Want to Give up Soda?
Try These Healthy Alternatives
What You’ll Learn:
- Why diet and regular sodas are addictive and cause weight gain
- How to make your own healthy soda at home from organic fruit juice & soda water
- New probiotic sodas full of ingredients that aid weight loss
I have looked in the Health Food Stores here and cannot seem to find any of the drinks you are talking about. Any online suggestions?
Hi Maylin,
Regular super markets should have some of these ingredients. We are not sure of online vendors for these items. You can always get creative and add a few pieces of fruit to your water and that always gives it a refreshing twist!
Janine
The Gabriel Method Team
I have been drinking a fermented beverage for many years now which I quite enjoy – I’m not sure if anyone else has tried it but it’s fantastic – it’s called wine. I’m assuming that because the fermentation process has converted the sugar into alcohol it is not as good as other fermented products, but why is that?
My five year old son inadvertently chose kambucha for a drink at the health food store – he rejected it immediately when he said it smelled like wine which I found interesting and made me wonder about wine as a fermented product.
Hi Sandra,
Jon has written:
“Alcohol has a dramatic effect on your blood sugar
levels and can disrupt sleep and lead to overeating.
For some people, it can even turn on your
FAT Programs.
But what about resveratrol?
Resveratrol, a micronutrient found in red wine,
has gotten a lot of media attention for its potential
to reverse or prevent heart disease. What many
people don’t realize is that you need to drink about
1500 bottles of red wine per day to achieve the
results they’ve found in laboratory testing.
What I usually find is that as people learn to lead a
lower stress life, they just naturally start to drink less.
Also, listening to the evening visualization CD will teach
your brain to get into the pleasurable alpha state without
relying on alcohol. So you may find that the issue just falls
away on its own, that’s always the best scenario.”
I hope this helps!
Janine
The Gabriel Method Team
Am I ever going to receive my hard copy of the videos, cookbook, book etc? Perhaps I am just too old and like to hold a book.
I too rather to hold a book and to have CD’s or DVD’s, as I don’t do well on the computer.
Hi Joan,
I suggest you contact our team at help@thegabrielmethod.com
to verify if you have purchased physical products. They should be able to assist.
–GM Team
hi Jon, I wanted to ask you about a soda maker that is called “soda stream” it has a co2 tank you pump into regular water and then you pour different flavour of the concentrate that has for every 240ml 25 mg of sodium, 8 g of carbohydrate, 8 g of sugar. It has no high fructose corn syrup it has sugar. My son is allergic to corn so he can’t have many things including everything that has corn syrup. Do you think this type of drink with the soda stream sound healthy enough?
thanks
Hi Allan,
If you use the machine just to carbonate the water it isn’t an issue, but instead of using the flavours which contain sugar, maybe you can add your own natural flavours to the drink like fresh squeezed lemon and stevia or coconut palm sugar to sweeten it. Also, it is best not to have carbonated drinks with meals as it can effect digestion.
Janine
The Gabriel Method Team
Hi, I am new to your program, although I bought your book about 3 Weeks ago just to have access to you when I was out and about. The Bio Bubble I have never heard of bout I love the idea of friendly bacteria. Do you also suggest eating as much fermented foods as possible? Thank you, Judi
Hi Judi,
Absolutely! Fermented foods are great for creating healthy intestinal flora, which is crucial for weight loss.
I dont really understand this. Should be said in simple words. Just send a recipe for the juice please
Hi Jill,
Please confirm which juice you are wanting a recipe for.
Kind regards
Den
Hi Jill,
You can juice apples or oranges to have 1/4 cup apple juice or orange juice and the rest sparkling soda. Or instead you can have coconut water with sparkling soda.
Janine
The Gabriel Method Team
The video was great, Jon. I want to get more probiotics into my system, but where I live makes it hard to find them.
My question is, how can I make my own probiotic drink?
Thanks,
The kombucha tea is simple and inexpensive to make at home with a starter culture, teabags, sugar and filtered water. You can also do coconut kefir, or milk kefir. Depending on your preference, recipes are easy to find. Don’t deviate from the recipe, you want the good bacteria to remain good. Look up Donna Gates, you can also learn to make great cultured vegetables.
Hi Lesley,
In one of Jon’s GM Show Interviews he talks to Donna Schwenk regarding cultured foods – here is the link to the interview:
https://members.thegabrielmethod.com/probiotics-and-cultured-foods/.
Here also is Donna’s website where you can get lots of information on how to get more probiotics into your diet – CulturedFoodLife.com
Hope this helps.
Den – GM Team
I make kombucha tea at home and have the store bought versions as well. They are miles apart, however neither affect my skin like soft drinks (soda).
My skin has always reacted badly to poor diet. And the absolute worst are soft drinks. There is no doubt they are the worst thing you can consume.
Hi Anna,
I love having Kombucha as a kind of pre-dinner drink, and hope one day to get around to making my own! How long do you ferment yours for?
Den – GM Team
In the summer, I ferment my kombucha for 8 days, in the winter, I find that it takes 2 weeks for the bacteria to get through the sugar.
I also ferment kefir with milk and the kefir “mother” bacteria. I make 8 oz every day of that.
I’m in Brisbane and even though our winter days are mild, I bought a heating pad so I can still get a good sour batch in the 10 days.
Thanks Helen and Anna!
Den 🙂
If I am pre-diabetic, can I drink fresh fruit juices or eat fresh fruit or honey?
Are the sugars in these foods harmful?
Hi Avril,
Fruit juices can spike your blood sugar. If you choose to eat fruit, it’s best to do so in it’s natural form. As far as a sweetener goes, we recommend Stevia and Coconut Palm sugar.
Anna
The Gabriel Method Team
Can you use club soda in place of sparking water? For some reason it is hard to find where I live.
Hi Mary,
The difference between club soda and sparkling water is that club soda usually has a few added ingredients to create that slightly salty/mineral flavour. While sparkling water would be better, if club soda is all that you are able to buy, then it would be fine to use this.
Kind regards
Den – GM Team
Thank you. I am still looking for sparkling water.
Hi. I’m just curious where ginger ale falls in the grand scheme of things. 🙂
Thanks!
Hi Melissa,
It depends on how it has been made, and what has been put into it. Certainly it can be an excellent fermented ‘soda’ if using the right ingredients!
Here is a link to a website that explains how to make a natural Ginger Ale – http://wellnessmama.com/8945/natural-ginger-ale/
Kind regards
Den – GM Team
I consume Kombucha daily and love it! The problem is my kids. They gag just smelling probiotic drinks. I need an alternative to soda for them and have not found one that satisfies their “sweet” tooth and satisfies my nutritional desires for them. Thank you for your video regarding the soda alternatives. Great advice and I will be on the lookout in my local Sprouts. Love you and what you do!!! Keep up the great work.
Hi Cindy,
Let us know how you go with introducing the healthier alternatives.
Kind regards
Den – GM Team
We have been experimenting with homemade water kefir. It is bubbly and refreshing and there are many YouTube videos on how to make it. We bought the kefir grains from someone on Amazon.
Thanks Lori!
Yes water kefir is great!
I drink 1 oz of Body Ecology’s Cocobiotic sparkling fermented coconut water daily with dinner. A slightly sour taste but really great and helps digest my dinner. The taste also circumvents any cravings for alcohol. You can poor a champagne glass full and drink it with dinner if you like!
Hi tifhill,
Thanks for sharing this. I particularly enjoy drinks like this as a sort of pre-dinner drink too.
Den – GM Team
Does sparkling water or club soda work?
Hi Joan,
Sparkling water will work.
Kind regards
Den – GM Team
what is the difference between coconut milk and coconut water?
My daughter has a great drink with fresh mango, coconut water, half an avocado, flax seeds, protein powder, hemp hearts, and 2-3 kale leaves.
What is the best protein powder to use? I have Quinoa protein powder, whey, all vegetable, and sometimes too many choices are just confusing!
Hi Joan,
Coconut milk is made from the flesh of the coconut. Coconut water is the liquid found inside the coconut.
The drink your daughter makes sounds delicious – thanks for sharing that with us!
The whey protein powder that you have would be the best to use. Things to look for are unflavoured and and unsweetened protein powders.
Kind regards
Den – GM Team
I really like the information you provide in your talks. The problem I have is that I have a really difficult time finding some of these products even at the health food store. I ask and am told, “we can’t get that in Canada” or ” did you see that on Dr. Oz?”
I am struggling with craving sweetness and I find that fried cabbage, beets, parsnips, or baked squash I get enough sweetness to satisfy my cravings. (I am just turning orange!!)
I am new to this and like everyone want to have results immediately so that I know I am on the right track.
I also struggle with what is the best thing to eat for breakfast?
Hi Joan,
If you are craving sweet things, have a look in Jon’s recipe book at the snack ideas, such as health balls. Smoothies are another great way to get a sweet fix (and still be healthy).
Here is a recipe from the Videos library for a Chocolate drink:
https://members.thegabrielmethod.com/recipes1/videos/
For breakfast ideas – again please check Jon’s recipe book but in the recipe section there are some suggestions for breakfasts. Below is a link for a muesli that has the ‘big three’.
Breakfast idea:
https://members.thegabrielmethod.com/grain-free-dairy-free-muesli/
Regarding your difficulties finding some of the ingredients, the internet is a good way to find if there are suppliers/stores near you. Possible option for purchasing fermented drinks and the other ingredients such as Stevia and coconut palm sugar is the Whole foods chain of organic stores. Their website states that they have stores in Canada: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/naturally-fermented-foods
Hope this helps.
Best regards
Den – GM Team
I love to get some freshly squeezed lemon juice & mix with some coconut palm sugar & mineral water, very thirst quenching and delicious.
Hi Meg,
Thanks for sharing that with us!
Kind regards
Den – GM Team
I used to be addicted to diet coke. Now I drink Zevia brand cola which has natural ingredients and is sweetened with stevia. It is hard to get in australia but can be ordered online. Is this a healthy option?
Hi Kate,
Great question and we are researching this further and will have an answer for you soon.
Best regards
Den – GM Team
Hi Kate,
It’s certainly better than diet soda, a bit high in erythritol though, so I wouldn’t want to make a habit out of it. Try giving one of these other suggestions a go too.
So as a brewer my ears totally perked up with the idea that I could make my own. After all I am famous in my family for my brewed Christmas gifts including vanilla-root-beer for the non-alcoholic drinkers apple cinnamon cordials. I will play with this and post when I have some good recipes. In the mean time I found a good starter recipe here: http://youtu.be/mALNd7zRZk0
Hi Audrey,
Would love to hear what you come up with!
Den – GM Team
Where can I get these probiotic drinks in the UK?
Hi Eileen,
A good health food or Organic Food store will carry varieties of fermented drinks.
Kind regards
Den – GM Team