30/365 Sparkle Yes, Soda No

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Today I mistakenly grabbed a sparkling water beverage. Much to my dismay, it was sweetened with sucralose and had, go figure, 0 calories. This to me is the equivalent of a diet soda. One might rejoice at this but, when you think about it, neither are good alternatives. How is it that something can taste sweet but not made with sugar? Sucralose and other artificial sweeteners are gimmicks that tell your brain you had sugar even though your body is without.

I have found some healthier alternative to soda, diet soda, crystal light, sparkling water beverages. These are sparkling juices and sparkling waters. R. W. Knudsen has a new drink called Sparkling Essence. You won't find high fructose corn syrup or any other artificial sweetener here. The flavor is infused by brewing organic ingredients; what is left is a refreshing taste that isn't too sweet or too strong. Another brand to try is Izze. They have sparkling juice and sparkling natural soda. You may note that these have comparable calories and grams of sugar to soda. However, Izze and most every natural sparkling juice or soda, wins (with fewer amounts on both counts) every time.

So, when you're at the grocery store, consider purchasing a natural sparkling juice/soda/water. Be sure to check the ingredients. If you are given the choice between soda, sparkling something, or water you know that H2O is the way to go  :)

In health,

Lauren