Michelle Obama Just Launched a New Fizzy Fruit Drink—Here's What Registered Dietitians Think

We ask registered dietitians their thoughts on this soda alternative.

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

If you have a child, then you may know that the allure of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages can be strong. I grew up on soda so I get the appeal, but as a parent and registered dietitian, I have concerns about how readily available these beverages are. And I’m not the only one, either. Consuming large amounts of added sugar can have negative health effects for anyone (like insulin resistance and dental decay), but especially to a growing kid. It’s why former First Lady, Michelle Obama started PLEZi, a nutrition-focused food and beverage company that’s made it their mission to provide an alternative to sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages. They’re newest launch, PLEZi Fizz, is made with no added sugar and geared towards kids ages 12 and up— but is it a good option? We asked registered dietitians to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say.

Before we dig into opinions, it’s good to lay out some facts. First, our kids are consuming more added sugar than they ever have in the past. Research has shown that, on average, children and young adults ages 2 to 19 consumed 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day. That’s well above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that only 10% of total calories (about 10 teaspoons on a 2,000 calorie eating pattern) should come from added sugar. Sugar isn’t evil or “bad,” but like anything, if it’s regularly over-consumed, it can lead to health problems. This includes increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, oral health issues and other inflammatory diseases.

After leaving office, she launched PLEZi, a company she co-founded focused on providing nutritious food and beverage options for kids. The first product launched last year, and was a line of no-added-sugar fruit drinks geared towards school-aged children 6 to 12 years old. And this spring, they’ll be adding to their lineup with a carbonated drink designed to appeal to older kids as an alternative to soda. A press release shares that the drink has “70% less sugar (8 grams per 8.4 ounces) than average leading soft drinks (28 grams per 8.4 ounces), no added sugar, plus 2 grams of fiber and nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C.” It will be available in three flavors: Cherry Limeade, Lemon Lime Squeeze and Strawberry Lemonade.

What Do Registered Dietitians Think?

“In a perfect world, we'd all grow up in food environments where the healthy choice was the easy choice. We wouldn't need to combat sugar-sweetened drinks being the number one source of added sugars,” says Maggie Moon, M.S., RD, Los Angeles-based nutrition consultant and best-selling author of The MIND Diet. “Maybe it's because I grew up mostly eating traditional Korean food, but I didn't grow up with a lot of soda, and I've never missed it.” But Moon acknowledges that if Plezi Fizz can be a contender to replace soda for some, then she’s in favor.

Charleston-based registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, M.S., RDN, LD, CLEC, agrees, adding that regular soda consumption can contribute to an excessive amount of added sugar to our diets, and it could be helpful for kids to consume less. “This drink provides a lower amount of calories and added sugar, which makes it a viable alternative to drinking regular soda,” shares Manaker. It’s also made with real fruit juice. Manaker points out that while there’s no added sugar, “this drink does contain natural fruit sugar, so it should still be consumed in moderation, with water being the primary source of hydration.”

The drink does contain sugar substitutes in the form of stevia and monk fruit, which can cause stomach discomfort and have a bitter taste to some. While most stevia and monk fruit used in the U.S. is generally classified as safe for consumption, more research is needed to clarify their safety for the long term.

The Bottom Line

Registered dietitians agree that PLEZi Fizz may be helpful to have a no-added-sugar alternative to soda. Personally, I’m interested in trying it and seeing what my daughter thinks, too. But as a mom and registered dietitian, I’ll continue to recommend keeping sweetened beverage intake to a minimum. Kids are curious, so this could be a great opportunity to help them understand why high-added-sugar drinks like soda are better for special occasions than regular consumption. And alternatives like PLEZi Fizz, seltzer water and 100% fruit juice can be helpful tools in decreasing added sugar consumption.

Read the original article on Eating Well.