April 21, 2015

Earth Day 2015 is Wednesday, April 22 and people all over the world will be focusing on the health of the environment and their own personal well-being. At Syfo, we believe promoting a healthy environment and health in people go hand in hand. We’ve taken steps to ensure that Syfo products are as GREEN as possible in every way, so they’re both healthy for the planet as well as healthy beverages for your body. We do everything we can to reduce waste in the supply stream by making every part of the Syfo packaging and bottling fully recyclable. The water we use in Syfo is purified through reverse osmosis and we return the waste water from the process back into the environment in a more purified state. Since the water we use to produce Syfo comes from a centrally located aquifer, it doesn’t require a heavy carbon footprint to make it to the production facility and the consumer.

We also consolidate our less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments to improve transportation efficiency, and we collaborate with our suppliers to save money, reduce waste and conserve energy. And of course the packaging and bottles that we use for all of our Syfo products are 100% recyclable.

As is well-known, Syfo Beverages Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters are made from purified water and are free of preservatives, chemical additives, sugar, sodium or artificial sweeteners. That makes them healthy beverages for your body and the environment.

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April 13, 2015

Thinking of turning to diet soda to stay thin?  A new study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society may give you pause.

For years Americans have tried diet soda as a soft drink alternative in an effort to reduce sugar intake and lose weight. The artificial sweeteners in these drinks, such as aspartame and sucralose, along with some other additives included have raised health concerns. Now this new study has linked the consumption of diet beverages to an increase in belly fat, which could help to partially explain why obesity has increased over the past 30 years in America even as people have gravitated toward diet sodas.

The study, called the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA), evaluated the negative health effects of diet sodas on adults 65 years and older. It measured diet soda consumption, waist circumference and height and weight at four separate time intervals over a period of 10 years. About 400 participants from the San Antonio, Texas area were included in the study.

The results of the study indicated that daily diet soda drinkers experienced an increase in waist circumference that was three times more of those who did not drink diet soda. Non-drinkers experienced an average waist circumference increase of .80 inches, where occasional diet soda drinkers experienced an average increase of 1.83 inches. Strikingly, those who drank diet soda daily experienced an average interval increase of 3.16 inches. The researchers of the study accounted and adjusted for confounding variables such as chronic medical conditions.

While zero calories and no sugar may seem appealing for diet soda, it may be doing more harm than good for your weight loss and health goals. Syfo Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters have no calories and are free of sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium, preservatives or any other additives. With Syfolicious flavors like Wild Cherry, Tangerine-Orange and Lemon-Lime, you can lose the diet soda and the belly fat.

Read more about the belly fat study here. 

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March 24, 2015

A federal nutrition advisory committee comprised of doctors and nutritionists recently released their Scientific Report on nutritional recommendations.  The recommendations will be used by the USDA and Department of Health & Human Services to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015. Among their recommendations: reduce your intake of processed sugar.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is released every 5 years to provide nutritional recommendations and advice in order to promote overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The committee’s report called for, “Improved beverage selections that limit or remove sugar-sweetened beverages and place limits on sweets and desserts would help lower intakes of the food component, added sugars.” The committee recommended reducing sugary drinks, but avoiding low-calorie artificial sweeteners.

As mentioned in our previous news post The Growing Sugar Addiction, more than half of all packaged food and drinks contain some form of sugar.  Currently, Americans get around 13% (about 286 calories) or more of their daily caloric intake from added sugar. Children, teens and young adults are estimated to consume even greater amounts of added sugar. This year, the committee is recommending that the maximum amount of added sugar be 10% (about 200 calories) of your daily calories.

Replacing soda and other sugary beverages with Syfo Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters will aid in keeping your added sugar intake below the recommended 10% level. With deliciously refreshing flavors like Lemon- Lime, Tangerine-Orange and Wild Cherry, you won’t even miss that sugar-packed soda.

You find more details on the report in this New York Times article.

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February 15, 2015

Concern has been growing about the heightened presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food chain. And according to this recent article in the New York Times, it’s still difficult to tell from the product labeling whether GMOs are included in what you eat and drink.

This is partly because there are no regulations requiring companies to disclose on labels whether their products contain GMOs. And while there are proposed regulations being debated in Congress and state legislatures, the public outcry over GMOs has prompted some food manufacturers to proactively label their products as non-GMO. The problem is that there is no process in place to verify the claims.

This has led to a large amount of consumer confusion, leaving it to the individual to sort out the information and decide what’s true. So the best bet is to keep yourself informed, learning as much as you can about the ingredients in the food and beverage products that are available and how those products are manufactured and processed.

There is also the common misconception that the concern over GMOs is only limited to food products. Many of the beverages on the market contain ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms. According to the New York Times, most corn, soy, canola and sugar beets are grown from genetically modified seeds. These crops are often used to produce high-fructose corn syrup, ascorbic acid, sugar and Xantham gun — ingredients that are commonly used in sodas and other sweetened beverages. High fructose corn syrup is a particular concern, for in addition to potentially containing GMOs, this highly-processed derivate of corn has come under scrutiny for a variety of health concerns and conditions, including weight gain, diabetes, heart disease and more.

Some of the specific health concerns surrounding GMOs include antibiotic resistance, gastrointestinal and digestive difficulties as well as immune system suppression. Additionally, for those with food allergies, genetic traits from unrelated plants can be grafted to other crops, which may trigger an allergic response if for example, someone with a nut allergy consumed a food that was grafted with a nut gene.

At Syfo, we take pride in making truly healthy beverages. Our Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters are free of any genetically modified ingredients or GMOs. Our all-natural flavors are derived from essential oils that are extracted from the peel of the fruit and our products contain no sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium or any other additives.  Made with purified water, they’re just delicious and healthy refreshment.

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January 25, 2015

The holiday decorations have come down but you may have noticed something that is still hanging around: those extra pounds.  Unfortunately there is no single magic solution to help you shed those holiday pounds. However, there a few things that can go a long way in losing that extra weight: healthy eating habits, physical activity and drinking water, including delicious Syfo Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters! Here are a few reasons why:

1. Drinking Water Can Prevent Excess Snacking

It’s sometimes difficult for us to distinguish between our brain’s signal for thirst and our brain’s signal for hunger, as both signals are released by the hypothalamus. Often, when we are hanging out in front of the fridge looking for a snack, we’re actually thirsty. The next time you have the urge to grab a bag of chips, try drinking a glass of water or grabbing a bottle of Syfo. You may not want those chips after all.

2. Drinking Water Can Boost Metabolism

Water is required for keeping cellular processes (like your metabolism) and chemical reactions running properly in the body. Drinking the right amount of water, especially cold water, can also increase your metabolic rate, helping you lose weight.

3. Drinking Water Can Help You Feel More Full

Drinking a full glass of water or Syfo before a meal can aid in feeling more full. This can reduce your portion size and prevent overeating.

4. Drinking Water Can Help Reduce Caloric Intake

Sodas and juice drinks contain “empty calories,” which are calories from added sugar that provide no nutritional benefit. Try replacing the soda you drink during your lunch with a delicious glass of any of Syfo’s Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters. A 20oz bottle of cola contains 240 calories and 65 grams of sugar. Changing your choice from soda to Syfo or water can reduce your caloric intake by a substantial amount.

Now many people say they’re open to drinking more water but they need something with taste to satisfy. That’s where Syfo comes in. Syfo Beverages offer the health benefits of pure and refreshing water but with delicious natural fruit flavors for enjoyable taste. Our Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters, which come in Tangerine-Orange, Lemon-Lime and Wild Cherry flavors,  make drinking water more enjoyable and losing weight a little easier.

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