint leaves, basil, ginger, rosemary or cilantro.

The fastest way to hydrate is with an oral rehydration solution. These products are packed with electrolytes which are minerals found in your body that balance fluid levels and maintain optimal hydration. While you can hydrate fast with regular water, focus on electrolytes.

Beet juice is rich in dietary nitrates and betalains, both of which are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, it's much lower in sugar than other juices.

What is healthier than Gatorade? ›

Powerade has more vitamins than Gatorade

Neither has any fat or protein. However, Gatorade contains 10 more calories and slightly more sodium than Powerade per serving. On the other hand, Powerade packs more micronutrients, including magnesium, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12, which play important roles in your body.

Gatorade and other sports drinks are not inherently healthy or healthier than other beverages. When consumed regularly, Gatorade may lead to, or contribute to, problems such as obesity. More research is needed to fully understand the positive and negative impacts of Gatorade and other sports drinks.

In conclusion, drinking soda every day can have negative effects on your body, including weight gain, increased risk of diabetes, tooth decay, dehydration, and increased risk of heart disease. Choosing filtered water as an alternative is a great way to stay hydrated and promote overall health and wellness.

But just one soda a day isn't awful…is it? Now if you're drinking an entire case in a day, that's certainly the farthest thing from healthy. But new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association, says that just 12 ounces of a sugary drink each day, is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Soda doesn't replace any of the water you lose—in fact, because it increases your body's production of urine, it makes dehydration worse. One 12 ounce soda contains 45 milligrams of caffeine—that's double the amount of caffeine in a standard cup of coffee.

If you ask most doctors, they will typically tell you to drink Sprite for an upset stomach. The MedlinePlus website recommends ginger ale along with other clear liquids, such as water and fruit juices, to help replenish fluids following diarrhea or vomiting.

The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there's no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer. Some types of diet soda are even fortified with vitamins and minerals. But diet soda isn't a health drink or a silver bullet for weight loss.

Even if you reach for a soda to help quench your thirst during a hot summer day, it won't do you justice. Sodas are actually dehydrating, meaning it has the opposite effect than a cup of water would do. Aside from sugar being addictive, caffeine has also been found to have addiction-like symptoms for its consumers.

Should I replace soda with juice? ›

It's great that you're trying to cut back on soda, but fruit juice isn't the best substitute. "While the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in fruit juice give it a nutritional edge over soda, it can have the same—or more—sugars and calories," says Maxine Siegel, R.D., who heads CR's food-testing lab.

The hospital did what caregivers have done for thousands of years: Reach for ginger root as an anti-emetic. When ginger ale was invented in the mid-19th century, it quickly became a bedside staple among people suffering from various causes of nausea and vomiting.

Ginger, a member of the plant family that includes turmeric and cardamom, has been proven to be effective at treating nausea and vomiting — two hallmarks of a classic upset stomach. In fact, ginger is even used to treat morning sickness, muscle pain and menstrual pain.

Pepsi packs more calories, sugar, and caffeine than co*ke. Regular sodas are full of calories, 140 per can and up. Pepsi was publicizing the findings in their advertisem*nts and it was starting to put a dent in co*kes market shares.

According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking red wine — or any alcoholic beverage — can lower blood sugar for up to 24 hours.

Drinking apple cider vinegar before meals or right before bedtime may benefit your blood sugar levels the most. For example, one study in people with type 2 diabetes found that taking 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of apple cider vinegar at bedtime for 2 days reduced fasting blood sugar levels by up to 6% ( 7 ).

Soda is not good for a person's health because it contains lots of sugar. Consuming too much soda may lead to weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , most people in America consume too many added sugars, which can lead to health problems.

co*ke Zero does not add nutritional value to your diet, and the long-term effects of drinking diet sodas are still unclear. If you want to reduce your sugar or regular soda intake, opt for healthier, low-sugar drinks like herbal tea, fruit-infused water, and black coffee — and leave co*ke Zero on the shelf.

Pepsi packs more calories, sugar, and caffeine than co*ke. Regular sodas are full of calories, 140 per can and up. Pepsi was publicizing the findings in their advertisem*nts and it was starting to put a dent in co*kes market shares.

Is Gatorade better than soda? ›

A 20-ounce serving of Gatorade's Thirst Quencher contains 36 grams of sugar. While that's a bit less sugar per ounce than your average soda, it's not exactly healthy. In fact, Berkeley researchers say the sugar in sports drinks may be contributing to the child obesity epidemic by increasing caloric intake.

Sprite and Fresca soda are also caffeine-free. Enjoy these popular caffeine-free drinks: Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Caffeine-Free Diet co*ke and Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Seagram's Ginger Ale, Diet Ginger Ale, Tonic and Seltzer.

Despite the health benefits of ginger, ginger ale still falls into the category of soft drinks or sodas, so it's not a health food. If you choose to consume ginger ale, it's best to do so in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.

Carbonated soft drinks or sodas are not perishable, and are safe past the date stamped on the container. Eventually flavor and carbonation will decrease.

There's a myth that clear soda is better for you than dark soda. Not true. The big difference between dark and clear soda falls in caffeine levels, not sugar. Clear and dark soda still contains a lot of sugar.