Love Soda? Try My Healthy Soda Recipe (Only 2 Ingredients!) (2024)

If you’re craving soda or if you just want a break from water, this is the perfect healthy soda alternative for you.

It has the fizzy kick of soda without all the toxic sugar or artificial sweeteners. In fact, this special “soda” is packed with two key nutrients you need to be getting in your body. Check out the video…

To recap, here are those instructions again:

1) Sparkling Mineral Water

San Pellegrino is strongly recommended, because it’s one of the very few mineral waters that contains sulfate ions.

Sulfur is an essential mineral, but most people don’t get enough in their diet. Sulfur helps cleanse & detoxify your body, protects against oxidative stress, boosts your immune system, and can even help support your joints.1

2) Balsamic Vinegar

It’s naturally a little sweet and a little tangy, and contains an abundant amount of energy- and longevity-boosting polyphenols.

One study indicates that the polyphenols in balsamic vinegar helped inhibit LDL oxidation, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.2

To make the drink:

Love Soda? Try My Healthy Soda Recipe (Only 2 Ingredients!) (1)

Simply add a couple tablespoons of balsamic vinegar to a glass, top with San Pellegrino, stir, and enjoy.

You can even do it in restaurants! Just ask the waiter to bring over the balsamic and add a few drops to your mineral water.

It may seem crazy, but balsamic vinegar is naturally sweet… so this simple drink satisfies a sweet tooth AND a craving for carbonation.

This is one soda youwon’t feel guilty for loving.

WHY SHOULD I AVOID CONVENTIONAL SODA AND JUICE?

Perhaps you already know that a can of regular soda is a sugar-drenched health hazard. And it’s not always cane sugar that you need to be aware of. Many years ago, the Coca-Cola company switched from using sugar to high-fructose corn syrup in their soda drinks because, with corn subsidized by the government, it became a much more affordable option.

High-fructose corn syrup may not contain the word “sugar” but it’s as bad, if not worse, for your blood sugar and insulin levels than regular table sugar.

With this awareness, many people have made a switch to diet soft drinks or fruit juice to replace their soda habit. But this is just as much of a problem. Why?

1. Fruit juice beverages are loaded with as much sugar as soda.

A single 12 oz can of cola contains 33g of sugar. A 12 oz glass of orange juice can contain around 31g of sugar. How much sugar is that in simple terms? It’s around EIGHT teaspoons of sugar. You wouldn’t even sprinkle that on your cereal, so why would you drink a glass of it?

You may have heard me refer to fruit as “nature’s candy,” and that’s because it has as much sugar as some candies. You absolutely should enjoy some fruit in your diet, but do so in moderation, and when that fruit is in season. Think of it as a treat. You should also aim to eat fruit whole, as fruit contains essential fibers that we need for a healthy digestive system.

2. Calorie-free diet sodas may not be considered a “sugary drink”, BUT …

– that doesn’t mean that the other ingredients are good for you. In fact, if you’ve seen my milk and soda experiment, you’ll understand why.

The phosphorous and acids in your favorite can of “diet” soda are actually robbing your body of its most essential mineral: calcium. This is particularly bad for women, who are more naturally prone to osteoporosis due to their thinner bones and a loss of bone-protecting estrogen as they age. Calcium keeps your bones and teeth strong, while also supporting your heart, nerves, muscles, and a host of other crucial bodily functions. So, being deprived of calcium causes far greater problems than just bad teeth. As you will see in my experiment … when you drink soda, a barrier is instantly formed that prevents your body from absorbing calcium!

3. Artificial sweeteners can elicit an insulin response

Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, aspartame, saccharin, or even the plant-based stevia,can still elicit an insulin response in a diet soda drinker in much the same way that sugar does. When you’re drinking diet soda, the body starts to get used to these sugar substitutes and the tongue will start to send a message to the brain that something sweet is incoming. The brain then signals the pancreas to secrete insulin. So, despite the fact that the sweetener has no calories, it may still contribute to weight gain. That certainly makes me think twice about soda consumption of any kind.

“If it tastes sweet, retreat!

1Nimni M, Han B, Cordoba F. Are we getting enough sulfur in our diet? Nutrition & Metabolism. 2007;4(1):24. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-24

2Iizuka M, Tani M, Kishimoto Y, et al. Inhibitory Effects of Balsamic Vinegar on LDL Oxidation and Lipid Accumulation in THP-1 Macrophages. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. 2010;56(6):421-427. doi:10.3177/jnsv.56.421.

Love Soda? Try My Healthy Soda Recipe (Only 2 Ingredients!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest alternative to soda? ›

Low-Sugar Fruit Juices and Smoothies: Low-sugar — or even sugar-free — fruit juices and smoothies offer the natural sweetness of fruits without the excessive sugar content found in many commercial beverages. They are nutrient-packed, offering vitamins and minerals essential for overall health.

What is the best soda to drink with less sugar? ›

Other items based on your shopping history
  • Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, Cola, 12 oz, (10 Pack) ...
  • Boylan Sugar Cane Cola Soda (Glass Bottles), 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 12) ...
  • Diet Rite Pure Zero Diet Cola Soda, 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 24) ...
  • Diet Rite Cola Soda - 12/12 oz (2 pack)

How do I make my own soda? ›

Combine water and sugar in a pot on the stove and heat it until all of the sugar is dissolved. Pour the sugar water into a large bucket and add soda extract (or other flavors) and yeast. Divide the soda solution into different bottles and tightly seal the lids.

Does healthy soda exist? ›

Best Prebiotic Healthy Soda: Poppi Classic Cola

If you want to ditch co*ke and Pepsi, Poppi Classic Cola is a better-for-you prebiotic soda great for gut health and an extra immunity boost. Each can has real, clean ingredients and boasts fewer than 25 calories and 5g sugar.

What is the most unhealthy ingredient in soda? ›

Soda contains acids like phosphoric acid and carbonic acid. These acids create a highly acidic environment in your mouth, which makes your teeth vulnerable to decay. While the acids in soda can themselves cause damage, it is the combination with sugar that makes soda particularly harmful ( 55 , 56 ).

Is Sprite a healthy soda? ›

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.

Is ginger ale healthier than soda? ›

In the case of artificially flavored ginger ale, the beverage has no more health benefits than any other soda, which, of course, are zero. But in the case of ginger ale flavored by real ginger root, the beverage has marginally more health benefits than other soft drinks.

What soda has no sugar? ›

Coca‑Cola® Cherry Vanilla Zero Sugar

Cherry Vanilla co*ke Zero Sugar packs an unbelievably delicious punch of cherry and vanilla flavors, with ZERO sugar.

Is homemade soda healthier? ›

Store-bought sodas are typically higher in sodium than homemade versions by as much as several hundred milligrams. Some store-bought sodas may include artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and additives like phosphoric acid. These ingredients contain no nutritional value and may harm one's health.

What are the 3 main ingredients in soda? ›

It is relatively simple to manufacture soft drinks by mixing three ingredients: water, syrup and carbon dioxide. Different types of sugar are used to make the syrup: sucrose, fructose (which is derived from starch), or sweeteners.

Is homemade soda cheaper? ›

You'll save hundreds if you start making soda water at home. Tap water may be free but it ain't got much pizazz. I've developed a serious soda water habit over the years, and all that crushing of cans has formed a little seltzer-shaped hole in my budget.

What tastes like soda but is healthy? ›

Here 4 of the best alternatives to soda that will actually impact to your health in a positive way:
  • Sparkling water.
  • Teas (Iced or hot)
  • Coconut water.
  • Kombucha.
Apr 14, 2024

What is the healthiest cold drink? ›

Water earns the top place on the list of healthiest non-carbonated beverages. Consider this obvious answer as an invitation for you to add subtle citrus or cucumber flavors to your water. The average adult body is made up of around 47–56% water. Children may be nearly 74% water, depending on their age (2).

What's the healthiest co*ke to drink? ›

One can of co*ke has 39 grams of sugar, which is more than what's recommended to consume for the entire day. That's where Diet co*ke and co*ke Zero come in. Both drinks do not contain any calories or sugar. Instead, artificial sweeteners are used to make them taste good.

What to drink when giving up soda? ›

Water is a great choice, of course, but many people find it too bland or boring. You can try drinks like seltzer and unsweetened iced tea, and look for ways to make water fun. “Water comes in all kinds of varieties: iced, cold, room temp and hot, as well as infused with lemon, cucumber, mint and strawberry.

What to drink when you're craving soda? ›

6 ways to reduce your soda cravings
  • Infused sparkling water.
  • Kombucha.
  • Sparkling green tea.
  • Water with mint and cucumber.
  • Herbal or fruit teas.
  • Coconut water.

What are the top 5 healthiest drinks? ›

They may also be good for people with diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol, and safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  1. Green tea. ...
  2. Mint tea. ...
  3. Black coffee. ...
  4. Fat-free milk. ...
  5. Soy milk or almond milk. ...
  6. Hot chocolate. ...
  7. Orange or lemon juice. ...
  8. Homemade smoothies.

Is one soda a day okay? ›

Even one or two colas a day could increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 20%. Sugar intake is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and excess fat, all of which increase the risk of heart disease. Colas and other sugary drinks have been linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

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