Everybody knows that soda isn’t great for you, but it can be so tempting to drink it. Whether you’re trying to cut down on drinking an unhealthy amount of soda or want to cut the small amount you do drink out of your life for good, doing so can have several health benefits. Less sugar in your diet means that it’s easier to lose weight, whilst you’ll have more energy, better teeth, and dental health, and you may even sleep better at night, to name a few. But, if you really enjoy soda then it’s not uncommon for it to become an addiction, making cutting down or cutting soda out really difficult. So we’ve put together some top tips to help you achieve your soda-free diet.

#1. Drink Healthier Alternatives:

Water is a great place to start if you are trying to cut out soda and be healthier, but for many soda drinkers, especially Coca-Cola obsessives (who make up more than 40% of the market for carbonated beverages), it’s the fizz that they enjoy the most. If this sounds like you, then you might want to consider the idea of finding a healthier coke alternative or drinking sparkling water instead. It’s just as good for you as plain still water, and if you don’t like the last you can infuse it with some fruit and there you have it - your own healthy soda alternative. Some alternatives may be different from what you are used to, but they fit perfectly into a balanced diet based on natural energy drinks. You can check this link out for more information.

#2. Make Your Own Juice:

Making your own juice can be lots of fun and you have plenty of control over what you’d like to put into the juices. You can stick with tried and tested favorites like orange juice or create new and different tastes from mixing different fruits and vegetables together. Juicing powders are a great idea as they are quick and convenient and don’t require hours of squeezing for you to get your juice; they let you make juice anywhere without making a mess in a matter of minutes.

#3. Eat Healthier Sweet Treats:

If you enjoy soda because you like the sweet taste, then try and find a healthier sweet alternative that you enjoy. This doesn’t have to be a drink – eating a sweet piece of fruit like an apple or a peach could be just what you need to satisfy the craving for soda. Figure out what works for you and make sure that you always have some on hand to help keep those unhealthy cravings at bay.

#4. Take it Slow:

If you drink a lot of soda and sugary drinks then bear in mind that you’re probably not going to completely stop drinking them overnight. Instead of trying to go cold turkey with soda and putting yourself at a higher risk of relapsing into old habits, try and cut it out from your diet gradually. If you normally drink five cans a day, have four – then three, and so on, until you’re no longer drinking soda. This allows you to go at a pace you’re comfortable with whilst still making healthier choices.

#5. Try Diet Drinks:

Diet sodas are filled with artificial sweeteners and in many cases, the sad truth is that they can be just as bad as their real-sugar counterparts. But if you’ve found yourself seriously craving a can of soda and nothing else is helping you shake it, allowing yourself a can of diet soda might not be a bad idea. It’s wise to compare ingredients first, so that you know which options have the least harmful ingredients and make the choice as healthy as possible.

Cutting soda and sugary drinks from your diet can be difficult, but the good news is that it can be done with these hacks and strategies. Do you have a tip of your own to add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.