Friday 1 February 2019

‘Fizz Free February’ : Give Up Those Sugary Drinks !


Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Tom Watson, the deputy leader for the British Labour Party, are joining forces for a 'Fizz Free February'. The campaign urges people to stop drinking soda and other sugary beverages for the month of February. 


They’re launching this campaign along with the release of new data showing that diabetes in teenagers has increased by more than 70% over the last four years. The fizz free month is mostly aimed at adolescents and young adults, where inspiration to give up unhealthy soda habits is especially needed. 

Tom Watson reversed his own type 2 diabetes by simply switching to a low-carb diet. We have written about his journey here and here. After seeing what a low-carb diet could do for him personally, addressing diet-related disease in the UK has become a priority for Watson. He says it’s important to fight back against corporations that profit from children’s high sugar consumption; Fizz Free February is an initiative to do just that. He explains: 

"The heaps of sugar companies are putting in their fizzy drinks are as good as poisoning our kids. With scores of children suffering from tooth decay, obesity and even diabetes, we must do something to alert people to the danger of too much sugar." 

Why not join in with this excellent initiative? And if you feel like spicing up your water, try some of these tasty alternatives, with no added sugar:

Flavoured water
Refreshing, tasty and close to 0 carbs!


Ingredients
Serves Four
1 litre fresh, cold water
flavouring of your choice, e.g. fresh raspberries, fresh mint, sliced cucumber
475 ml ice cubes
Instructions
are here

Iced Tea
Thirst quenching, classic low-carb beverage. Make it a tall one!


Ingredients 
Serves Two
0g carbs
475 ml cold water
1 tea bag
225 ml ice cubes
Flavourings of your choice, such as sliced lemon or fresh mint
Instructions 
are here

All the above taken from Diet Doctor site here

You may also like to read our 'Introduction to low-carb for beginners' here

I wonder ... will you be going fizz-free this February?

All the best Jan

38 comments:

  1. Several years back I used to have one can of Pepsi a day. Never more than that, but I always had that one can. Then I heard on the news one morning that one can a day would put on 10 pounds a year. That was the end of it for me. Only an occasional soda when out or on holidays. I love some of these no fizz recipes.

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  2. Definitely! I rarely, and I mean RARELY drink any soda product anymore. The sugar is the worst. :)

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  3. Long before Keto we gave up soda. Besides being lots of empty calories it was getting too expensive. We would have an occasional soda when we went out to eat. On Keto, my beverage of choice is unsweetened ice tea with lemon. Himself has been having water. But also a reminder that not only carbonated beverages are loaded with sugar, but lots of fruit juice has added sugars in them, too.

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  4. Wow...these recipes are brilliant!!
    As I suffer from an intolerance to sugar, I am often longing to find a variety of suitable drinks...and theses sound amazing.
    Oh thank you so much!😊😊

    Have a great weekend!

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  5. I am fizz-free all year round!
    : )

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  6. Great post dear Jan!

    I liked the idea of campaign specially it is important to bring awareness among youngsters that how such temptations ruin their health

    My younger son is fond of such cold drinks and this makes me annoyed

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  7. ...‘Fizz Free February’ has a ring to it.

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  8. I've really cut back...my nemesis is my highly sweetened coffee. Sigh

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  9. Never drink them Jan, never have.. now if it was give up coffee that would be a different matter 😀

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  10. We can now buy carbonated drinks with no sweeteners of any sort but flavors. I enjoy this a lot, though the water I have from my own well is great and I enjoy making cold tea from it.

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  11. We've been fizz-free for years. No fruit juice, either, but we eat whole fruit. I love water and especially in the summer I like to flavour it with mint from my garden, or raspberries. So refreshing! I do put a bit of honey in my tea each morning, and enjoy the occasional glass of wine.

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  12. What a wonderful campaign. At some point in my late 20s I started cutting back on sugars. Since I have been just a water drinker (as well as tea, coffee and wine!). I now prefer the refreshment of a simple glass of water. A lemon slice is always a great addition. I actually can't remember the last time I had a sweet fizzy beverage.

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  13. Only when I am really sick, mostly with a sore throat do I drink a coke or something like that. I normally stick with water and unsweet tea.

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  14. It is very rare that we drink anything fizzy so it is an easy thing to give up for us.

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  15. I gave it all up years ago, but every now and then I do crave a root beer!!

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  16. My hubby and I gave up the "fizzy" drinks long ago,..15 years to be exact. We have never regretted it.
    Always healthy advice on your blog Jan...thank you ❤

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  17. there are some days that fizz really hits the spot for me. I drink more water otherwise, and of course coffee.

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  18. we drink a lot of sparkling water now.

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  19. I drink an occasional tonic water and that is the extent of my fizz. Teenagers with diabetes is a very scary concept, and I am sure the same is true here too.

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  20. Soda does’t even tempt me. I don’t use any sweetener in tea or coffee either and never buy the specialty drinks at the coffee shops which have tons of sugar. Unfortunately, I am not so controlled when it comes to baked goodies.

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  21. Hi,
    I gave up soda years ago. I am so thankful. You know it only made me thirsty. ;-)
    I will have a Ginger Ale every once in awhile.
    Carla

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  22. I mostly drink just water but I do drink diet coke. I just have to have soda with pizza. :) It is like having milk with cookies.

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  23. Hey Jan,

    I haven't had fizzy, sugary drinks in ages. Those suggestions are similar to some of the drinks I create. Besides, who needs fizzy drinks when I already have such a bubbly personality :)

    Gary

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  24. It was hard, but I gave them up awhile back and feel a lot better now!

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  25. I drink a lot of water and often put lemon in it. I'm not a lover of fizzy drinks with only one occasionally.

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  26. gave up colas etc a long time ago - but I do like a beer or wine once in awhile and other than that it's always water - lots of it.

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  27. Thanks for the reminder Jan. I have half a glass on tonic water on really hot days but that's all... for muscle cramps.
    I like the idea of iced tea as in the recipes you've provided. Cheers now :D)

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  28. I'm glad I was never a fizzy drinker they always made me bloated as well as having lots of sugar. Just water and tea for me :)
    Have a lovely weekend Jan.

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  29. I used to drink a lot of Coca Cola when I was younger, I can't stand the stuff now and I'm glad. No temptation to drink it at all.

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  30. Iagree with you and welcome the new February.

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  31. Always water with fruit or veggie :-)
    Well. Or a beer, but then I'm German!

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  32. Oh, how I loathe fizzy drinks. I agree that they are awful for us.xxx

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  33. I rarely drink them to be honest- I am either on the tea or water usually, with the occasional fruit juice. I had a colleague who drank cans a day of Diet Coke and wondered why she was overweight.
    I have one colleague who drinks two bottles of Lucozade a day- I don't know how she affords it (given how much she spend on her lunch a day) and how she remains so stick thin! It just can't be good for her, particularly as I never see her eat fruit and veg.

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  34. that stuff can be so addicting, we haven't had any for a couple years and we went out to eat and the restaurant had no unsweetened iced tea which is what we usually get, we decided just that once to get some Coke we have wanted to get more soda pop ever since we had that.

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  35. Yes, fizz free February is a good idea for me, also alcohol free as well. I have to learn this for my own good. I am always sorry when I've had an alcoholic beverage. I wish you a wonderful new week.

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  36. Soda is a huge temptation for me. I love it so much, but I know it's terrible for my health.

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  37. I love water, it tasted so good.

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  38. I am so lucky, that I never was a "pop" or sugar drinker! I love my water and green tea! Thanks Jan!

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The best of health to you and yours.

Eddie