Like the other millions of people in the world, I am guilty of drinking too much soda. With my attempts at living a healthier life, I went on a search to find the best alternatives to drinking soda. Since I have started this new drinking diet, I have never felt more energized. So these suggestions can be helpful if you are looking for ways to break your soda drinking habit. It is okay to drink soda, but too much of it can cause many health issues. But by taking the initiative to stop the habit now, you are one step closer to a long, happy, and healthy life.
1. Drink a glass of water first
Often at times, people drink soda because they are thirsty. In actuality, soda makes people more dehydrated so it is best to drink a big glass of water prior to drinking soda. Stephanie Sacks, nutritionist, revealed, “A lot of times, people drink soda just because they're bored, or they're thirsty, and that's what's available or that's what they're used to” (“13 Ways To Stop”). On the contrary, people should approach their thirst in a different way. For instance, after drinking a glass of water, you will be less likely to want to drink a can of soda. This method can be done anywhere. If you are out and about shopping or working then you can carry a bottle of water with you.
2. Try natural brands
Natural brands do not consist of high-fructose corn syrup or any additional sweeteners. Thus, they have less sugary substance. These natural brands are healthier than the big name brand sodas. Sacks suggests that, even though natural brands are more expensive, they have many benefits for your health. She recommends the natural brands: Grown Up Soda, Santa Cruz Organics, and Blue Sky (“13 Ways To Stop”).
3. Mix soda with water
By drinking half water and half soda, the individual consumes more water. In addition, it will hydrate them. An Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical, Lona Sandon pointed out that, “You're automatically drinking less [soda] and hydrating and filling up with water, which is a good thing” (“13 Ways To Stop”). Most importantly, the half and half mixture allows the person to get use to drinking the soda with less sugar and eventually stop drinking soda entirely.
4. Purchase caffeine-free soda
The previous steps may appear too drastic for some so another option is to start off by incorporating caffeine-free sodas into the diet versus drinking caffeinated sodas. The taste is practically the same (“13 Ways To Stop”). Author Amanda MacMillan touched on this subject and said, “When our bodies get used to regular caffeine, we crave more of it prompting us to drink more” (“13 Ways To Stop”). Therefore, by drinking the caffeine-free sodas, you won’t easily become addicted as you would with caffeinated drinks.
5. Drink nutritional water
In the "Opportunities To Reduce Children's Excessive Consumption Of Calories From Beverages", Ryan Radar states, “The excessive consumption of SSBs (super-sweetened beverages) can result in a poor diet with inadequate intake of micro- nutrients” (1047).
Although soda is more flavorful, you can try adding natural fruits to the mix so that it will contain more nutritional value. Some examples are adding cucumbers, oranges, lemons, and strawberries. You are not limited to just fruits either. You can always add herbs such as fresh mint to your water.
6. Try seltzer water or tablets
For some, carbonation is what draws them in to drink soda. Alternatively, seltzers come in liquid and solid form with or without flavor. This way the consumer still gets his carbonated fix while being in control of how sweet his drink is. Hence, Sandon realized, “We acquire a taste for sugar depending on how much we have on a daily basis" (“13 Ways To Stop”). She concurred that if people chose to follow this method then after a course of time sodas will appear to be sweeter to them. In turn, it will make people not want to drink sodas as often.
7. Avoid soda temptations
It can be difficult to not be tempted to drink your favorite soda when you are at work, school, a restaurant, or even at home (Radar 1051). However, there are ways to conquer or avoid the temptations. First off, you can bring your own healthy non-soda product so that you won’t be tempted to purchase from a restaurant. Your body will be sure to thank you by feeling more energized and alive.
8. Save it for special occasions
After all the hard work of learning how to wean oneself off of soda, you can indulge in a celebratory soda every once in a while. Sacks goes to mention, "Just do it from a place of education: If you understand that soda is essentially just sugar and artificial flavorings, then you can be more smart about when or if you're going to drink it” (“13 Ways To Stop”). In laymen terms, when you are craving a soda, you have every right to drink one. On the other hand, Sacks cautions that it does not mean you go out and drink twenty-four cans at a time.
