The 4^th of July weekend is here and what better way to commemorate Independence Day than with a festive drink recipe. Whether you are watching a fantastic fireworks show or barbecuing with the family and friends, you and your guests will be sure to enjoy one of these refreshing sparkling beverages.

White Wine-Berry Sangria

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Bottle of Dry White Wine
• 1 cup Syfo Lemon-Lime Sparkling Water
• 1/2 cup Raspberry Vodka
• 1/4 cup Brandy
• Honey (optional)
• Chopped Fresh Strawberries
• Fresh Raspberries
• Fresh Blueberries
• Ice

PREPARATION

In a pitcher, combine wine, Syfo, vodka and brandy. Add warm honey to add sweetness if desired. Toss few raspberries and a small handful of chopped strawberries into the bottom of each glass and muddle the fruit. Fill glass with ice, then with sangria. Add a few blueberries and stir.

Recipe adapted from tasty-trials.com

Strawberry Lemonade Fizz

INGREDIENTS

• 1  1/2 Cups of Pureed Strawberries
• 5-6 tablespoon of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice (1 large lemon or 2 small lemons)
• 2-4 tablespoon Maple Syrup (depending on the sweetness of the berries)
• 12 ounces of Syfo Original Seltzer
• Ice

PREPARATION

A “mocktail” the kids will love! Puree the strawberries, lemon juice and maple syrup until completely liquefied. Pour strawberry-lemon mixture in glasses over ice, in order to fill the glasses halfway or more. Top off the glasses with Syfo Original Seltzer and finish it with a quick stir.

Recipe adapted from wonkywonderful.com

Strawberry Basil Vodka Spritzer

INGREDIENTS

• 4 Medium Ripe Fresh Strawberries
• 3 Basil Leaves
• 1.5 ounces of Vodka
• 1 teaspoon of Honey
• 1 tablespoon of Lime Juice
• 6 ounces of Syfo Lemon- Lime Sparkling water
• Ice

PREPARATION

Roll up basil leaves in order to slice into thin strips. Slice strawberries into small pieces and remove the tops. Using a mortar and pestle, muddle strawberries and basil together, in order to release the juices. You could also give the basil and strawberry a whirl in the food processor or blender.

Add muddled strawberries and basil to a large glass. Add vodka, honey, lime juice, and Syfo. Stir with a spoon and pour into a glass with ice. This recipe makes one serving.

Recipe adapted from theluckypennyblog.com

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Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been used in many diet or low calorie soft drinks and has been linked to several health concerns – including diabetes, headaches, belly fat and digestive issues. Long-term human studies continue to try and assess any aspartame link to cancer. As people have become more aware of beverage ingredients and their health impact, some major soda companies have tried to adjust their formulas to remove the worst of these ingredients, including aspartame.

In reaction to this and the market-wide declining sales of diet soda, PepsiCo took the plunge recently and reformulated its diet drinks with a mix of artificial sweeteners including sucralose, which has its own health concerns. The Coca-Cola Company however, has decided to stand pat with its diet beverages.

People looking to avoid the negative health effects of sugar and high fructose corn syrup don’t have to turn to diet beverages that also have significant health concerns. Fortunately, there’s no need to worry about the ingredients with Syfo. Our Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters have no calories and are free of sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium, preservatives or any other additives, plus they’re made with purified water. With Syfolicious flavors like Wild Cherry, Tangerine-Orange and Lemon-Lime, you can lose the diet soda and move on to a healthier you.

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If you’re physically active, you may believe you need a sports drink or a fortified beverage like coconut water to keep you hydrated. Consumer Reports debunks the notion in a recent article.

According to the report, although sports drinks are advertised as having the extra electrolytes and carbs needed to replenish your body after physical exertion, most people don’t exercise that vigorously to need anything but water for hydration.  The downside of sports drinks, as the article points out, is that most contain lots of sugar increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. They also contain food coloring, preservatives and other unhealthy ingredients. Sports drinks that are low in sugar use artificial sweeteners, another health concern.

Coconut and other plant-based waters (including maple, artichoke and cactus) don’t fare much better. Consumer Reports found no basis for product claims that said these drinks were a “miracle of hydration and replenishment.”  Other purported benefits — such as elevating antioxidants, increasing metabolism, enhancing digestion and purifying toxins — are also difficult to substantiate. Plus coconut waters and plant-based waters are expensive, with prices ranging from $2.50 to $4.00 for a 16 ounce bottle.

If you’re looking to stay healthy and hydrated, consider Syfo Beverages. Our water is not just filtered, but purified using a multi-step process that includes reverse osmosis. Our Original Seltzer and Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters contain no sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium, additives or preservatives. To rehydrate after your favorite sports activity or just to stay refreshed on a hot summer day, Syfo is a delicious and healthy beverage choice.

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Here’s another great reason to switch to Syfo. A new epidemiology paper estimates that replacing the daily consumption of one serving of a sugary drink with either water or unsweetened tea or coffee can lower the risk of developing diabetes by 14% to 25%.

The work published in Diabetologia is based on a large EPIC-Norfolk food diary study that included more than 25,000 men and women aged 40-79 years living in Norfolk in the UK. Study participants recorded everything they ate and drank for 7 consecutive days including weekdays and weekends. They noted what they drank, how much, how often and whether any additional sugar was added by the participants.

During approximately 11 years of follow-up, 847 study participants were diagnosed with new-onset type 2 diabetes. The study found that based on the dietary habits of the participants, there was an approximately 22% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes for each extra serving per day of either soft drinks or sweetened milk beverages.

The authors of the study say that if participants had substituted a serving of sugary soft drinks with a serving of water (such as sparkling water like Syfo) or unsweetened tea or coffee, the risk of diabetes could have been cut by 14%. Replacing a serving of a sweetened milk beverage with water or unsweetened tea or coffee reduces the risk by 20%-25%.

If you’re looking to eliminate that extra serving of a sugary drink, Syfo Beverages are a perfect choice. Our Original Seltzer and delicious Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters are made with purified water and contain no sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium, additives or preservatives.

You can read more about this dietary study here.

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