health
I quit Coca-Cola. What should I drink now?
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
TL;DR
- Traditional sodas like Coca-Cola are high in sugar or contain unhealthy artificial sweeteners and chemicals.
- Healthy alternatives include flavored waters, natural sodas with real fruit, and brands focusing on acidity, bitterness, and aromatics.
- Some new soft drinks are becoming social signifiers, reflecting the drinker's identity or politics.
- Functional soft drinks with added benefits like prebiotics or ferments are available, though pleasure is highlighted as the primary reason for consumption.
- Homemade shrub syrups made from fruit, sugar, and vinegar offer a grown-up, customizable alternative to commercial soft drinks.