Natural Sodas
By relache
Confessions of a Cola Lover
I must confess, I love to drink soft drinks, aka cola, aka soda pop. I grew up during the big Cola Wars of the late 70s and early 80s. I remember drinking from ring tab-topped cans, where we'd pull the ring tab off the soda can, and then drop it inside the can before drinking it.
But now as an adult, I've learned just how bad soft drinks can be. Genetically-modified ingredients, empty calories and the scourge of carbonation all combine to make one really nutritionally-bereft beverage. However, since going "cold turkey" is really hard, I've decided to 1) cut way back on how much I drink them and 2) switch to products that contain healthier ingredients for when I decide to give in to my cravings.
I've
tried a whole bunch of natural sodas and there definitely are a few
that have captured the fancy of my taste buds. So I can still have a
cold soda on a hot summer day, or a root beer float when I get the urge but now I do it without a lot of chemicals or high fructose corn syrup.
FENTIMANS - a delightful natural soda, dating back to the early 1900s
 | Amazon Price: $2.15 |
 | Amazon Price: $18.49 |
 | Amazon Price: $137.45 List Price: $161.82 |
Negative Health Effects of Soda
- TODAY Health - 5 great reasons to kick your soda habit
Here are five reason beyond the obvious for why it's good to give up drinking sodas. - Fructose in soft drinks linked to body fat increase
Drinking large amounts of beverages containing fructose adds body fat, and might explain why sweetening with fructose could be even worse than using other sweeteners, according to a new report. - The Health Hazards of Drinking Coca-Cola and other Soft Drinks
This is a compilation of quotes about the destructive health effects of soft drinks from some of the leading authors on health, nutrition and junk food. - Dangers of Soda Pop (Carbonated Soft Drinks)
Some people drink soda pop as if it is water, some even instead of water. Sure, the primary ingredient is water, but, with all the other stuff it contains it can have atoxicpoisonouslethalvenomous seriously harmful effect on your entire body. - Diet Sodas May Hurt Kidneys - NPR Health Blog : NPR
Researchers analyzing the health habits of thousands of nurses found that women who drank two or more diet sodas daily had a two-fold increase in the risk of a significantly faster drop in their kidneys' ability to filter blood...
What Makes Soft Drinks Bad
High-Fructose Corn Syrup - this is made from corn and is found in just about every junk food due to the fact that government subsidies make it so cheap. A lot of debate is going on as to just how physically-damaging this substance might be.
Distilled water - Most mass-produced soft drinks are made with distilled water, which acts to leech minerals out of the body. So not only do you get a lot of empty calories, you're losing other nutrients that you need.
Carbonation - The bubbly effect of a carbonated drink also acts to remove minerals from the body. This is a concern especially for women's health, as it can accelerate bone-related issues as they age.
What Do You Call These Drinks?
I call them
See results without votingCola Bans and Taxes
- Karnataka re-imposes select ban on soft drinks
The Karnataka government on Wednesday re-imposed a ban on the sale and distribution of soft drinks within the premises of schools, colleges and hostels with immediate effect. - Venezuela Bans Coke Zero, Cites 'Health Dangers'
President Hugo Chavez ordered Coca-Cola Co to withdraw its Coke Zero beverage from the South American nation, citing unspecified dangers to health.
Oogave Soda - agave nectar instead of sugar
 | Amazon Price: $37.70 List Price: $43.74 |
 | Amazon Price: $183.41 List Price: $218.70 |
 | Amazon Price: $37.70 List Price: $43.74 |
My Favorite Natural Soda
I've been trying to find a more natural soda for when I just can't help but indulge and this one is my new favorite: Oogave. Made with agave, a plant-derived sweetener, this soda is not only gluten-free but vegan and the agave doesn't cause spikes in your blood sugar levels. And at a mere 98 calories for a 12 fl oz bottle, it's much lower in calories than many other sodas on the market.
So far I've found few flavors I really like. Their classic cola flavor is a lot like your mainstream cola and their root beer is just as delicious as the full-sugar version and the ginger ale does the trick. I'm not a fruit-flavored soda person but I know several people who really like the mandarin key lime.
Boylands Soda - made with cane sugar
 | Amazon Price: $39.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $39.00 |
The Soda Tax Debate
- A Soda Tax Would Be Smart, Banning Big Cups Is Dumb - Slate Magazine (blog)
Forbes A Soda Tax Would Be Smart, Banning Big Cups Is Dumb Slate Magazine (blog) By contrast, a per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages would equally deter all different means of consumption. But more... - 14 hours ago
- Why ban soda when you can tax it? - Washington Post (blog)
Why ban soda when you can tax it? Washington Post (blog) the House Minority leader quipped, when asked about outlawing sodas larger than 16 ounces. Some have suggested less invasive ways to limit... - 12 hours ago
- High Taxes on Sodas Could Reduce Obesity Rates, Experts Say - Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
High Taxes on Sodas Could Reduce Obesity Rates, Experts Say Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) Imposing hefty taxes on sodas could curb consumption and make a significant difference in the fight... - 4 hours ago
ZEVIA - this soda uses stevia
 | Amazon Price: $27.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $27.00 |
Make Your Own Soda Alternative
There is a really easy way to make your own soda or cola alternatives at home. You can start with either a natural club soda, or even a sparkling mineral water if you'd like to have the beverage add some minerals instead of leeching them out of your body.
Then it's just a simple case of adding your own flavoring. Fruit juice concentrates, home-squeezed juice and flavored syrups are all good options. The first thing to remember is that these just won't be as sweet as commercial drinks but after a while your sense of taste will shift and then the store-bought stuff starts to taste overly-sweet. It also takes a bit of experimentation to find the right blend, so be sure to make notes of your flavor to club soda ratio so that when you find the right balance, you've got it written down.
The Cola Confessional
I've tried the zevia and izze before. They are both good taste wise but I did prefer the izze.
as far as sodium...i am on a low sodium diet and my doctor told me that there is not all that much sodium in a soda if you watch what kind you are consuming..i drink 7-up which only delivers 100mg of sodium out of a 1 liter bottle..that isnt bad for sodium levels...you get more sodium out of a can of corn..i watch my sodium closely so i know this one..but as far as the carbination and all that...it is very good to know..i used to drink 18 pepsi colas a day...A DAY...i am down to no caffeine and only 2 pops a day...so I am getting better at it...someday it will just be a treat for me...thank you for the helpful information...
Knowledge and wisdom are complementary. Your hub is focused in the same manner. Having a study of your hub one can easily understand what is wrong and right for his health as well as for wealth.
I am sitting at work here drinking some IZZE soda for the first time. Sparkling Pomegranate. I immediately thought of this article so had to comment. It is really very good. Tart and sweet.
Back in college, I used to drink 2-liter bottles of Jolt, before the FDA made them tone it down. One time I drank it to stay awake so I could study for a physics exam. I was awake for 3 days straight! Three days after the exam, I was down from my sugar high, and I got the test results back. I got a B+, and I could not remember answering any one of the questions. Heck, I didn't even know the answers to questions I answered correctly! Talk about living in a parallel universe!
I love coke but sometimes its as if i can hear my teeth screaming, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I agree with the badness of carbornated drinks and some fruit juices. These are not good for people with arthritis. The sodium content of these drinks cause water retention and painful swelling in the joints. Caffinated drinks can cause athritis and numerous other medications to be less effective in treating the medical conditions they are meant to relieve.
When I was young one of my friend had a seltzer bottle, you know the kind they spray one another with in the 3 Stooges? Anyway, you'd get your concentrated juice, then shoot the seltzer into it. You had to buy these little canisters of carbon-whatever, plug them into the top and fill the bottle with water - presto - homemade soda!
"Most mass-produced soft drinks are made with distilled water, which acts to leech minerals out of the body" wow I didn't know this! My Dad always had distilled water in the shed and told me I shouldn't really ever drink it - it wouldn't kill me, but wouldn't help me either - he called it 'stale water'. Thanks for this hub - it makes you think eh! I love the ideas you have for using club soda and juice...
Nice information,I love soft drinks too.
China? I could have sworn I read somewhere it was from Italy. Oh well.
I have to admit that I haven't given up on soda yet. I am not a huge soda drinker, but when I do I want the sugary kind. Most often I end up drinking coffee, tea or juice instead.
With the Archer Farms line being produced in China, I have to say I'll pass, given the various production problems with imports from that country that have occurred in the past year.
There is a Target import brand called Archer Farms soda. It claims to be all natural. A look at the ingredients suggests it is true.
They have some great flavors too. My favorite is Peach/Pear.
Great hub - I share your love of soda - sometimes just cannot resist a Diet Coke, especially with tortilla chips and salsa - but I do love the natural sodas - especially Izze - why is it so hard sometimes to make the right choices with all of these great options?
I do not drink coffee but I am a sucker for a cold Pepsi. Now that I am getting older I know that I need to let this habit go.
Ms. Chevious, you might want to try the Zevia soda listed here. It was invented by a guy who wanted to create a healthier product for his diet-soda-fixated girlfriend.
I stopped drinking coca cola and lost ten pounds in a months time..no lie! Now if I could just kick the diet pepsi habit! :)
Excellent hub - "per usual"
I sincerely thank you for the info. Being a woman that is on the downside (just a little) of fifty, the information about the carbonation leading to bone additional bone issues is something I can take to heart. I knew soft drinks were no good for you, but I had no ideal how really BAD they are. Since I'm sharing information with readers about staying healthy, this is definitely one for my "link to this page"!
relache 15 months ago
I agree with you, Karen, that Izze tastes better than Zevia.