As a person with a big ol’ sweet tooth herself, I understand the desire to have something sweet. The thing is, if you’re a regular juice or soda drinker, you consume a lot of sugar or fake sugar on a regular basis. One 8 ounce can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar.  A serving of any flavor of Vitamin Water has 13 grams of sugar which sounds great until you realize each 20 ounce bottle is 2.5 servings bring the total grams of sugar per bottle to 32.5 grams. An 8 ounce glass of Simply Orange juice (with calcium and vitamin D) has 24 grams of sugar. If it’s an interesting flavor experience you’re after, why not put down the soda/”water beverage”/juice and pick up some seltzer water instead?

Seltzer water is a great way to get the carbonation of soda and the flavor of juice without consuming large amounts of sugar. Ok, that was a bit of a stretch. Flavored seltzer water doesn’t taste anything like juice, especially if you’re drinking it sans sweetener (as you should). But then again, how many things taste like the flavors they’re advertising? Strawberry Twizzlers? On what planet? Blue raspberry? Forget flavor – where does this freaky hybrid fruit even exist?

So seltzer water doesn’t taste like juice but the flavor options give you a variety in taste comparable to juice and “water beverages”. Water can be boring. It’s water, it doesn’t have a taste, and aside from doing awesome things for your body, it’s nothing to write home about. If you find water boring or unappealing, give flavored seltzer water a chance. Please!!!! I implore you.

Seltzer water is definitely an acquired taste for a lot of people, but considering our ability as a species to learn to like things we initially hated, I believe it’s definitely something to incorporate into your diet. If you consume a lot of sugary drinks, try to replace at least one sweet beverage a day with a can of seltzer water. Lemon-lime is a solid flavor, regardless of the brand, and is a great starting point. Also, since there are a lot of brands out there, you can almost always find seltzer water on sale. Saving money and your figure. Win win!

As for the nutritional benefits, unsweetened seltzer water contains 0 calories, 0 grams of sugar, and, if you get no sodium, 0 grams of sodium! If you purchase flavored seltzer water, it is sweetened with natural flavors.