Soda is not a health drink, but a look at the ingredients, from the high-fructose corn syrup to the artificial colors and flavors and preservatives, may make you avoid this occasional treat entirely. For those who simply cannot do without soda, it is easy to make your own somewhat healthier drink: Start with seltzer (also known as soda water) and add flavorings.
Simple Syrup
Simple syrup, the basis for many cocktails, is also the building block of natural soda. Bring one cup of water and one cup of sugar to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for three minutes. Pour into a glass jar and refrigerate.
To make a lemon-flavored soda, put 1/4 cup of simple syrup into a glass and fill with cold soda water. Stir in one tablespoon fresh lemon juice.
For lime soda, substitute lime juice for the lemon juice.
Ginger Ale and Cream Soda
For ginger ale, make the simple syrup as above, but add four slices of peeled, fresh ginger to the water and sugar. Use 1/4 cup of the ginger syrup plus the soda water to make your own ginger ale. It tastes great and is also a good way to settle your stomach, particularly for pregnant women who are trying to avoid high-fructose corn syrup.
Cream soda is vanilla flavored, so for this, make the regular simple syrup and add a tablespoon of pure vanilla extract after the syrup has cooled. Again, use 1/4 cup of the flavored simple syrup in a glass of soda water.
Sugar-Free
"Natural" does not mean sugar-free, but once you start eliminating things like high-fructose corn syrup, you may start thinking about drinking an even healthier soda. One way to do this is to add juice to soda water; 1/4 cup of orange juice topped off with soda water replicates orange soda, and pomegranate juice and cranberry juice make more exotic natural sodas. If these are not sweet enough, add a tablespoon or two of grape juice, which is naturally so sweet that you may not miss the added sugar.
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