Just in time for Easter, here are four great non-alcoholic drink recipes perfect for the entire family, adapted from a post on beverageuniverse.com:

Virgin Mojito

 Who can resist a refreshing and delicate mojito cocktail? The non-alcoholic, or virgin option offers a one of a kind experience that will convert any skeptic and will leave them savoring this energizing spring beverage. Here’s the famous mocktail recipe:

 Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of sugar; 
• fresh minty leaves;
• lime;
• Syfo Original Seltzer
• A handful of crushed ice;

Preparation: 

1. Muddle the minty leaves and a wedge of lime. You’ll sense the great refreshing aroma all around you. 
2. Add the sugar (you can use agave instead, or any other sweetener of your choice, I prefer brown sugar) and mash it up. 
3. It’s time to freeze the aroma – fill the glass with crushed ice.
4. Finally, add seltzer and stir your Easter elixir. 

Virgin Sangria

Are you warming up? Here’s another shortlisted mocktail for your Easter celebration: a Virgin Sangria! Sangria lovers, behold, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of water;
• 2 black tea bags;
• 2 cinnamon sticks;
• ½ cup of sugar;
• 3 cups of pomegranate juice; 
• 1 cup of orange juice;
• 1 medium orange, sliced into thin rounds;
• 1 medium lemon, sliced into thin rounds;
• 1 medium lime, sliced into thin rounds;
• 1 medium apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks;
• 3 cups Syfo Original Seltzer.

Preparation: 

1. Boil the water and pour it over the tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Let them steep for a few minutes and remove the teabags. 
2. Add sugar and stir so that it could dissolve quicker; 
3. Use a pitcher to mix in the tea, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, orange juice, and sliced fruits. Place it in the fridge to cool down for at least an hour. 
4. Before serving add the carbonated water. And don’t forget to add ice to your Easter beverage. 

 Shirley Ginger

 Shirley Temple is a classic non-alcoholic cocktail. But to spice it up a bit we’ve picked a recipe that modifies this famous mocktail into a Shirley Ginger- an ideal option for all the ginger beer aficionados at the Easter celebration. 

Here’s how to make it. 

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Brooklyn Crafted Lemon Lime Ginger Beer; 
• ¼ cup grenadine;
• 1 cup Syfo Original Seltzer; 
• 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice;
• 2-4 slices of lime;
• Ice cubes;
• Maraschino cherries;

Preparation: 

1. Mix all liquid ingredients – the ginger beer, the club soda, the lime juice, and the grenadine in a pitcher and stir well.  
2. Put ice cubes in tall glasses and pour the mixture in.
3. Garnish with lime slices and/or maraschino cherries and enjoy. 

Rhubarb-Lime Mocktail

 Have you ever tried a rhubarb? How about rhubarb bitters in a mocktail? The final recipe on our Easter Mocktails list will help you catch up with the trends. If you cannot find fresh rhubarb you can use a frozen one, your drink will still be just as delicious as refreshing, no worries there. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice;
• 4 tablespoons of basil syrup;
• 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters; 
• 1 cup of Syfo Original Seltzer;
• Ice cubes;
• Rhubarb stems for decoration;

Preparation:  

1. In a shaker add the ice cubes, lime juice, basil syrup, and rhubarb bitters and shake vigorously. 
2. Strain the cooled liquid in a rock glass and top with the seltzer. 
3. Garnish with the rhubarb stems. 

A new study published in the journal Psychological Science indicates that simple rituals make food or drink taste better. Researchers believe that these rituals – such as a toast,  saying or special way of serving a food – heighten awareness of what you’re eating or drinking by bringing you into the moment.

Researchers from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Harvard Business School in Boston conducted four experiments about rituals before eating. They tested whether rituals influence the perception and consumption of chocolate (sweet), lemonade (tart) and baby carrots (healthy).

In the experiments, the researchers devised simple rituals for each food type – breaking and unwrapping a chocolate bar, rapping knuckles on a desk before nibbling carrots and stirring and pouring lemonade. Participants who performed rituals reported that they savored the items more than those who did not engage in rituals. The study also found that performing a ritual enhanced the sensory experience and enjoyment more than just watching a ritual.

Many Syfonatics tell us they have special rituals that help them enjoy Syfo even more. Some have a special glass; some put it on their nightstand, sipping it before bedtime to help them get a good night’s sleep and of course Syfo has been a big part of holiday celebration rituals such as Passover, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah.

What’s your ritual? If you have a special method, saying or ritual that involves drinking Syfo, we’d like to know. Click here to share it with the Syfo community and we’ll publish them in a future news post.

You can learn more about how rituals help us savor food in this article on the Greater Good website.

Every so often Web discussions and articles appear on the health benefits and effects of sparkling water. And the results are always the same, sparkling water is as healthy as ever! One of the latest trending topics is effect of sparkling water on digestive health. According to this article on Healthline.com, sparkling water has many digestive health benefits:

Improves swallowing ability

Studies suggest that sparkling water may improve swallowing ability. In one study, 16 healthy people were asked to repeatedly swallow different liquids. Carbonated water showed the strongest ability to stimulate the nerves responsible for swallowing.

Can make you feel fuller

Carbonated water can make you feel fuller after meals when compared with plain water and help you lose weight (read our customer testimonials of weight loss). According to HealthLine, in a controlled study in 19 healthy young women, fullness scores were higher after the participants drank 8 ounces of sparkling water, compared to when they drank still water.

May help relieve constipation

People who experience constipation may find that drinking sparkling water helps relieve their symptoms. In a two-week study in 40 older individuals who had experienced a stroke, average bowel movement frequency nearly doubled in the group that drank carbonated water, compared with the group that drank tap water. What’s more, participants reported a 58% decrease in constipation symptoms.

Helps to relieve stomach pain

There’s also evidence that sparkling water may improve other symptoms of indigestion, including stomach pain. The Healthline.com article references a controlled study that examined 21 people with chronic digestive issues. After 15 days, those who drank carbonated water experienced significant improvements in digestive symptoms, constipation, and gallbladder emptying.

So there you have it. There is one other issue that has been the subject of online discussions of late, and that is whether carbonated water can aggravate IBS (Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome). HealthLine says that sparkling water doesn’t cause IBS, but if you have IBS and are sensitive to carbonated beverages, it may be best to remove them from your diet.

You can read more about the health benefits of sparkling water in our earlier posts here and here.

The start of the New Year is traditionally a time of renewed focus and new beginnings, so that makes it a perfect time to refocus on your health, especially this year. Here are a few simple steps you can take, gathered from sources around the Web, that can help you get off to a healthy start in 2025 and help to put the stress of 2024 behind.

Get a good night’s sleep — According to the American Sleep Foundation, about two-thirds of Americans say their sleep needs are not being met during the week with 15 percent reporting less than six hours per night. Between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night is considered optimal for good health.

Eat protein for breakfast – When you rise from that restful sleep, try having a protein-rich breakfast. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating a protein-rich breakfast may help control appetite and curb the urge to snack in the evening. It can also improve alertness, energy and performance throughout the day.

Take time during your day to release stress – According to the Mayo Clinic, simple meditation exercises during the day that can be done practically anytime and anywhere can bring both a sense of calm and balance. This can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Exercise for at least 90 minutes a week – According to this article on Discovery Health, you don’t need to exercise for hours a day or run a marathon to get the weight loss, cardiovascular and overall heath benefits. Studies have shown that walking as little as 10 minutes a day increases the heart’s oxygen consumption rate by more than 4 percent while helping to reduce weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Make the switch to healthy beverages – Sugary soft drinks have been associated with weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, dental problems and even depression. A move toward healthy beverages can improve your overall health and keep you hydrated. We recommend Syfo of course.