Sorry, there isn't a “healthiest” soda when it comes to the traditional soft drink. Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Mountain Dew – whatever your preference, a similar-sized soda will have around the same sugar and caffeine content.
Wave is a new take on healthy soda, comprising 85 percent sparkling water, 15 percent fruit juice, and 42mg natural caffeine. Each can has just 15 to 25 calories and 2 to 6g sugar, depending on the flavor. They all have natural ingredients and are entirely void of added sugars and sweeteners.
Soda is bad for a person's health. Widespread evidence indicates that sugar-sweetened and diet soda can contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular problems. Alternatives to soda are widely available.
Nutrients experts recommend 8 glasses of water per day while limiting soda or better yet, avoiding it altogether. Firstly, soda is caffeinated and high levels of caffeine may lead to dehydration. Water has the opposite effect, it is calorie free and hydrating and the benefits are priceless.
Fruit-flavoured fizzy drinks like lemonade and fizzy orange are slightly better choices than cola, but not ideal as your regular drink. The combination of sugar and acid can damage your teeth, and over time, excess calories from a high-sugar diet can lead to weight gain.
Fanta is a fruit-flavored soda that is generally higher in calories and sugar than Coke, which is a classic cola that offers various low- and no-calorie options. However, both sodas should be consumed in moderation as they are not considered healthy beverages.
Even that amount — even if it is a diet soda — can hurt your health. An American Diabetes Association study reported that consuming one or more sodas per day compared to none at all increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and type 2 diabetes by 67%.
Sparkling water provides hydration, and it's a much better option than drinking regular soda or even diet soda, which does not provide adequate hydration. If a person's not hydrated, they may always feel hungry because the body can't tell the difference between hunger and thirst.
Although The Food and Drug Administration believe the levels of benzene found in soda have been tested and should not be a cause for alarm, many companies may not devote the time and effort to monitor the levels. Therefore, most strict recommendations indicate that you should not drink more than one can of soda a week.
According to the American Heart Association, women should limit their sugar intake to only 100 calories per day, or about 25 grams of sugar. For men, the recommendation is 150 calories per day or about 37 grams of sugar. That means the leading soda brands put you well above your daily limit in just one can.
If you're about to reach for a second can of sugary pop, you may want to think again. Experts have said people should drink a maximum of one sugary drink a week – or risk a host of health problems from heart attacks to cancer.
