May 10, 2018

Despite the growing body of information that’s been published (including on this site) about the negative effects of sugar on children’s health, a disturbing fact remains: sugar consumption for kids continues to grow.

The trend really started to gather steam in the late eighties and between 1989 and 2008 during which calories from sugary beverages increased by 60% in children ages six to eleven and the percentage of children consuming them rose from 79% to 91%. Consumption in older children is even more alarming — a study by the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that sugary drinks (soda, energy, sports drinks) are the top calorie source in teens’ diets (226 calories per day), beating out pizza (213 calories per day).

And the problem appears to be getting worse. A 2014 study in California indicated that consumption of sugary drinks increased another 26% over 2009. The potential health implications of this on our kids are many — obesity, diabetes, dental problems and issues like cardiovascular disease as adults.

So Moms and Dads, it’s time to take a stand and reverse these trends. Syfo can help. Our Original Seltzer and delicious Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters (Wild Cherry, Tangerine-Orange, Lemon-Lime and Peach-Pear) quench thirst, keep you hydrated and contain no sugar, sodium, preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Plus, with Syfo you can get creative and keep your kids’ taste buds delighted. Click here for a refreshing summer recipe that the entire family will love and look for our new family section on this site in the weeks to come.

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April 6, 2018

Earlier this year we posted some tips to help you beat those sugar cravings in 2018. Now this article in the New York Times and its companion piece give you more ammunition for your fight to break the sugar habit.

One point that both pieces stress — Big Sugar has been actively pushing added sweeteners into our lives for decades, and has implemented an aggressive disinformation campaign to turn the focus on obesity and other health issues in our society toward fats and away from sugar. But the facts are that sugar is a primary culprit for a variety of health issues, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

But you don’t have to take it lying down (and we do recommend that you exercise). We encourage you to read the complete articles, but here are some important takeaways from both articles:

1) Cut out soda

Not just in these articles, but almost all subject matter experts on this topic say the same thing: cutting out sugar-laden soft drinks is key to both losing weight and improving your overall health. According to the federal government, sweetened beverages are the biggest source of added sugar in our diet — to the tune of a whopping 47 percent! Now for the shameless plug: the writer for the New York Times recommends swapping out soda for seltzer and sparkling water, saying: “…the shift to seltzer, club soda or sparkling water is life changing.” We can’t help but to agree and so do our Syfonatics. Read testimonials from our customers on how Syfo has improved their health, helped them to lose weight and changed their lives.

2) Change your breakfast

That glazed donut or muffin on the run with juice or a coffee sweetened with sugar may taste great on your morning commute, but breakfast is another big culprit in adding unneeded sugar in our diet. A breakfast with more protein (eggs, nuts, plain yogurt) fiber (fruits, unsweetened whole grain cereal) and vegetables (yes vegetables!) will stay with you longer, give you more energy and propel you into lunchtime.

3) Check your pantry

You know, it’s those items that beckon you at a certain hour of the evening when you’re bing-watching your favorite program. The problem is that many commercial snacks and crackers have plenty of hidden or added sugar. Fruit is a great alternative that can slash added sugar and up your intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Nuts are also a good option. If you must crunch, then Triscuits and Saltines have no added sugar.

We invite you to explore the New York Times articles for more insights and to visit our Health Tips section for great information on weight loss, nutrition and more. 

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March 6, 2018

Last year we posted an article on natural flavor claims, citing the case of a lawsuit targeting Hint water, whose “natural flavors” were made using propylene glycol. The lawsuit stated that calling flavors that contained synthetic, highly processed solvents such as propylene glycol misleads the consumer.

A recent article in The New York Times revived the topic since the FDA has never issued a legal or regulatory definition of the term “natural.” Some of the all-natural claims seem to stretch the limits of believability. Take for example “All Natural” 7Up, Pop-Tarts “Baked With Real Fruit” and Crystal Light “Natural” lemonade. Some recent food products that have been the target of lawsuits include Breyer’s and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Annie’s Homegrown salad dressings for using xanthan gum, a widely used thickener and food stabilizer. Another lawsuit brought against General Mills forced it to change the labels on its Nature Valley Granola Bars that contained some artificial ingredients, replacing labels that once read “100% Natural” to say they are “Made With 100% Natural Whole Grain Oats.”

Luckily, when it comes to beverages, Syfo makes it simple. Our flavors are as natural as can be and are derived from the oil that is selectively extracted from the peel of the fruit. As opposed to many other flavored products on the market, Syfo’s flavorings are made without using synthetic solvents such as propylene glycol. We only use premium, high quality and natural humectants such as vegetable based glycerin and ethyl alcohol. All of our Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters and Original Seltzer are made with 100% purified water and contain no sugar, sodium, artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Just pure natural goodness.

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January 1, 2018

We’ve posted in the past on how diet beverages have been shown in research to actually increase belly fat and complications for diabetes. Now there’s new research that suggests that drinking diet soda can be linked to these effects and also to weight gain.

As more and more consumers move away from sugary soft drinks, they turn to diet drinks thinking that artificially-sweetened beverages would help them lead healthier lives by controlling their weight and reducing their risk for diabetes and heart disease. The latest research is showing that this assumption does not appear to be the case.

Meghan Azad, a researcher at the University of Manitoba, reviewed dozens of studies about the long-term health effects of sugar substitutes, trying to see whether there was a prevailing trend on the health effects of diet beverages. He found that not only were artificial sweeteners suspect when it came to weight management, but people who drank them routinely had an increased body mass index and risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

His studies of the available research concluded that “non-nutritive” (artificial) sweeteners (are) significantly associated with modest long-term increases in body weight, BMI and waist circumference.”

Belly fat, or visceral fat, has been linked to a greater chance of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. High waist circumference is also one component of metabolic syndrome, a constellation of health risk factors that also includes high triglycerides, blood pressure and blood glucose.

Researchers have not yet agreed on why diet beverages cause these effects but one thing is clear. Syfo, made from purified water and naturally flavored with no sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium, preservatives or other additives, is the sensible, tasty and healthy choice.

You can read more about Azad’s research in this Washington Post article.

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November 17, 2017

The 2017 NPC South Florida Bodybuilding, Physique, Fitness, Figure & Bikini Championships will be held on Saturday, November 25TH, 2017 at the James L. Knight Center Ashe Auditorium in Miami, FL. The event will feature 26 great contests and is being staged by NPC South Florida, which is active in promoting fitness competitions throughout the region.

Mari Rendondo and her husband Sergio Pacheco run NPC South Florida and are dedicated to bringing the best shows and extreme athletes to South Florida fitness competitions. Mari is the official organizer and promoter for this event and she also is a big fan of Syfo.

“I love your product because it’s pure, doesn’t contain preservatives and it’s so tasteful. We recommend it to all our competitors,” says Mari. Mari encourages anyone looking to stay healthy and fit to try any of our delicious Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters. Syfo is proud to be one of the sponsors for this event.

There will be live music entertainment featuring Xylene and tickets will be available at the door. For more information about the NPC South Florida Fitness Competition, visit www.npcsouthflorida.com.

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