The #1 Best Diet for 2021, According to Experts

We’re only a few days into 2021, but we already have the official best diet to follow in the year ahead. For the fourth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet has been awarded the #1 spot among best diets to follow for optimal health by the the U.S. News&World Report.

a plate of food on a table: mediterranean diet

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mediterranean diet

While fad diets come and go, there’s a consensus among the scientific community about what kinds of foods are most beneficial for our longevity and wellness. To that end, the publication consulted a panel of experts in the areas of heart disease and diabetes, nutrition, diet, food psychology and obesity who reviewed latest research to come up with the best diet currently known to man. (Related: 52 Life-Changing Kitchen Tricks For Easier Cooking.)

The most highly rated diets ended up being ones that advocate a level of flexibility and emphasize meals filled with fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. While the Mediterranean diet came in first due to its sensibility and diversity, it was followed by the DASH and flexitarian diets, both of which similarly prioritize plant-based proteins and whole foods and discourage the consumption of processed foods.

According to Angela Haupt, managing editor of health at U.S. News&World Report, each diet was rated on several criteria, including how easy it is to follow, how likely it is to lead to long-term weight loss, how safe and healthy it is, and how likely it is to help with chronic illnesses.

The Mediterranean diet received an almost perfect score in the health category, but its moderate score in the weight loss category shows that this isn’t a crash diet meant for extreme weight loss. Instead, the diet’s main goal is to slowly shed pounds and keep the weight off long-term while also avoiding chronic diseases.

“It’s generally accepted that the folks in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea live longer and suffer less than most Americans from cancer and cardiovascular ailments,” said the report.

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Table of Contents

108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked by How Toxic They Are

By now, you’re well aware that soda is, well, dangerous. It’s the one drink you should simply refrain from drinking whenever you can. In fact, it just might be contributing to that soda belly of yours.

In a study of about 1,000 adults over the course of six years, people who drank soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages gained an extra 1.8 pounds of visceral fat—the fat that sits inside your gut, damaging your internal organs and pushing your belly out. And visceral fat has been shown to increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other ills. Yikes.

So why is soda so good at making us look bad? It’s the sugar. The American Heart Association recommends women consume no more than 100 calories (25 grams or 6 teaspoons) per day on sugar and men no more than 150 calories (36 grams or 9 teaspoons) per day.

This amount is about 20 grams less than the usual 45 grams of sugar found in many sodas and other sweetened beverages. And if it’s not sugar, then it’s artificial sweetener, which is 180 times sweeter than sugar and more damaging to your waistline.

To help you make better choices, we’ve ranked the more than 100 of the most popular sodas. We look at calories, sodium, carbs, sugar and examined each can’s ingredients and gave demerits to sodas with more chemicals and additives than those that were nutritionally similar.

Click through to see where your favorite fizzy drinks fall in our best and worst sodas list, ranked from worst-to-best. (Although, “best” still doesn’t mean healthy!) And if you’re looking for other beverages to cut from your shopping list, check out the 50 Drinks With More Sugar Than a Hershey’s Bar.

108. Crush Pineapple

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 190 calories, 65 mg sodium, 52 g carbs (51 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Yellow 5, Brominated, Soybean Oil, Yellow 6

If you think choosing a fruit-based soda is a better option for your health, well, that’s just not true. With 51 grams of sugar in one can, any variation of Crush soda is just a landfill of sugar. Plus, the pineapple flavor contains soybean oil, which has been linked to weight gain. Speaking of weight gain, be sure to stay away from these 7 Snacks That Are Causing You to Gain Weight.

107. Sunkist Pineapple

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 190 calories, 60 mg sodium, 51 g carbs (51 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Yellow 5, Yellow 6

The yellow color of this soda doesn’t come from an actual pineapple. That’s all thanks to additives Yellow #5 and Yellow #6, with Yellow #5 even causing allergic-type reactions in some.

106. Crush Peach

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 190 calories, 65 mg sodium, 50 g carbs (49 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Red 40, Yellow 5

If you ate 12 chocolate glazed munchkins from Dunkin’, you would still consume less sugar than one can of Crush Peach soda. Eating an actual peach? That brings in just about 13 grams of natural sugar—no HFCS in sight.

105. Stewart’s Cherries ‘n Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 190 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Red 40, Blue 1

While the bright hue of this soda may lure drinkers in, with 46 grams of sugar, it’s best to think twice before taking a sip. Instead, opt for actual strawberries with some whipped cream.

104. Sunkist Fruit Punch

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 60 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (48 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Red 40

Fruit punch is always a rather risky drink choice, as sugar tends to be high, so it’s no surprise this fruit punch soda isn’t necessarily the best option.

103. Fanta Pineapple

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 50 mg sodium, 48 g carbs (48 g sugar)

Ingredients (Pineapple): Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Sodium Citrate, Coconut Oil, Salt, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Yellow 5, Yellow 6

With this long list of ingredients, it’s interesting to note that pineapple is not blatantly listed as a main component of this soft drink, but there are plenty of different types of sugar here.

102. Fanta Mango

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 40 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (48 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste), Malic Acid, Acacia Gum, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Yellow 6

Just eating a real mango is much cleaner for your health than this beverage. You’ll notice that it, along with many other sodas, contains the thickener gum acacia. It not only has been said to cause flatulence and stomach discomfort in some people when ingested in high quantities but according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, it can also cause allergic reactions such as a skin rash or an asthmatic attack.

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101. Mug Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 60 mg sodium, 47 g carbs, 47 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)

You would have to down 12 servings of Reddi-Wip to equal the calorie count of Mug Cream Soda—and would still need to eat 12 Hershey’s Kisses on top of that to equal the sugar count.

100. Mountain Dew Live Wire

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 65 mg sodium, 46 g carbs, 46 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Yellow 6, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Yellow 5, Red 40

This version of Mountain Dew is “sparked with orange,” both natural and artificial orange flavor, that is.

99. Mountain Dew Code Red

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 105 mg sodium, 46 g carbs, 46 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Orange Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate (To protect flavor), Sodium Benzoate (Preserves freshness), Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To protect flavor), Red 40, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, Blue 1

As we said, Europe and Japan have already banned the flame retardant brominated vegetable oil (BVO) out of their bubbly beverages. If you’re truly trying to get a six-pack, don’t do the Dew in any variation and instead scroll through this comprehensive list of foods that uncover your abs.

98. Mountain Dew

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 46 g carbs, 46 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Erythorbic Acid (Preserves Freshness), Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5

The lime-green soda contains brominated vegetable oil or BVO, a patented flame retardant that acts as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soda drinks. It’s been banned in Europe and Japan before, and there have even been some reports that those who drank an excessive amount of sodas containing BVO suffered memory loss and skin and nerve problems.

97. Mountain Dew White Out

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 46 g carbs, 46 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Gum Arabic, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor)

This version of the Dew was actually chosen by fans of the classic drink, so the flavor surely is something special. So what exactly is White Out soda? Well, it’s described as “a white blast of smooth citrus flavored Mountain Dew” and it is foggy white in color. All we’re getting from this nutrition breakdown and ingredients list is that it’s something you just should avoid drinking! And be sure to stay away from These Sodas With More Sugar Than 4 Donuts.

96. A&W Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Yucca Extract, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caffeine

A&W traffics heavily in the nostalgia of the roadside restaurant—the company created the nation’s first chain of them in 1923. But their cream soda is a mix of HFCS and artificial colors and flavors. This is not your grandparents’ soda, in the worst way possible.

95. A&W Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 80 mg sodium, 47 g carbs (46 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Quillaia Extract

You gotta love that label: This American classic claims it’s “Made with Aged Vanilla” but we see no mention of “Vanilla Extract” in the ingredients list. Throw in two scoops of vanilla ice cream to make a Root Beer float, and you have more than two day’s worth of sugar in one chilled mug.

94. Crush Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Red 40, Acacia Gum, Blue 1

Oh caramel color. It’s a very common additive you’ll find in many sodas, coffee drinks, salad dressings, and soup, but it’s also a potential carcinogen.

93. Crush Strawberry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Caramel Color, Red 40, Natural And Artificial Flavors

There seems to be no mention of any actual strawberries in this ingredient list, with “natural” flavors coming in last behind HFCS, caramel color, and Red #40.

92. Mello Yello

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 50 mg sodium, 47 g carbs (46 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Taste), Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Yellow 5, Carob Bean Gum

This soda—like many others on this list—is sweetened with HFCS, which makes for a shocking sugar count. It’s also colored with that pesky food dye, Yellow #5, a food dye that studies have linked to hyperactivity in children.

91. Stewart’s Orange ‘n Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 80 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Yellow 6

If you’re looking for a refreshing summer treat with this classic flavor combo, you’re better off eating the classic Creamsicle ice cream bar that’s only 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar.

90. Stewart’s Grape Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 70 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Artificial Flavors, Red 40, Acacia Gum, Blue 1

This soda sure won’t taste like actual grapes and it contains Blue #1, a food dye that the Center for Science in the Public Interest recommended consumers be wary of.

89. Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 25 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 44 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Caramel Color

This soda has more calories than a Mountain Dew (though with less artificial colors, thus the better ranking).

88. Norka Cherry-Strawberry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 15 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (0 g fiber, 43 g sugar), 0 g protein.

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gum Acacia, FD&C Red #40, Glycerol, Ester Of Wood Rosin

This is another example of don’t let the colorful packaging fool you. This oh-so-sweet soda is chock-full of sugar and toxic ingredients.

87. Dr. Brown’s Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 30 mg sodium, 42 g carbs, 42 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Gum Acacia, Citric Acid

You know when you add some Mentos to a two-liter Diet Coke and the whole thing explodes? (Don’t try that at home.) That’s thanks to the Gum Acacia in the candy, which is listed in A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives as a natural emulsifier and is in the soda, too. Despite its weird name, it’s probably the most natural ingredient in this sugar juice. Think you’re having too much of the sweet stuff? Here are 16 Subtle Signs You’re Eating Too Much Sugar.

86. A-Treat Blue Razz

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 165 calories, 41 g carbs, 30 mg sodium, 41 g sugar, 0 g protein

triple-filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, natural and artificial flavoring, citric acid, gum acacia, ester gum, fd&c blue #1, preserved with sodium benzoate, contains no caffeine

This raspberry flavored drink has more sugar than three Dunkin Donuts glazed donuts. If that isn’t a red flag, we don’t know what is.

85. RC Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 40 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 42 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum

Its name refers to “royal crown cola” and it was developed by a pharmacist. With HFCS, caramel color, and 42 grams of sugar in one can, there are much better soda options out there for you.

84. Surge

Nutrition (per 16 fl oz can): 230 calories, 50 mg sodium, 62 g carbs (56 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Orange Juice Concentrate, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Taste), Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Carob Bean Gum, Blue 1

It’s not uncommon for “sodium and potassium benzoate are added to some diet soft drinks and fruit drinks,” Leslie Bonci, RD, tells us. Unfortunately—especially because Surge contains OJ—”they can form benzene, which is a carcinogen when combined with vitamin C, the ascorbic acid in juice or soda,” she says.

83. Jarritos Mandarin Soda

Nutrition (12.5 fl oz bottle): 181 calories, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (as preservative), Yellow 6, Red 40

That Yellow 6 and Red 40 seems to be a repeat combo offender. And for 45 grams of sugar, ditch the fizzy stuff and go for a fresh mandarin orange isntead.

82. Stewart’s Key Lime Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 65 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (44 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, Blue 1

With this list of ingredients, you’re much better off making a key lime pie and eating that instead!

81. Sun Drop Caffeine Free

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 55 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Yellow 5, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil

The caffeine-free version of this citrus pop was created because of consumers’ requests for one in 2002, but it comes in with more calories than the original flavor.

80. Sun Drop

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 170 calories, 55 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caffeine, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Yellow 5, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil

Despite its name and flavor, this soda isn’t an orange hue like you would expect. Still, it contains Yellow 5, which gives it that distinct color.

79. Sun Drop Cherry Lemon Citrus

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 55 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caffeine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color, Acacia Gum, Red 40, Yellow 5, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil

The cherry lemon flavor is really packing when it comes to the ingredients—caramel color, Red 40, and Yellow 5. No thanks.

78. Mountain Dew Pitch Black

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 55 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 45 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Gum Arabic, Sodium Citrate, Red 40, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Sucralose Acetate Isobutyrate, Blue 1

This soda takes classic Mountain Dew and ramps it up with a twist of citrus and dark fruit flavors, but we’re not seeing any actual fruit listed here!

77. Fanta Berry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 65 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Blue 1

If you just ate some actual blueberries, you wouldn’t consume any Blue 1 like you get from this soda. Why not munch on any of these 9 Best Fruits for Weight Loss, Approved by a Nutritionist to get your fruit fix the right way?

76. Hires Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 120 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Phosphoric Acid, Quillaia Extract, Natural And Artificial Flavors

This root beer was created by a pharmacist who introduced the first Hires Root Beer back in 1876, and many people actually owned Hires Root Beer Kits, which let families brew their own root beer right at home.

75. Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 25 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 45 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Cherry And Other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), and Artificial Color (Red 40)

Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry would horrify most doctors—and not just because of the sweet stuff. Like Stewart’s cherry flavor—and many of the colored sodas here—this one has the artificial color Red 40.

74. Crush Watermelon

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 65 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Red 40

Sipping on a watermelon soda can’t be all that bad, right? Sorry to disappoint, but you’re much better off simply eating watermelon or adding the fruit to some water than sipping on this sugar-filled soda.

73. Barq’s Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 70 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Caffeine, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Acacia

Barq’s Root Beer overall has a slightly less horrifying chemical profile than its competition.

72. Barq’s Creme Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 65 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Caramel Color, Citric Acid

Barq’s creme soda fairs slighting better than its root beer, thanks to being 5 milligrams less in sodium.

71. Barq’s Red Creme Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Red 40

Does anyone even know what red creme flavor is? It’s for sure not a natural combination!

70. Fanta Grape

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 40 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 44 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Tartaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Red 40, Blue 1

Liquefy a bag of Skittles to equal the sweetness of this can of corn syrup, citric acid, and artificial colors. In fact, that bag of Skittles has similar ingredients, including Red 40.

69. Fanta Orange

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 55 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 44 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Natural Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Polyphosphates, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Yellow 6, Red 40

I don’t know about you, but after a long day of hard work and play, I like to sit back and relax and crack open a can of Glycerol Ester Of Rosin (said no one ever). The wood resin is added to fruit sodas to help the fruit-flavored oils mix better with the water. While it’s not necessarily harmful, let us repeat: you’re drinking oil and water.

68. Fanta Strawberry

12 fl oz can: 160 calories, 45 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (44 g sugar)

Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (to protect taste), Red 40

We’re not so sure what the 100% natural flavors are that are boasted about on the can, but there must be some strawberry in here then, in the midst of all those other additives.

67. Stewart’s Wishniak Black Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 70 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 43 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Benzoate, Caramel Color, Red 40, Blue 1

With more sugar than seven Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies, Stewart’s Black Cherry would be a “Not That!” because of the sweetness alone—it’s one of the most caloric on this list. And, like many of the soda found here, it also contains the additive caramel coloring. Along with not sipping on this drink, make sure you don’t buy any of The 32 Unhealthiest Snacks On the Planet either!

66. Boylan Shirley Temple

180 calories, 30 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 43 g sugar

Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Fruit And Vegetable Juice For Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness)

This childhood favorite is even cuter in a bottle, and although it is high in calories and sugar, it scores lower on the list for fewer ingredients and its use of fruit and veggie juice for coloring rather than artificial dyes.

65. Stewart’s Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 170 calories, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Artificial Flavors, Quillaia Extract

43 grams of sugar in one soda is a whole lot, even if it is Stewart’s. This childhood favorite can stay on the shelf.

64. Crush Orange

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 70 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Salt, Red 40

Orange is the original flavor of Crush sodas, but the amount of sugar, the Yellow 6, and Red 40? All just, well, crushing stuff.

63. Crush Grape

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)

Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Acacia Gum, Red 40, Blue 1

With HFCS, Red 40, and Blue 1 in this soda, we think you’d be better off getting real grape flavor from, well, grapes.

62. RC Cherry Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 40 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 43 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum

At 160 calories, these RC drinks weigh in on the more calorie-heavy side of the regular soda options. In fact, for only 30 calories more you could have an entire Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut, and save yourself 33 grams of sugar in the process.

61. Coca-Cola Vanilla

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 35 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine

It’s probably a good idea to pass on this vanilla coke, if we’re being honest here!

60. Cherry Coca-Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 35 mg sodium, 42 g carbs, 42 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine

By now, you might start to see some of the most popular sodas for what they really are: carbonated water, HFCS, some acids, and little else. This classic—once made with real cherry juice—is, unfortunately, a variation on a common blend.

59. Sunkist

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 43 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Modified Corn Starch, Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Red 40

What do you get when you combine carbonated water with High Fructose Corn Syrup and a host of hard-to-pronounce chemicals? This citrus-inspired sip. It gets its alluring orange color from Yellow 5 and Red 40.

58. Mug’s Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 43 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), Quillaia Extract

Quillaia extract? The best (and worst) part of researching these sodas is coming across the many ingredients soda manufacturers add to their concoctions. Quillaia is another tree bark, and it helps your root beer foam up, as A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives points out. Be more scared of the sugar here—you’re basically drinking five root beer-flavored Dum Dums mixed with additives.

57. Wild Cherry Pepsi

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 30 mg sodium, 42 g carbs, 42 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Citric Acid

Nothing wild here—just the same ingredients as most sodas, and as much sugar as more than three cups of cherries (without containing any cherries). Not sure how to give up soda? We’ve got you covered with I Was Addicted to Soda—Here’s What Helped Me Quit.

56. Cheerwine

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 0 g fat, 25 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)

Ingredients (can): Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Artificial Cherry Flavor, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Flavor), Red 40

But yes, there strikes HFCS, yet again, in the canned version.

55. Virgil’s Handcrafted Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)

Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid For Flavor

The root beer is this brand’s original flavor and is actually brewed by hand in small batches.

54. Virgil’s Handcrafted Vanilla Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)

Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Caramel Color, Natural Flavors

All-natural bourbon vanilla is said on the soda’s site to be the secret to this cream soda’s distinct flavor.

53. Virgil’s Handcrafted Orange Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)

Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors

The website claims, “Only the finest Spanish oranges make a sweet enough juice with just the right citrus zest to flavor this creamy, bold classic,” and with minimum ingredients, we just might believe it.

52. Virgil’s Handcrafted Black Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 150 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)

Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors

The black cherries here add a tart and tangy flavor to this soda.

51. Crush Blue Raspberry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (41 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Blue 1

Blue raspberry isn’t a naturally-occurring flavor by any means, and the color of this drink comes from you guessed it, Blue 1.

50. Dr Pepper Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (41 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Red 40

Malic acid is found in here, and according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, it’s used as a way to compensate for the lack of fruit in artificially sweetened fruit, so there really isn’t much actual cherry in this drink.

49. Crush Grapefruit

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (41 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Acacia Gum, Ester Gum, Calcium Disodium EDTA (protect flavor)

Our childhood nostalgia is crushed: This kid-favorite brand has no actual grapefruit. On the bright side, it has no BVO.

48. Hansen’s Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 0 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (41 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid

Although this ingredients list isn’t as long as others, it still contains caramel color and a high amount of sugar. Pass!

47. Pepsi-Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 30 mg sodium, 41 g carbs, 41 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor

The perennial #2 in the cola wars carries 5 grams more sugar than a 3 Musketeers bar. Let that sink in: One of America’s most popular sodas has that much sugar. Instead of drinking this, make a weight loss smoothie!

46. Pepsi Real Sugar

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 30 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 40 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric, Acid, Caffeine, Natural Flavor

Sugar is the master of disguise. Maltodextrin, brown rice syrup, dextrose, sucrose—the list goes on. But its most well-known costume, as you know after reading this far, is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Pepsi’s hoping you forget it’s all the same sweet stuff, heavily marketing that this version is formulated with sugar and no HFCS. But in a review of five studies comparing the effects of sugar and HFCS, there was no difference found in changes in blood glucose levels, lipid levels, or appetite between table sugar consumption and HFCS consumption. In other words, your body can’t tell one from the other—they’re both just sugar.

45. Dr Pepper

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caffeine

No, an actual doctor didn’t create this soda but if one did, we like to think there would be a lot less sugar and more natural ingredients.

44. Hansen’s Original Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 0 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Natural Flavor with Extracts of Kola Nuts

Kola nuts are a bonus, but all those acids and caramel color knock this soda down.

43. IBC Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Citric Acid, Quillaia Extract

This soda is now owned by the Dr Pepper/Snapple group and is said to have a “satisfying richness” in flavor.

42. Stewart’s Birch Beer Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 70 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Yucca Extract, Acacia Gum

Yucca extract is something different compared to other sodas on this list, but still, it’s chock-full of the typical unhealthy soda ingredients.

41. Maine Root. Mexicane Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 165 calories, 35 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Pure Water, Fair Trade Certified Organic Cane Sugar, Spices, Caffeine, Phosphoric Acid

Seeing organic sugar cane is a nice change from HFCS, but phosphoric acid is made from phosphate rock, so that’s just something to keep in mind.

40. Maine Root. Root Beer & Maine Root. Ginger Brew

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 165 calories, 35 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Pure Water, Fair Trade Certified Organic Cane Sugar, Spices

This soda is basically the same nutrition-wise as the one above it, but comes out in a better spot thanks to its somewhat cleaner list of ingredients.

39. Dr Pepper and Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (39 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Sodium Phosphate

The combination of Dr Pepper and rich cream soda might take you back to your childhood with just one sip, but that’s all you should have. One can comes packing with nearly 40 grams of sugar creating a combination you’re going to want to stay away from.

38. Fanta Green Apple

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 35 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Citric Acid Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Yellow 5, Acacia Gum, Blue 1

38 grams of sugar is quite a lot, whereas eating a cup of green apple slices comes in at only 11 grams of all-natural sugar.

37. 1893 Ginger Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 39 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Potassium Sorbate (Preserves Freshness), Modified Food Starch, Kola Nut Extract, Ginger Oleoresin

Don’t let the word “premium” confuse you. There are no premium ingredients here, but at 150 calories and 39 grams of sugar, it’s hard to believe that there are only 11 ingredients in this afternoon pick-me-up. Giving up caffeine is never a bad idea! Need proof? Here’s What Happens to Your Body When You Cut Out Caffeine.

36. 1893 Original Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 39 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate (Protects Freshness), Caffeine, Gum Arabic, Kola Nut Extract

We’re not sure we would call this cola “bold,” but it does have kola nut extract in it, a natural ingredient.

35. Stewart’s Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 150 calories, 70 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Quillaia Extract, Acacia Gum, Yucca Extract

Although this soda was developed to be “the best-tasting root beer,” it certainly isn’t doing you any favors health-wise. If you wouldn’t eat three and half bowls of Apple Jacks, then you should stay away from this root beer. That’s the sugar equivalent of what’s in a 12-ounce can.

34. Pibb Xtra

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 40 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 38 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate And Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Artificial And Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Monosodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Polyethylene Glycol

A “spicy” cherry soda found mostly in the South—or in Coke Freestyle machines—Pibb Xtra contains propylene glycol, a preservative, thickening agent, and stabilizer that is found in antifreeze and cosmetics. The soda ranks well because of its calorie count, but we can’t recommend you drink it!

33. 7Up Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 40 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Red 40

No caramel color—ranking goes up! Red 40—ranking goes down.

32. Coca-Cola Original

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 45 mg sodium, 39 g carbs, 39 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine

Coca-Cola’s flagship drink is actually less harmful than most of the soda’s on this list. That doesn’t mean you should drink it every day though. Need more proof? This is What Happens to Your Body When You Drink a Coke.

31. 7Up

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 45 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)

Best part of clear sodas: no caramel color. Worst part: They’re still sodas, and otherwise contain the same ingredients as the rest. This classic, now distributed by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, has lost market share since its 80s heyday, but remains a crisp drink that’s not much better than a Coke.

30. Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 60 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)

We’re not seeing any cherry or vanilla listed that high on the list of ingredients in this soda. Any doctor would most like tell you skip out on Dr Pepper.

29. Vernors Ginger Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 55 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors

This soda claims to have an “authentic bold taste,” but we wish there was more actual ginger prominently used here.

28. Squirt Grapefruit Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Grapefruit Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor)

Squirt soda was invented in 1938 by Herb Bishop in Phoenix, Arizona, so it’s been around for a while! And while there still is HFCS, it is a lower percentage.

27. Jones Cream Soda

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 35 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Inverted Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (as Preservatives), Calcium Disodium Edta (to Protect Flavor.)

Although it’s a bit higher in calories, this cream soda is made with pure can sugar and not HFCS, making it a better for you option if cream soda is your favorite flavor.

26. Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 60 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Red 40

If only there was actual raspberry in this soda, and we don’t just mean in the “natural flavors.” If you need more reasons to stock up on actual fruits, here’s What Happens to Your Body When You Don’t Eat Fruits & Veggies.

25. Sierra Mist Natural Lemon-Lime Soda, Made with Real Sugar

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 35 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (37 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor)

This caffeine-free drink is back in its original glory! In July 2018, Sierra Mist returned to its natural formula from 2010, made with real sugar and no stevia. Between 2010 and 2018, Sierra Mist had rebranded to Mist TWST, which was sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and no natural sugar in sight. This tacked on an additional 30 calories and 10 grams of sugar.

24. Orangina

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 40 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (37 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Orange Juice Concentrate, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Orange Pulp, Mandarin Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Grapefruit Juice Concentrate

There is some orange pulp in here, but that doesn’t make it healthy for you, as HFCS is still a main star.

23. Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (36 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Red 40, Blue 1

Not seeing any sign of cranberry here, but there is Red 40, which creates the red hue.

22. Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Lemonade

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (36 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Clarified, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Ester Gum, Yellow 5

The label touts that it’s “made from real ginger & with real juice,” but the only place we guess that ginger might be lurking is in the “natural flavors.”

21. Canada Dry Blackberry Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (36 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Red 40, Blue 1

Blackberries are high in vitamin K and are one of the best high-fiber foods you can eat to help your weight-loss goals. But drinking this isn’t going to give you those same benefits!

20. Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 65 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (35 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Green Tea, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)

It’s nice to see green tea actually listed as an ingredient rather high up on the nutrition breakdownn of this soda. But again, don’t let that trick you into thinking it’s a “healthy” beverage choice!

19. Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (35 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Caramel Color

Our moms used to give this to us when we had a tummy ache. Now as adults, we get a tummy ache looking at it. The tagline is “Real Ginger, Real Taste” but the main ingredients here are carbonated water and HFCS. But with lower calories than the rest, it ranks rather well on this list.

18. Dr. Brown’s Cel Ray

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 10 mg sodium, 34 g carbs, 34 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Extract of Celery Seed with other Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative) and Caramel Color

The healthiest-sounding soda on this list nearly is. But unfortunately for the fans of this one, Cel Ray blends actual celery seed extract with HFCS.

17. Hansen’s Key Lime Twist

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 0 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (34 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Fruit Flavors with Extracts of Lemons and Limes

This soda doesn’t have a laundry list of ingredients, which is refreshing to see, but still, it will set you back a decent amount of sugar. Looking for better ways to satisfy your sweet tooth? Try out any of these 73+ Best Healthy Dessert Recipes for Weight Loss.

16. Reed’s Ginger Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 140 calories, 40 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (33 g sugar)

Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water (Sweetened by a Blend of Raw Cane Sugar, Pineapple Juice From Concentrate and Honey), Fresh Ginger Root, Lemon and Lime Juices From Concentrate and Spices

While the sugar isn’t the lowest in this soda, the list of ingredients is pretty clean overall, making it a better-for-you choice.

15. Seagram’s Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 130 calories, 40 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 33 g sugar

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste), Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Ginger

This soda doesn’t seem like it’s all that bad but it does still have one big caveat: Lisa Moskovitz, RD, founder of The NY Nutrition Group, says “…high fructose corn syrup, which has been shown to increase appetite and, over time, lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.” Yeah, yeah, you knew it was bad, but hear us again: HFCS is bad! Still, Seagram’s Ginger Ale has a lower calorie count than most.

14. Blue Sky Root Beer

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 130 calories, 0 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (32 g sugar)

Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Natural Root Beer Flavor, Caramel Color, Citric Acid

Blue Sky prides itself on being a simple soda that is “crafted for real” as its website states.

13. Seagram’s Tonic Water

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 120 calories, 30 mg sodium, 33 g carbs (32 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Quinine And Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste)

This soda isn’t nearly as high in calories as others on this list, but there’s that HFCS and still 32 grams of sugar, so keep that in mind when cracking open one of these cans.

12. Schweppes Ginger Ale

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 120 calories, 60 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, (32 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Natural Colors

This soda has as much HFCS-derived sugar as 10 croissants, and we don’t see ginger on the actual list, unfortunately.

11. Blue Sky Cola

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 130 calories, 0 mg sodium, 31 g carbs (31 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Tartaric Acid

This is a truly classic cola. Well, as classic as soda can get, as there is still caramel color, but no HFCS!

10. Ale 8 Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 120 calories 30 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, (30 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, vegetable glycerin, natural cherry flavor, fruit and vegetable juice (color), natural flavors, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservatives), ginger, phosphoric acid, caffeine.

Props to Ale 8 for being the only cherry soda here that doesn’t use red dye 40 to give their pop a bold hue. This Kentucky-based brand swaps the red dye with natural colors from fruit and vegetable juices, and unlike many of the ginger ales the list, it actually includes fresh ginger in their brew.

9. Caleb’s Kola

Nutrition (10 fl oz bottle): 110 calories, 50 mg sodium, 29 g carbs (29 g sugar)

Ingredients: Sparkling Water, Fair-Trade-Certified Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Gum Arabic, Citric Acid, Kola Nut Extract

This soda’s key ingredient is the kola nut extract, which has a slightly bitter flavor and a little bit of caffeine. The soda has a distinct amount of foam when it’s poured, too.

8. Blue Sky Lemon Lime

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 110 calories, 0 mg sodium, 28 g carbs (28 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors

A short list of ingredients and cane sugar? If you really need to sip on a lemon-lime soda, this is the best one.

7. Sprite

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 100 calories, 45 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (27 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)

Although Sprite is on the lower end of calories and sugar in one can, it still has a long list of ingredients including HFCS. It’s a soda Often promoted by the athletes, but we can’t really imagine LeBron and friends guzzling a can of carbonated corn syrup before a game…

6. Blue Sky Black Cherry

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 110 calories, 0 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (26 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors

If you want to sip on something cherry-flavored, this is the soda you go for, as it’s the least offensive of the other options on this list.

5. Mountain Dew Ice

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 100 calories, 55 mg sodium, 25 g carbs, (25 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Clarified Lemon Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Acesulfame Potassium, Sodium Citrate, Sucralose, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor)

This Mountain Dew flavor boasts that it contains “a splash of real juice.” And while it still has a rather long ingredients list and far too much sodium, it does clock in at only 100 calories and 25 grams of sugar, which is a lot less than other Mountain Dew flavors.

4. Moxie

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 100 calories, 25 mg sodium, 25 g carbs, (25 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, sodium benzoate (a preservative), gentian root extractives, phosphoric acid, caffeine, and citric acid.

Known for its distinguished bitter flavor, this soda was one of the first to be mass-produced in the U.S. Whether or not you like the unique taste of this old fashioned cola, it isn’t the worst thing you could drink for your health. In fact, gentian root extractives, the ingredient that gives it its bitter flavor, is actually used for medicinal properties, and has been shown to calm an upset stomach.

3. Dry Sparkling Ginger

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 65 calories, 0 mg sodium, 16 g carbs (16 g sugar)

Ingredients: Purified Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid

A small list of ingredients is something we can get behind. The ginger flavor is promised to be “bold and spicy,” too.

2. Dry Sparkling Vanilla

Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 60 calories, 0 mg sodium, 16 g carbs (16 g sugar)

Ingredients: Purified Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid

The vanilla variation of this soda sneaks ahead of its ginger sister flavor, thanks to it being 5 calories less. Think of this drink as the better-for-you cream soda.

1. Coca-Cola Life

Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 90 calories, 35 mg sodium, 24 g carbs, (24 g sugar)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to Protect Taste), Caffeine, *stevia Leaf Extract (Steviol Glycosides Processed From Stevia Leaf)

Although Coke Life is sweetened with stevia, it’s certainly not a “diet” beverage. A can of this still packs 24 grams of sugar and is 90 calories. Still, that’s much less than other traditional colas on the market. And the ingredients are pretty simple, too—sweetened with cane sugar and stevia, there’s no HFCS, which is a bonus. At less than 100 calories a can, this is definitely the best of the regular sodas (although that still doesn’t make it healthy!) Fore more truths about the fizzy stuff, here are 40 Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Soda.

109/109 SLIDES

Tags: Diet experts