Herbs are not just for flavoring foods. For those of you that are frequent visitors to our recipe section, there are plenty of great sparkling water beverage recipes that are enlivened by herbs.

According to this article on ProvidenceJournal.com, many of these herbs are easy to grow in the ground or in pots, or they are available fresh at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. Peppermint, for example, which grows profusely in most climates and needs little attention and  is included in many beverage recipes, and it also enhances lemonade, tea, water, fruit drinks and more.

Gardenknowhow.com pointed to spearmint as the “mint of choice” for mint julips, made popular by the Kentucky Derby (postponed from May to Sept. 5 because of COVID-19).

Other gardenknowhow.com herb suggestions for libations or mocktails include:

‒ Lemon verbena to spruce up sangria.
‒ English lavender with sparkling water with a simple syrup or honey.

One refreshing summer recipe that fits nicely in the Syfo family of recipes was featured last March in Town and Country magazine: The Cucumber-Mint Cooler has one small cucumber, cut into thin rounds; one 2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and cut into thin slices; four sprigs mint (of choice); two lime wedges; 2 ounces of Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint Vodka (or not) and 6 ounces of sparkling water.

Several of Taste of Home’s “23 Infused Water Ideas That Will Make You Forget About Soda” include some sort of mint, while the Juicy Citrus Herb recipe features fresh rosemary and another, Green Goddess, is made with fresh thyme. Our own Sparkling Cojito Cocktail calls for one bunch of fresh mint plus sprigs for garnish.

While some drinks are flavored with whole herb sprigs or leaves, others require that herbs be muddled. Gardeningknowhow.com informed: “Muddling is where you crush the herb leaves in a mortar and pestle to release flavor. The herbs are then added to the shaker with all the other ingredients.”

So grow that garden, muddle those herbs and kick back to enjoy the pleasures of summer and home with delicious sparkling water beverages during this challenging of all summers.

For more great Syfo Beverage recipes, click here.

It’s been a challenging year for sure and Labor Day is a great opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and have fun. To help you get the most out of the last holiday weekend of the summer, enjoy these refreshing beverage recipes with a sparkling Syfo touch.

Rangpur Strawberry Crush

From delish, here’s a perfect late-summer recipe:

Ingredients:

4 strawberries
1 1/2 oz. Tanqueray Rangpur
1 1/2 oz.  Syfo Lemon-Lime Naturally Flavored Sparkling Water

Preparation:

Prepare strawberries in a highball glass. Add crushed ice and Tanqueray Rangpur and top with Syfo Lemon-Lime Naturally Flavored Sparkling Water .

Sparkling Cojito Cocktail

Courtesy of the kitchn website, here’s a cool refreshing variation of the mojito. The recipe serves six.

Ingredients:

1 bunch fresh mint, keep a few sprigs to the side for garnish
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
4 limes juiced
3 cups coconut rum, like Blue Chair Bay
1 liter Syfo Original Seltzer
Ice
Lime wedges for garnish

Preparation:

In a large pitcher, combine the mint, sugar and water, and muddle. Add the lime juice and rum, and stir to combine. Fill the pitcher with ice and add the seltzer. Pour into ice filled glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge.

Red, White & Blue Spritzer

Ingredients:

White Wine (we chose Moscato)
Lemon-Lime Syfo Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water
Frozen Blueberries & Strawberries

Preparation:

Pour 4oz of chilled Moscato and 2oz of Syfo Lemon-Lime Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water in a glass. Top with frozen blueberries and strawberries and enjoy!

Watermelon Slush

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups of Watermelon
1/3 cups of Pomegranate Juice
Syfo Original Seltzer
1 cup of ice
Vodka (optional)

Preparation:

Blend fresh watermelon, pomegranate juice and ice. Add 1 part of slush blend and 1 part of Syfo Original Seltzer in a glass. Add an optional shot of Vodka or liquor of your choice.

Summer Breeze

Ingredients:

Cranberry Juice
Grapefruit Juice
Syfo Wild Cherry Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water
Ice
Pineapple Wedge
Vodka (we chose citrus flavor)

Preparation:

Pour 1 part cranberry juice, 1 part grapefruit juice, and 1 part citrus vodka in a shaker over ice. Shake well. Pour mixture in a glass and top with Syfo Wild Cherry Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple and enjoy the summer breeze.

The approach of Hurricane Isaias is reminding us that the 2020 hurricane season is just getting into full swing.  For this storm and others that may come our way before the season is over, it’s important to be prepared and ready to keep you and your family safe.

Part of that preparation is ensuring that you have plenty of non-perishable food, water and other healthy  beverages on hand.  Syfo Original Seltzer and Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters are great to have in supply in addition to water because they’re purified, taste terrific and keep you hydrated, unlike soda and some other sweetened drinks. But because products often sell out when a storm approaches, be sure to always have plenty of Syfo on hand.

Of course there are other steps you’ll need to take to keep you and your family safe for the 2014 hurricane season. Click here to read informative hurricane preparedness tips on Ready.gov and be sure to to stay tuned to your local news outlets and weather forecasts as storms approach.

Discover what Syfonatics have known for years. Sparkling water can support your health and your body in many ways, and best of all, it’s refreshing and delicious to drink.  Now thanks to this article on TheList.com, we have a chance to give you a comprehensive view on how sparkling water affects your body and your health. So here goes. 

Sparkling Water and Your Teeth

Claims have been circulating for some time that sparkling water is bad for your teeth because it erodes them and leaches out calcium. Part of that view is that carbonated beverages in general have this effect on teeth. 

While it’s certainly been proven that sugary soda causes both tooth erosion and decay, the biggest factors in that outcome are the sugar content and other added ingredients. Sparkling water is different. 

According to the American Dental Association, even though sparkling water is more acidic than still water, drinking sparkling water every day is generally fine for your teeth. A study observed how donated teeth reacted to both kinds of water, and found the results to be similar with no ill effects. Bear in mind that seltzers with added citrus like lemon or lime may be more acidic depending on the flavoring used. 

Sparkling Water and Hydration

Another misconception that we come across is that sparkling water is not as hydrating as still water or can actually cause dehydration. As many Syfo drinkers can attest, that’s not the case at all. In a chat with Scripps, Dr. Saima Lodhi, an internal medicine specialist said:  “Carbonated water is just as efficient at hydrating the body as plain spring or purified water. Plus, it can be a nice break from tap water.” 

In fact, Lodhi is actually a fan of sparkling water as it inspires people to up their fluid intakes because it’s more refreshing with appealing flavors (and Syfonatics know this to be so  true). “Getting your daily dose of water is vital,” she continued, “so if sparkling water helps you drink enough, that is a positive step toward good health.” 

Sparkling Water Will Help You Lose Weight

Well all you have to do is visit our Testimonials section to read about numerous real life examples of this, but the experts agree as well. 

While long-term lifestyle changes such as eating more plant-based foods and getting regular exercise are key factors in slimming  down, drinking sparkling water every day can have a big impact. That’s because it can promote satiety, according to licensed nutritionist Anju Mobin. “Sparkling water stays in your stomach for a longer time making you feel fuller,” she told The List. “This leads to reduced intake of food, helping you in weight loss.” 

Sparkling Water and Your Bones

Another rumor that’s been out there is that the carbonation in sparkling water could lower your bone density, putting you at risk for osteoporosis. But while soda consumption (especially cola) has been linked to those conditions, that doesn’t have anything to do with the fizz, says licensed nutritionist Monica Reinagel. “Researchers had one group of women drink one liter of still water every day while another group drank a liter of carbonated water,” she shared on the podcast The Nutrition Diva’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous. “After eight weeks, the researchers could detect no difference between the groups when it came to markers for bone turnover.” 

Sparkling Water and Those Soda Cravings

You probably don’t need to look any further than our customer testimonials to see how Syfo can help kick the soda habit, but just don’t take our word for it. The experts concur: 

“If you’re looking to kick your soda habit to the curb, making the choice to drink sparkling water every day might help,” says Dr. Laureen Smith, an associate professor at the Ohio State University College of Nursing. “For those who choose carbonated sodas, it may provide the sought-after carbonation without the sugar,” she shared in a chat with Time.

Plus you don’t have to go cold turkey, as you can see in our post here. You can mix Syfo with your favorite soft drink to wean you off the sugary stuff. Learn more here. 

Sparkling Water and Heart Health

Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization and sparkling water can maintain your heart health in some of the ways we’ve already mentioned. Lowering blood sugar by giving up sweet drinks is a factor in good heart health and there is evidence that soda itself can increase the risk of heart disease. 

And according to the article in TheList.com, there’s a chance that drinking some sparkling water every day might protect your heart directly. They quote an article in Healthline by registered dietitian Franziska Spritzler that said: “One study in 18 postmenopausal women showed that drinking sodium-rich carbonated water decreased LDL (bad) cholesterol, inflammatory markers and blood sugar.  What’s more, they also experienced an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol.”

There’s more to it, too, says Spritzler. “Additionally, the estimated risk of developing heart disease within 10 years was 35 percent lower among those drinking carbonated water than those drinking the control water,” she continued. However, the study was quite small, so much more research is needed before a clear link can be made.

Sparkling Water and Digestive Health

Sparkling water can help with digestive issues in many ways. According to nutritionist 

Monica Reinagel: “Many people find that drinking a little carbonated water is a good way to settle an upset stomach and there are some studies to support this.”

In one study, researchers selected dozens of folks with chronic indigestion and split them into two groups; one drank a liter and a half of sparkling water every day, and the other drank still water. After two weeks, almost all of the people who were drinking carbonated water reported less indigestion while the other group saw little to no improvement.

Another way that sparkling water can help with digestive health is relieving constipation. Drinking enough water can help people stay regular, but drinking sparkling water specifically appears to have some additional benefits. “Sparkling water may improve the symptoms of and reduce constipation,” licensed nutritionist Anju Mobin explained to The List. “According to studies, carbonated water has a laxative effect.”

And what about the idea that sparkling water can irritate your digestive tract? “If you have IBS, carbonated water can irritate your guts,” Dr. Lina Velikova noted in The List article. “But if you have a healthy stomach and intestines, it will do no harm.” She added that there have been studies that have demonstrated that there’s no link between sparkling water consumption and gastrointestinal diseases like GERD or esophageal cancer.

So, so what’s not to like? Try any of our four delicious Naturally Flavored Sparkling Water flavors or Original Seltzer, the product that has been helping people stay refreshed and healthy since 1949.  You can read the entire TheList.com article here. 

Everyone at Syfo Beverages would like to wish you a safe and Happy Fourth of July. In these unsettling times, celebrating the holiday and spending time with family are more important than ever. However you plan to spend this holiday weekend — whether it’s a backyard barbecue or safely enjoying time outdoors — you can enjoy Syfo Original Seltzer and Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters as healthy and refreshing ways to cool off and make this a special Fourth.

As we celebrate the birth of our great nation, Syfo is proud to say that our product is manufactured and bottled right here in the United States, and has been since 1949. We’re an American small business and it is a privilege to be a part of this great American tradition.