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Is Ginger Ale any healthier than other carbonated soft drinks?
- Thread starter agkm800
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It probably depends on the brand of ginger ale. Start by comparing the nutrition labels.
I'd say yes and no. I think any non-caffeinated drink is better than one with caffeine.
Outside of that though.....no.....not really.
Outside of that though.....no.....not really.
Lets be honest neither are a great choice for health. Just choose what you prefer to drink (beer for me!) or if you want to be healthy go for water or fresh fruit juice.
Flavoured Sugar Water....
Different brands will use more or fewer GMO products.
Note that there has recently been an early preliminary study released that indicates that Fructose (Corn Syrup) and High Fructose mess with a region of the brain that decides when you are full. Basically, foods and drinks with Fructose don't register - so you don't feel "full". So you keep eating and drinking....
Does his Ginger Ale have Fructose? Most American made drinks do...
How much Ginger Ale are we talking here? A can a day, or a gallon a day?
Different brands will use more or fewer GMO products.
Note that there has recently been an early preliminary study released that indicates that Fructose (Corn Syrup) and High Fructose mess with a region of the brain that decides when you are full. Basically, foods and drinks with Fructose don't register - so you don't feel "full". So you keep eating and drinking....
Does his Ginger Ale have Fructose? Most American made drinks do...
How much Ginger Ale are we talking here? A can a day, or a gallon a day?
Seagram's Ginger Ale, 12 fl. on. can :
120 calories, 35g sugars
Coca-Cola, 12 fl. on. can :
140 calories, 39g sugars
So the answer ? Yes. It's "more healthy" in that it has 20 less calories and 4g less sugars. Is that a meaningful enough amount to claim Ginger Ale is healthy ?
Hell no. Don't drink calories. Period.
120 calories, 35g sugars
Coca-Cola, 12 fl. on. can :
140 calories, 39g sugars
So the answer ? Yes. It's "more healthy" in that it has 20 less calories and 4g less sugars. Is that a meaningful enough amount to claim Ginger Ale is healthy ?
Hell no. Don't drink calories. Period.
I drink diet cola. Have been doing so since 1980. I remember when it (low calorie cola) first showed up and considering calorie intake over 30 years it was a life saver, although I acknowledge there is a little bit of a pick your poison aspect to this. What is worse- being obese due to sugar or intake of aspartame? Right, I know the right answer is neither, but I'm limiting my cola consumption in general, but many of the substitutes I pick include artificial sweetners.
Oceanspray Diet Cranberry Pomegranate 5 calories
Minute Maid Light 15 calories
Oceanspray Diet Cranberry Pomegranate 5 calories
Minute Maid Light 15 calories
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My friend only drinks ginger ale thinking that it is better (or perhaps less bad) than other carbonated soft drinks such as coke. I think he is just foolish to think so.
If your friend is truly concerned about the health consequences of drinking various types of soda, he ought to simply eliminate or severely cut back on consumption.
To ask about relative "healthiness" in this case is disingenuous. It is a very bad idea to consume so mich sugar. Upon learning that one form of soda is "healthier" than others, one might become less aware of how much is being consumed.
I hope he doesn't think the "healthiness" is derived from the difference in flavoring.
Don't colas contain phosphoric acid? I prefer to limit things that can eat away teeth and dissolve bone. I can imagine a woman being especially careful about that.
Of course it's also advisable to avoid the empty calories from the sugar or fructose in soft drinks (or sweetened bottled teas excessive amounts of juices). I don't understand purists who prefer the natural flavor of sugar and fructose (vs. pretty natural-tasting and safe Splenda) rather than preferring to avoid the average 42 lbs./year of pointless calories that will just become unhealthy fat.
http://www.kickthecan.info/soda-facts
But everyone is entitled to their own preferences.
Of course it's also advisable to avoid the empty calories from the sugar or fructose in soft drinks (or sweetened bottled teas excessive amounts of juices). I don't understand purists who prefer the natural flavor of sugar and fructose (vs. pretty natural-tasting and safe Splenda) rather than preferring to avoid the average 42 lbs./year of pointless calories that will just become unhealthy fat.
http://www.kickthecan.info/soda-facts
But everyone is entitled to their own preferences.
Try carbonated water, I actually figured out its not the soda/sugar I like but the fizz of the carbonation.
It's healthier than a cola, but its my no means healthy. You shouldn't be drinking your calories to begin with.
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Same here, although I do like my soda from time to time.
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Same here, although I do like my soda from time to time.
My friend only drinks ginger ale thinking that it is better (or perhaps less bad) than other carbonated soft drinks such as coke. I think he is just foolish to think so.
Ginger-Ale made with real ginger is a good digestive aid and remedy for many types of stomach ailments.
Coincidental timing... but this just in.... (cue teletype sound effects)
Note that the link between the two does not necessarily mean that drinking soft drinks cause depression. But the correlation is very high, about 30% increased risk for people who drink regular soft drinks, 38% for fruit punch, and drinking diet soft drinks a risk linkage even higher than that.
Interestingly, people who drink coffee showed a decrease in depression rates by about 10%. Personally, I drink coffee... and I'm jollee....
Link
Note that the link between the two does not necessarily mean that drinking soft drinks cause depression. But the correlation is very high, about 30% increased risk for people who drink regular soft drinks, 38% for fruit punch, and drinking diet soft drinks a risk linkage even higher than that.
Interestingly, people who drink coffee showed a decrease in depression rates by about 10%. Personally, I drink coffee... and I'm jollee....
I've seen some studies showing that high sugar, high fat diets show physiological signs of addiction, so I suppose depression fits in well with that.
I've also seen some odd studies linking high caffeine blood levels to lower rates of dementia and other curious things....
But does the healthiness only count for calories and sugar? The canada dry ginger ale i drink has real ginger, 50mg of sodium, 36 grams of total carb, natural flavors and more. Ginger ale is not healthy, but has better and healthier parts in it.
My friend only drinks ginger ale thinking that it is better (or perhaps less bad) than other carbonated soft drinks such as coke. I think he is just foolish to think so.
Depends on the quality of the ginger ale - some are natural and delicious, while others are over-sugared beverages - and depends, too, on the quantity of the drink consumed. Drink too much of anything of that sort, and it will not be altogether terribly healthy for you.
Myself, I drink these drinks (such as good quality lemonade) occasionally on a warm day when I want something other than water. I don't drink them regularly.
But, ancient thread resurrection......
Kombucha
Is packed with nutrition, health and probiotics.
And it is very carbonated if you do it right.
Except plenty of water, some espresso and tea (mostly chai) it’s the only beverage I need.
Forget about soft drinks. There’s super healthy alternatives.
Is packed with nutrition, health and probiotics.
And it is very carbonated if you do it right.
Except plenty of water, some espresso and tea (mostly chai) it’s the only beverage I need.
Forget about soft drinks. There’s super healthy alternatives.
Funny enough, I can't get ginger beers that have enough ginger
Fever Tree has a solid bite, but the full sugar version is a little too high in carbs, the diet version, which is 1/2 the sugar is better, but it seems like the ginger/arbonation is diluted. Stolis diet is probably the better of the easy to source diet ginger beers I've found (it's in the fridge right now).The best way to go for serious ginger fanatics is something like True Syrups, it's a small boutique mixer company out of DC, I've purchased a few times through Amazon, not too bad sugar wise (it's much less sweet vs. typical pre-mixed products), and you can make it as strong as you like.
I've had a 12-pack (12oz) of Cason Ginger Beer Superinfusion in my Amazon cart for a few weeks, for one reason or another haven't pulled the trigger, 15 calories, uses Erythritol and a little stevia for sweetener, really interesting recipe: milk thistle, prickly pear, potassium, dandelion root, decaf green tea, & ginger root.