Best Alternatives for Diet Soda
Eat This, Not That! is reader-supported and every product we feature is independently vetted by our editors. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
It's no news that soda can derail your fitness goals. (You obviously know this, because you're looking for healthy soda alternatives.) This sugar-sweetened beverage increases your risk of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, according to a Journal of the American College of Cardiology report.
If you think you've got nothing to worry about because you only sip a can or two per day, you've got things all wrong. Researchers had found that drinking just one serving of pop a day can increase the risk of fatal heart disease or heart attack by a whopping 35 percent. No fizzy drink is worth that risk—which is why you should seek out healthy soda alternatives ASAP.
However, diet soda drinkers aren't safe either, mainly because the beverages are filled with potentially carcinogenic chemicals like caramel coloring (which is present in the regular varieties, too) and artificial sweeteners. "Even though diet drinks are calorie-free, they cause insulin to be released in your gut because their artificial sweeteners are sweet like sugar," says registered dietitian Miriam Jacobson, MS, RD, CNS. "Insulin is your body's primary fat-storage hormone, so consuming it will cause the body to hold onto any extra fat."
What soda alternatives you should buy
While your go-to source of hydration throughout the day should be water, it can be tough to go cold turkey if soda has been a part of your routine for a while. While coffee, detox water, and tea can make the transition to a soda-free life easier, sometimes you just want to grab something with a bit of fizz or familiar flavor that's ready-to-drink. Thankfully there are tons of healthy soda alternatives flooding the market that fit that very description, and we've got the scoop on the best of them. Then, don't miss The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
These are the 25 best healthy alternatives to soda you can buy to cut back on sugar-laden cola.
Nutrition, per can: 35 calories, 25 mg sodium, 12 g carbs (9 g fiber, 2 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Stevia
This is the closest thing you're going to get to real cola but with 37 fewer grams of sugar and zero artificial sweeteners. OLIPOP is unique not only in that it's a low-sugar drink, but also because it's a powerful dietary supplement. This sparkling tonic contains 9 grams of prebiotic fiber: a type of dietary fiber that's immensely beneficial for improving digestive health. That's particularly important for chronic soda drinkers as research consistently links high-sugar diets with inflammation and gut health imbalance. Drink a healthy soda like OLIPOP, and you may be able to reverse the unhealthy side effects of drinking too much soda!
$35.99 per 12-pack at OLIPOP
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 9 calories, 0 mg sodium, 2 g carbs (1 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
There are 11 different flavors of Spindrift sparkling soda, all of which contain between zero and two grams of sugar. Fruit puree is the only thing that sweetens this fizzy drink—there are zero added sugars and zero sweeteners (like stevia or monk fruit extract). While we're partial to raspberry lime, you may also enjoy the Half & Half variety, which is a sugar-free lemonade and iced tea mixture.
$17.97 per 24-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can:0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: Stevia
This small company, founded by soda-loving parents who wanted something healthier for their children, distributes a variety of low-sugar (well, technically zero sugar) classic soda flavors, from cola to ginger ale to grape, without using artificial sweeteners or colors. Depending on which you pick, some of these sodas have a touch of caffeine. The flavor Dr. Zevia, for example, packs 42 milligrams of caffeine, which is about a little less than half of what a cup of joe would offer. The black cherry flavor, however, doesn't have a single trace of caffeine, which makes it an ideal option for those later afternoon soda cravings without having to jeopardize your sleep.
$22.93 per 24-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 35 calories, 0 mg sodium, 8 g carbs (3 g fiber, 5 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Cold-pressed juices, monk fruit
If you're swearing off the sweet stuff, you might be better off opting for low-sugar drinks rather than cutting sugar out of your diet completely. (Yes, sugar withdrawals are real.) For that, you'll want to grab a can of Health-Ade Pop: a kombucha-based beverage that gets all of its sweetness from tart and tangy cold-pressed lemon and lime juice. You'll never look at Sprite the same.
$19.99 per 8-pack at Health-Ade
Buy Now
Nutrition, per 16-oz bottle: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: N/A
Hint Water may not be carbonated, cola-flavored, or sold in 64-ounce Big Gulps, but these flavored bottled waters do have 60 milligrams of caffeine derived from coffee beans. That's more than you'll find in Diet Dr. Pepper (41 mg) or Mountain Dew (54 mg), so you're sure to get the jolt your of energy your body needs—without having to down a bunch of chemicals or brew up a cup of coffee. Try these soda alternatives, and you'll probably never go back to Coke again.
$19.99 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 60 calories, 0 mg sodium, 15 g carbs (15 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Cane sugar
Four ingredients are all you'll find in this healthy alternative to soda. While this doesn't necessarily fall on the side of low-sugar drinks, Dry Botanical Bubbly is still a healthy soda because it has more than 50% less added sugar than your average soda.
$18.00 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
There are low-sugar drinks, and then there are zero sugar drinks, like Minna, that still taste as delicious and satisfying as that can of cola you've been sipping on for years. With 45 milligrams of caffeine from green tea, Minna takes you to the tropics with this slightly effervescent spin on green tea with notes of pineapple and passion fruit.
$28.00 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
In an odd twist of fate, the people that brought you Coca-Cola now makes a zero-added-sugar healthy soda! AHA, owned and operated by The Coca-Cola Company, is a new line of fruity, zero-sugar seltzers. Most of the flavors are caffeine-free, but if you typically reach for a soda to get that jolt, grab a can of the Citrus + Green Tea that boasts 30 milligrams of caffeine per can. And if you ever feel like caffeine is dehydrating, AHA has you covered. The brand adds a blend of electrolytes to keep you from experiencing any side effects of dehydration.
$3.00 per 8-pack at Amazon Fresh
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
Flavored with real organic grapefruit juice along with natural flavors, GOJAI is an organic sparkling water with 45 milligrams of caffeine from raw green coffee beans. Skip out on the sugary coffee drinks and replace them with this fruity healthy soda.
$21.95 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: N/A
Bubly is Pepsi's sparkling water brand, and the cheerful cans aren't the only thing that'll make you smile. The line comes in 12 different flavors, including grapefruit, apple, orange, and cherry just to name a few. Replace a sugary soda with this carbonated beverage, and your flat belly goals won't seem as unattainable.
$14.30 per 18-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle:5 calories, 10 mg sodium, 9 g carbs (1 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Erythritol, stevia extract
Bai Bubbles, which comes in flavors like Guatemala Guava, Jamaica Blood Orange, and Bolivia Black Cherry, are sweetened with fruit juice, erythritol, and stevia and powered by 45 milligrams of caffeine from coffeefruit extract, thanks to the tea and coffee fruit. They're delicious enjoyed straight-up or as a mixer.
Nutrition, per 8.4-oz can: 90 calories, 15 mg sodium, 23 g carbs (21 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
Apple juice is no longer just for toddlers. IZZE makes a line of sparkling juices, like this sparkling apple flavor, that is made of 70% fruit juice and a splash of sparkling water. Don't get it twisted—this is by no means a low-sugar drink; however, it's still a healthy alternative to soda because it's significantly lower in sugar than your average can of cola. For the summer, IZZE has you covered with a low-sugar version of lemonade.
$18.84 per 24-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle: 10 calories, 10 mg sodium, 3 g carbs (2 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Cane sugar
If you want a healthy energy drink Runa has got you covered. What separates this energy drink from others, though, is that Runa's six flavors are all made from guayusa leaves—a plant that's native to the Amazon rainforest with double the antioxidant capacity as green tea. Each 12-ounce can boasts 150 mg of caffeine, which is much more than the typical 95 mg a standard 8-ounce cup of coffee houses.
$29.88 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle: 70 calories, 10 mg sodium, 18 g carbs (18 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
One of her albums may be called Lemonade, but Beyoncé promotes another kind of drink, too. Queen B has invested in WTRMLN WTR, a pressed juice with just three ingredients: watermelon flesh and rind, and lemon. Not only is it light and refreshing, but it's also a functional beverage to boot. In a study of Spanish athletes, researchers found that watermelon juice can diminish post-workout soreness, likely thanks to its high potassium and magnesium content, two electrolytes that aid hydration, muscle relaxation, and restorative sleep, explains Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN. Sure the sugar count in the beverage is higher than in some flavored waters, but all of the sweet stuff comes from fruit. Simply put: Don't sweat it.
$3.99 per bottle at Whole Foods
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: N/A
This classic sparkling drink is made purely from natural mineral water. Similar to Perrier, S. Pellegrino has been around for more than 100 years, with its foundations beginning in Italy in 1899. Pop open a bottle of this smooth, fizzy, no-calorie refreshment.
$17.16 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per 16-oz bottle: 30 calories, 29 mg sodium, 9 g carbs (8 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Organic agave nectar, organic stevia
By adding fruits that have detoxifying properties in their flesh and peels to water, you can sip your way slim with the right kind of detox water. What could be more awesome than that? Well, Detox Water comes close by taking the legwork out of the equation. To create their signature beverages, the drink combines water, agave, fruit juice flavors, and aloe vera (a potent skin firmer and fat burner), stevia and vitamins (like 14-18 percent of your day's vitamin B6 and B12). While it's more caloric than making a batch of detox water at home, it's not a bad runner-up if you don't have time to make it yourself.
$34.99 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: N/A
Do you know what the difference between club soda, seltzer, and sparkling water is? Believe it or not, the words are not interchangeable even though there are only very slight differences between the three. Seltzer has roots in Germany and, at the time, was pulled from a natural spring. While that may not be the case for all seltzer waters you see on the market today, Polar Seltzer water offers a long list of different, refreshing flavors, none of which cost you any calories.
$24.09 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle: 10 calories, 25 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Sugar
While the name may be a bit off-putting (who wants to drink something bitter?!), don't let that scare you away from this trendy elixir. This drink is made by blending sparkling water with the highly concentrated liquid extractions of herbs, roots, and fruit. (If you're into craft cocktails, you've likely had bitters in boozy drinks like the Manhattan and the Sazerac.) Think of these cans as the cooler younger sibling of seltzer.
$29.99 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per 16-oz bottle: 50 calories, 10 mg sodium, 12 g carbs (12 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: N/A
Kombucha is the bubbly, antioxidant-rich, and probiotic-infused drink that serves as some of the best soda alternatives. GT's has been a pioneer in the kombucha industry — the company has been fermenting this beverage for a quarter of a century. Sip on this bottle, and you'll get that carbonation you love with the spice of ginger and a touch of acid. GT's may have 12 grams of sugar, but zero of those are "added sugars." Instead, the sweetness comes from natural kiwi juice that serves as food for the yeast during fermentation. For more of our favorite kombucha flavors, see: 11 Best Low-Sugar Kombucha Brands You Can Buy.
$2.97 per bottle at Amazon Fresh
Buy Now
Nutrition, per bottle: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: N/A
Sure, the cans may look like something that's filled with the latest boozy drinks coveted by festival-going college kids, but ask anyone who's tried a can of the stuff (both young and old) and they'll tell you: LaCroix sparkling water is straight up delicious. The bubbles are light and frothy and the flavor is just intense enough to be pleasing. It's really no wonder that the drink has assumed a cult-like following.
$23.95 per 14-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar
Added sweeteners: N/A
Perrier has been around since 1863, making it the longest standing company on this list of soda alternatives. Today, the sparkling mineral water company produces eight different flavors of sparkling water, including green apple, peach, and even a hybrid of lemon and orange cleverly called, L'Orange. You won't miss the sugar in these bubbly beverages.
$13.62 per 30-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can:10 calories, 0 mg sodium, 10 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners:Organic cane sugar, allulose syrup, monk fruit
Boasting 2 billion probiotics per can, HUMM Zero Sugar Kombucha is the perfect way to support your gut and your heart. Made with a blend of organic teas and sweetened with calorie and sugar-free allulose syrup, the beverge also remarkably offers vitamin B12—which is largely found in animal protein and animal product.
$48.00 per 16-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 30 calories, 5 mg sodium, 8 g carbs (8 g sugar)
Added sweeteners:Organic cane sugar, organic erythritol
Not only will this canned Yerba Mate beverage give you the caffeine (160 milligrams) and fizzy texture you crave without a ton of sugar, but 50% of the proceeds go toward supporting those who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.
$32.95 per 12-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, o mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners:N/A
Made with carbonated water, organic watermelon extract, and peppermint leaf extract, this is as natural as it gets. Other Aura Bora flavors include Cactus Rose, Lavendar Cucumber, Basil Berry, and Lemongrass Coconut.
$29.99 for a pack of 12 at Amazon
Buy Now
Nutrition, per can: 0 calories, <5 mg sodium, 14 g carbs (0 g sugar)
Added sweeteners: Erythritol, stevia, monk fruit
Sweetened with a mix of erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit, you can enjoy a crisp can of ginger ale without all of the added sugar thanks to Reed's.
$45.99 per 24-pack at Amazon
Buy Now
Best Alternatives for Diet Soda
Source: https://www.eatthis.com/healthy-soda-alternatives/
0 Response to "Best Alternatives for Diet Soda"
Post a Comment