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 read about the study here and learn more about how rituals help us savor food in this article on the Greater Good website.

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More and more people are cutting back or giving up on sugary soft drinks, indicating that the wealth of information on the negative health affects of soda’s ingredients is beginning to impact people’s choices.

Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. all sold less soda in the second quarter of 2013 in North America, despite new marketing pushes and the introduction of different sweetener mixes that the companies hoped would bring consumers back. Coca-Cola Co. said it sold 4 percent less soda in North America, while PepsiCo Inc. simply said its decline for the region was in the “mid-single digits.” Dr Pepper sold 3 percent less of their drinks.

Other factors such as a cold, wet spring have been cited but the declines continue a years-long trend. According to the industry tracker Beverage Digest, per capita soda consumption in the U.S. has been slipping steadily since 1998 amid concerns that sugary drinks fuel weight gain.

Soda manufacturers have tried to address the sugar issue by introducing lower-calorie sodas that use less sweetener, targeted for people who don’t like diet drinks. But these blends still use high-fructose corn syrup — widely known to have negative health effects — and concerns continue over ingredients such as phosphoric acid, citric acid, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and the caramel coloring used in some soft drinks.

Syfo Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters are a healthy choice. Our products are free of sugars, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or other additives, making them a healthy way to cut down on sugar and enjoy a refreshing beverage. Read how our customers have kicked the soda habit with Syfo.

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In a previous post we reported that the Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a petition stating that the caramel coloring used in cola soft drinks and other foods was contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical and should be banned. This past March California passed a law mandating drinks containing a certain level of carcinogens come with a cancer warning label and some manufacturers changed their production for cola beverages sold in that state. As reported in USA Today, now an environmental group has claimed that the caramel coloring used in certain brands still contains a worrisome level of a carcinogen for drinks sold outside of California.

The chemical is 4-methylimidazole, or 4-Mel, which can form during the cooking process and, as a result, may be found in trace amounts in colas and other foods. The watchdog group The Center for Environmental Health found in its testing that certain cola products sold outside of California still tested positive for the chemical.

Because of the coloring, high fructose corn syrup and other additives in colas, a better choice if you’re looking for a healthy beverage is Syfo. Our Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters contain no artificial coloring or sweeteners. They are also free of sugar, sodium or preservatives and are made with purified water.

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In a recent article on the Shape.com website, writer Keri Gans tries to clear up some of the confusion sowed by some beverage companies seeking to offer products that are perceived to be healthier than soda and diet soda. Some of these are marketed as flavored water, sparkling water or flavored sparkling waters but as Ms. Gans notes in her piece, not all of these beverages are the same or necessarily healthy for you.

Many of these products that are being marketed as healthy beverage alternatives contain artificial sweeteners, sodium, vitamins, minerals or other additives that may or may not be good for you. And as the article points out, some brands claiming to contain natural flavors can use additives in the process that are anything but natural.

To help clear up the confusion Ms. Gans recommends two categories of beverages at the top of her list as the healthiest for her readers — sodium-free plain sparkling water and sparkling waters that are flavored from the peel of a fruit. Syfo is the cream of the crop for both categories as both our Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters contain no sugar, sodium, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or other additives. And our delicious Lemon-Lime, Tangerine-Orange and Wild Cherry flavors are extracted from the peels of real fruit with nothing added in the process and are propylene glycol (PG) and brominated vegetable oil (BVO) free.

And here’s what perhaps is the most important difference: all Syfo products are made with water that’s purified through a multi-step process (including reverse osmosis) that removes all impurities, so you can be sure that you’re drinking the purest and healthiest beverages around.

You can read the full Shape article on flavored sparkling waters and other beverages here.

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A recent New York Times article featured a profile on Eli Miller, New York City’s seltzer man. Mr. Miller, 79,  has been delivering seltzer in canisters with siphon tops to people in Brooklyn, NY for more than half a century. In 1960 there were more than 500 seltzer men in the city and now there are less than a handful — Mr. Miller says he can now count his delivery competition on one hand.

Eli Miller is carrying on the tradition of the Syfo Brand that our founder, Charles Schussler, began in 1949 in Brooklyn. Mr. Schussler started a business making and delivering seltzer water from the back of his beer buggy throughout his home borough of Brooklyn,  The seltzer water in those days was bottled in siphon canisters (also spelled syphon) just as Mr. Miller does today, and people would ask for “syfos” of seltzer water. And that’s how Syfo got its name.

What makes Syfo so unique — and why we call it Original Seltzer — is that the same freshness and effervescence that people clamor for or remember from their delivery man is conveniently available on their supermarket shelf. Using only purified water, we take great care through our production and bottling processes to deliver the carbonation and quality that people came to expect from their delivery man all those years ago.

To learn more about all of Syfo’s seltzer and sparkling waters products click here or you can learn more about our history here.

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