Alright guys, we have all heard or read about the dangers of drinking regular soda and diet soda. Regular soda contains an obscene amount of sugar which can lead to weight gain, which in turn increases your risk of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even certain cancers. Since I normally stick to diet soda, I thought I was in the clear - until a family member kindly informed me of the risks of diet soda - specifically type 2 diabetes, and this time it finally hit home. You see, I had gestational diabetes with my second born, which already puts me at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Drinking diet soda would definitely stack the odds against my favor.
Diet sodas contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener that decreases the activity of certain enzymes in your gut. "The decrease in enzymes can lead to metabolic syndrome, a “cluster of conditions” that can cause weight fluctuations, heart disease, stroke and even death. Diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome by more than 30% and, according to a study published by the American Diabetes Association, is also linked to the risk of Type 2 diabetes". (according to this article)
So I went on a quest to find healthier options to diet soda. I knew I could not just go cold turkey, and knew I wanted something carbonated with a hint of sugar. Below is my review of 4 healthy alternatives to soda:
1. Zevia
Maybe I picked the wrong flavor to try out, but it initially tasted like cherry cola, but the aftertaste was NOT pleasant, and was quite overwhelming.
2. Spindrift
This tasted like seltzer water, and I could barely taste any of the raspberry juice or lime juice. It's a no for me.
3. Bai Bubbles
WE HAVE A WINNER! This was absolutely delicious! Very refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. This was definitely my favorite, although a bit pricey when compared with regualr soda. I will be purchasing in the future!
4. Izze
As you can see from the nutritional information it' made with 70% juice, which is way too much sugar for me (20g). It tastes great though!
Do you have any healthy soda alternatives that you drink? Please share below, and thank you for stopping by!
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