Who doesn’t love to enjoy an ice-cold soda after a long day, especially in this East Texas heat during the summertime? Whatever your drink of choice there is something addicting, enjoyable and refreshing about drinking a soda and each time is just as good as the last.
Even though they are enjoyable we all know that one look at the nutrition facts on the back of the can it doesn’t evoke the same feelings.
There is a wide variety of brands and flavors of soft drinks to choose from, but the sugar content can range from 8 grams per can to a jaw dropping 42 grams per can. To put that into perspective, that is like choosing to eat 2 marshmallows or 10 of them consecutively. This amount of sugar over long periods of time can lead to health complications down the road.
So then, are there any healthier alternatives out there for those of us that need our “fix” of carbonation? I for one have noticed that over the past year or so have become hooked on soft drinks but not for the sugar or flavor but rather the carbonation that it has.
So, in my quest to find perhaps a healthier option I have come across some new drinks that I would have otherwise not payed attention to.
Like soft drinks there is a wide variety of brands and flavors to choose from. However, my drink of choice is Topo Chico mineral water. I was first introduced to this beverage about 6 months ago and at first, I was a skeptic when it came to flavor but found that it wasn’t bad at all. Currently they have 3 flavors, plain, lime and grapefruit. Even though plain flavor may sound boring and unappealing you can get creative and add your own twist of flavor into the drink with fresh fruit or vegetables, but the best part is that it contains 0 grams of sugar and all of the bubbly goodness.
Additionally, an option that is out there that could save money in your wallet long-term is a SodaStream Sparkling Water maker. Last Christmas my girlfriend got me one of these as a gift and needless to say I am not disappointed.
The price for one starts at about $90 and though it may seem like a lot to fork out for a soda, it’ll pay for itself over time. The way it works is it injects Carbon Dioxide (the bubbles in a soda) under pressure into a bottle filled with water, shake it up and that’s it! Each CO2 tank lasts you a good while, depending of course on how much you use it. I’ve had mine since Christmas, and I have yet to replace the tank.
Even though these alternatives are better than the 42 grams of sugar in a regular soda, it doesn’t hurt to remind you that too much of anything, even a good thing, can be a bad thing. So the next time you are out getting a Dr. Pepper why not look into a SodaStream or mineral water and find what you like. Who knows- you might be surprised! I was.
