Diet Soda Alternatives (with a stipulation)

I've been drinking diet soda for several years now and it hasn't caused me to grow a tail, nor have any of my organs spontaneously exploded. I've also met my weight loss goals and have improved all my health markers while drinking it, and it hasn't negatively impacted my maintenance either.

However, I have noticed increased sensitivity with my teeth lately after drinking it, and there's legitimate issues with the phosphoric and citric acids in soda causing erosion of tooth enamel. I decided to cut out the soda a few days ago, and after not finding any diet soda detox centers in my area (several MFP members have informed me that I'm an addict and need to seek professional counseling for my diet soda habit, which is in fact the same as a crack addiction. True story), I decided to go through withdrawal on my own. Instead of experiencing suicidal thoughts, intense cravings, rage and vomiting I'm dealing with one thing I wasn't expecting-boredom.

Because come to find out pretty much everything has citric acid in it. Every single water flavoring option I've looked at has it, from Mio drops to Koolaid. Sparkling flavored water has it. Fresh lemon has it. Many teas have it. I already drink several glasses of plain water a day and need something to liven things up. That's one of the main reasons I drank diet soda. But obviously cutting it out and then replacing it with something else that has the same culprit ingredient isn't going to help anything.

Soooo, does anyone have any flavored water options that don't contain citric or phosphoric acids?

Replies

elphie754

mburgo108 wrote: »

Mio is actually one if the most horrible things to drink. Fast && convenient as it is, it has too many chemicals in it. When I was working at Walmart, whenever we would get a return of it or it caused a messy spill, we were instructed to label it but it had to be confiscated with the broken light bulbs due to similar ingredients.

It also requires a hazmat placard when shipped in large quantities.

ReaderGirl3

Checking in, yeah lots of things have citric acid in it that you wouldn't think of sigh... Needing something low or calorie free to replace the soda, very interested in the cold herbal tea idea, going to give that a try first and then go from there

Thanks again everyone!

OyGeeBiv

If you like ginger ale, you can make a ginger "iced tea". Just pour boiling water over some slices of fresh (peeled) ginger root. Steep, cool, drink!

elphie754

What about home brewed iced tea? You can buy flavored teas if you want. I personally love some of teavanas loose leaf tea.

ReaderGirl3

elphie754 wrote: »

What about home brewed iced tea? You can buy flavored teas if you want. I personally love some of teavanas loose leaf tea.

I've never tried making this before, going to look into how to do it, thanks!

elphie754

ReaderGirl3 wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

What about home brewed iced tea? You can buy flavored teas if you want. I personally love some of teavanas loose leaf tea.

I've never tried making this before, going to look into how to do it, thanks!

Teavana makes an actual loose leaf iced tea pitcher. Looks like this:

You basically boil hot water, pour it in the pitcher, put the tea leaves in for the time specified, take out the middle piece (the used leaves) and then put the pitcher in the refrigerator. All together it takes maybe 10-15 minutes depending on how long it takes to boil water.

Best 25 dollars we ever spent lol.

ReaderGirl3

Quick Update: Spent a ridiculous amount of time in the tea isle at the store reading ingredients labels and walked out with like 8 boxes lol. There were also directions on how to make cold tea, so I'm going to try it this afternoon and think I've found a great diet soda substitute (wanted something cold, sweet and phosphoric and citric acid free and this should work). Thanks again everyone for the suggestions !

aeb09

Zevia has citric acid but not phosphoric, so you'd be cutting out 50% of the problem if you allowed yourself maybe a can a day? Haha I know the struggle, I was a DC junkie too. I drank Zevia for a while (it's really pricey) and loved the ginger ale, but never tried the "diet cola" kind. http://www.zevia.com/flavors

LynnOBrien2015

I put frozen fruit in my water bottle in the morning and add water all day great fruity flavor no chemicals!

Sabine_Stroehm

64crayons wrote: »

If you like ginger ale, you can make a ginger "iced tea". Just pour boiling water over some slices of fresh (peeled) ginger root. Steep, cool, drink!

We boil sliced ginger in water, add lemon and then chill. SO GOOD.

Sabine_Stroehm

ReaderGirl3 wrote: »

Quick Update: Spent a ridiculous amount of time in the tea isle at the store reading ingredients labels and walked out with like 8 boxes lol. There were also directions on how to make cold tea, so I'm going to try it this afternoon and think I've found a great diet soda substitute (wanted something cold, sweet and phosphoric and citric acid free and this should work). Thanks again everyone for the suggestions !

Hope you find a few you like cold! I don't follow the directions, I just put the bag in cold water and wait a bit. Plenty "steeped".

belimawr

midwesterner85 wrote: »

Iced tea? You can even get cold brew tea bags. To make it sweet without calories, add sucralose (Splenda).

You don't even need the cold brew bags if you plan ahead, and by that I mean a day or two. Put normal tea bags and let steep a day or two.

tierra85

I'm addicted to flavored carbonated beverages. I need the bubbly

TeaBea

enterdanger wrote: »

Put some mint leaves in it? Not sure if mint has citric acid....I also like melon in my water. A little slice of honey dew or cantelope...again not sure how much citric acid is in those. Muddle some blueberries? The internet (awesome news source that it is) tells me that blueberries are the only berry without citric acid. Who knew?

Also, I know you are moving away from soda but a lot of root beers don't have citric acid...You have to read the bottle but the expensive hand crafted ones usually don't. You can also make your own root beer....my granny used to make it when we were little. so good. I miss it.

This^

A&W Diet Root Beer is the lowest acid thing out there (reflux issues for me). Don't buy Barq's root beer, it's not as low (uses a different type of acid).

I love my "very berry" iced green tea.

robininfl

You might enjoy jamaica - the drink made with hibiscus, it's tangy and refreshing.

Mostly, though, I'd say just use a straw for drinks you think too acidic for your teeth, and have a glass of water after, and don't brush your teeth directly after eating or drinking. It doesn't make sense to me to limit so much.

ljmorgi

ReaderGirl3 wrote: »

after not finding any diet soda detox centers in my area

I don't have any helpful advice, but I do have hot cider in my sinuses now. XD

Karb_Kween

Flavored sparkling water

Look for a brand that just contains water and "natural flavor" like La Croix

ninerbuff

Could another option be seeing your dentist to get a coating on your teeth to help protect your enamel better?

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

vanessa40

ysalinas wrote: »

Here is a link to a page with varieties of infused water. Including infusing herbs into water.
http://www.infusedwaters.com/

I do not have a fancy infuser/water bottle. I use the mesh reusable k-cup and drop it into my water bottle.

Hope you can find some options here.

Thank you for the link

Phalina83

Kombucha is a fermented, naturally effervescent drink that tastes a lot like soda. You can probably find it at your local health food/natural foods store or you can make your own. I walk down to my local market to have some kombucha nearly every day now. I find it helps to satisfy those "fizzy drink" cravings.