However, some soft drinks designed for health-conscious consumers Poppi’s latest ads, describing itself as a “prebiotic” and “clean ingredient,” tout the future of soft drinks as “revelatory,” saying, “This will be the last time you think of soda as a dirty word, something that’s bad for you.” Advertising “In the future, everyone will drink soda,” the caption reads.
But is there really such thing as a healthy soft drink?
“It’s a philosophical question: Are products that are even slightly better for you a good choice?” Marion Nestle“If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, that’s one way to do it. I think these are better alternatives, but whether they’re good alternatives is another question,” said , professor emeritus of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, who wrote a book about the soda industry.
The growing soft drink market
The global carbonated soft drinks market is expected to reach an estimated $343.4 billion this year and grow, with North America accounting for the largest share. according to Mordor Intelligence, a food industry research company.
Several brands have become popular, many of which advertise themselves as low in calories and with little or no added sugar, including Olipop, which is expected to hit $500 million in sales this year. Bloomberg — Zevia, Whole Earth, Culture Pop, Live Soda, Sidekick, Green Cola.
Unregulated health claims
But when it comes to health, experts say most soft drinks, even the low-calorie ones, aren’t the best choice.
“In my field there’s a term called ‘health halo’ – trying to make something that isn’t that healthy look healthy, and I think that’s exactly what these products are,” he says. Marlene Schwartz“There’s a lot of things that companies can say that aren’t regulated, and this is something advocates have complained about for a long time,” added John Myers, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health at the University of Connecticut.
Companies are free to use unregulated terms like “clean,” “green” and “gut healthy,” and many use appealing labels like “naturally sweetened,” “with live probiotics,” “non-GMO,” and “all-natural flavors.” Nestlé and Schwartz say many of these claims are not based on thorough research, and it’s usually unclear whether these products contain enough of a particular “healthy” ingredient to provide a real positive effect.
Last month, consumers A class action lawsuit was filed The company filed suit against Poppi, alleging that the brand contains too little prebiotic ingredients to have the advertised benefits. Poppi did not respond to a request for comment, but in a statement to The Associated Press at the time of the lawsuit, it said it stands by its products and that the lawsuit was “without merit.”
One new soda brand, Olipop, says its product line “supports digestive health.” “OliSmart” It uses ingredients such as calendula flower, nopal cactus, kudzu root, and marshmallow root. In its marketing, the company claims its products contain prebiotics, botanicals, and fiber, and that some flavors promote immune system health.
Nestle said its Ollipop drink’s “ingredients list does not contain any indication of benefits for microbiome, digestive or metabolic health.” The amount of each ingredient It’s in every can.
“There’s clearly appeal to the health-conscious crowd,” she said, but she also said the drinks would be a better alternative to sugar-laden Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Olipop CEO Ben Goodwin said in an email that Olipop’s formulas are research-based and that the amount of fiber in its products is Maximum 9 grams per can Depending on the flavor, the products meet the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements for a “good source of dietary fiber.” The brand invests significant resources in research and development, including human clinical trials studying the products’ effects on metabolic health and other health markers, he said.
Health risks of sugary drinks
In addition to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, tooth decay, gout, arthritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and kidney disease have also been linked to frequent consumption of sugary drinks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Federal Dietary Guidelines Recommendation to American adults should not consume more than 10 percent of their daily calories from sugar, according to the American Heart Association. Suggest Women should consume no more than 25 grams per day, and men should consume no more than 36 grams per day.
But because liquid sugar doesn’t make you feel full, experts say many people may be consuming more sugar than they realise.
“A cookie is better than a sugary drink,” Schwartz says.
12 oz can Ollipop contains 2-5 grams of sugar,about 39 grams in a 12 ounce can of Coca-ColaSome newer soda brands touted as healthy actually contain zero sugar, primarily because they use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes like stevia.
Nestle also said it was still “hard to know” whether Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Pepsi Zero Sugar were significantly healthier choices than full sugar cans.
“Research over the past two years has shown that nearly all sweeteners are potentially harmful,” she said, adding that many sugar substitutes require complex chemical extraction processes.
“I don’t think anyone is defending regular Coke or Pepsi anymore,” Schwartz says, “but it’s a little frustrating when you’re really trying to help people eat healthier and every time you turn around it feels like there’s another product that’s being touted as healthy but isn’t actually helping people’s health.”
Schwartz and Nestle say that for people looking for a sweet, bubbly drink, making it at home may be the best option.
“Personally, I’m a big fan of carbonated water, and something I do with my kids is mix it with 100% juice,” Schwartz says. “The result is a drink that’s sweet, flavorful, bubbly, and everyone loves.”
