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Soda replacement
Before the World Health Organization announced that the artificial sweetener aspartame could cause cancer, diet soda was considered the lesser of two evils. And while some experts say this news isn’t as bad as it seems, there is other evidence that diet soda may be harmful to your health.
Whatever your reason for leaving, we know it’s not easy, especially if you’ve loved diet drinks since their debut in the 1950s. However, the transition will be easier if you can replace your habit with one of these low-sugar soda alternatives.
Sparkling water
We live in the golden age of sparkling water. Need proof? Visit any grocery store and you’ll notice that there are entire aisles dedicated to flavored and unflavored seltzer. There’s something for everyone: Liquid Death for zoomers, La Croix for millennials, and Polar for Gen X. The best part is that they’re all sugar-free and aspartame-free.
tea mushroom
If, on the other hand, you’re a yoga-loving, Whole Foods-shopping yuppie, then you might be more open to kombucha. The fermented and slightly sweet tea drink has skyrocketed in popularity, in part because it contains probiotics and antioxidants. Although kombucha may contain added sugar, it is usually less than regular soda.
Tea
There’s a reason peoples have enjoyed tea for thousands of years. This is a flavorful drink that is prepared in minutes. Green tea also has health benefits, with studies showing it can help with weight loss and improved cognitive function. It’s also completely sugar-free, meaning it’s suitable for people with type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other conditions that require a low-sugar diet.
Coconut water
While some fruit juices aren’t much better than artificially sweet drinks, coconut water is generally low in calories, carbs, and sugar. It is loved by athletes as it contains important electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and magnesium.
Fruit water
Take your favorite fruits, vegetables and herbs and make an ice water infusion. It’s tasty, healthy and cheap. Popular combinations include cucumber and lemon; strawberry, lemon and mint; and orange and lime.
Fruit and vegetable juices
Fruit and vegetable juices aren’t necessarily healthy: Juice blends may contain as much sugar as sodas, but they have more nutrients than sugary sodas. Some of the healthiest juices include cranberry, tomato, beet, pomegranate and apple.
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Coffee
If you need to keep up your caffeine intake while you give up diet sodas, coffee is an obvious choice. As long as you don’t add milk or sugar, it’s sugar-free and (virtually) calorie-free and rich in antioxidants.
Connected: I’m a coffee snob. This cheap coffee is the best, IMHO
Healthy carbonated drinks
Although it sounds like a contradiction, several popular companies make healthy soft drinks. There’s Zevia, a sugar-free sparkling water sweetened with stevia. Or, for the particularly health-conscious, there are Olipop and Poppi, two low-sugar prebiotic sodas.
Connected: I Tried 9 Spindrift Soda Flavors and They Were the Best (and Worst)
Water flavors
While some water flavors contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, many enhancers have a clean list of just a few ingredients. For example, True Lemon Crystallized Lemon is an aromatic powder made from real lemons.
Connected: The Best Good & Gather Sparkling Water Flavors—And the Ones You Should Keep on the Shelf
Mineral water
We admit it’s a little boring, but you can’t go wrong with a glass of cold mineral water. And despite what you might think, tastes can vary greatly from source to source. The best part is that you can drink as much as you want (if your wallet allows) without increasing your sugar intake.
This article was originally published on Cheapism
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