Healthy Soda Alternatives for Thyroid Patients (Drink These Instead)

Want a super easy thing you can do to immediately improve your health and thyroid? 

Give up soda. 

Soda, soft drinks, pop, cola, soda pop, sugar-sweetened beverages, whatever you want to call it, there’s no denying that these drinks are incredibly unhealthy. 

Just take a quick peek at the ingredients found in Coke: 

• Carbonated water
• High fructose corn syrup 
• Caramel color
• Phosphoric acid
• Natural flavors
• Caffeine 

For a thyroid patient, there are more than a few big no-nos in there. 

For starters, you’ve got a massive dose of sugar that only serves to needlessly increase your calories and promote weight gain (a whopping 39 grams of sugar per 12-ounce can)…

Then you have to contend with the dehydrating and insomnia-producing effects of caffeine which also happens to accelerate gastrointestinal movement thereby reducing thyroid medication absorption.

And, finally, you’ve got a fairly large source of phosphoric acid which alters the calcium/phosphorus balance in the body thereby increasing your risk of fractures (which is already elevated in the hypothyroid state (1)). 

Don’t think you’re getting away from the negative effects if you swap to diet, either, as the consumption of diet soda is still associated with plenty of problems including the fact that artificial sweeteners may be a potential trigger for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (read more about that here). 

I’m not going to harp on about the negative effects of soda consumption because, let’s face it, you already know it’s bad for you. 

Instead, I’m going to give you some alternatives to drink because I really do believe that eliminating this one thing from your life has the potential to do a whole lot of good for your health and thyroid. 

Let’s start from the top: 

#1. Prebiotic Sodas

Probably the closest in terms of a true soda replacement is the prebiotic sodas. 

These drinks brand themselves as healthier versions of soda with less sugar and a few additional ingredients designed to support gut health. 

There are several brands including the most popular: 

• Olipop
• And Poppi

Their biggest downside is their expense, which is considerable at around $1.50-$2.50 per can, but they are certainly a much better option compared to regular sodas and diet sodas. 

For perspective, here’s the ingredient list found in a 12-ounce can of Grape flavored Poppi: 

• 25 calories
• 8 carbohydrates
• 2 grams of dietary fiber
• 5 grams of sugar (3 grams of added sugar)
• Sparkling water
• White grape juice
• Apple juice
• Organic cane sugar
• Organic apple cider vinegar
• Inulin
• Natural flavor
• Fruit and vegetable juice for color
• Citric acid
• Stevia

Notably absent from this list are phosphoric acid, caffeine, and high fructose corn syrup. 

Each can of prebiotic soda will still provide you with some added sugar, but the amount is far less than a standard soft drink. 

Remember, a 12-ounce can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar versus the 3 grams of added sugar in Poppi which is 93% less. 

You’re also looking at roughly 140 calories per 12-ounce can of Coke compared to the 25 found in Poppi which is 83% less. 

The calorie and sugar content vary slightly between brands and flavors, but, overall, these prebiotic beverages are a clear winner compared to soft drinks. 

#2. Fruit Juice

If the price of prebiotic sodas is too much for you then you can always go back to the good old stuff: 

Fruit juices. 

Nowadays, people are conditioned to believe that fruit juices are just as harmful as regular sodas but the science says the exact opposite. 

Daily consumption of fruit juices, like orange juice, is NOT associated with diabetes (2) or weight gain (3) and, in fact, may actually help you lose weight. 

While they aren’t a low-calorie beverage by any means, their added plant-based antioxidants and polyphenols provide amazing benefits to cellular health, the immune system, and your blood vessels which will, in turn, support better thyroid health. 

There are plenty to choose from, but here are my favorites for thyroid patients:  

• Orange juice
• Pomegranate juice   
• Apple juice 
• Watermelon juice
• Cherry juice

The majority of thyroid patients can safely consume 1-2 cups of fruit juice each day without the need to worry about its impact on blood sugar or body weight. 

As far as processing is concerned, here’s how you want to look at it: 

• Fresh squeezed is best (single ingredient fruit juice)
• Not-from-concentrate is still great (look for single-ingredient juice, not blends of fruit juices)
• From concentrate versions are okay if all other options are unavailable (use only single ingredient juice)

Avoid any fruit juice that contains added sugars, multiple juices from concentrates, and added preservatives. 

#3. Coconut Water

Some people don’t like the taste of water and if that’s you, then coconut water may be worth looking into. 

More hydrating than regular water, coconut water boasts an ingredient profile that includes natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytohormones. 

These ingredients give coconut water its natural anti-inflammatory and sugar-stabilizing effects. 

To give you an idea of just how healthy this beverage is, take a look at its mineral composition (4): 

• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Manganese
• Selenium
• Chlorine
• Sulfur
• Aluminum
• And boron

And its vitamin composition:

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Thiamin
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Pantothenic acid
• Pyridoxine
• Folate
• Folic acid
• Biotin
• And niacin (as nicotinic acid)

On top of all of these, you’ll also get amino acids, enzymes, phytohormones, and other polyphenols in EACH serving. 

The exact calorie and sugar content of coconut water will vary depending on where it’s sourced but you’re looking at around 35 calories and 7 grams of sugar for 8 fluid ounces. 

Because coconut water is so hydrating, it makes for a perfect base for a thyroid-boosting smoothie or a refreshing and rehydrating drink after a thyroid-boosting workout (hint hint: you should probably be doing both daily if you have a thyroid problem). 

#4. Herbal Tea

Not a fan of coconuts? Try some herbal tea. 

Tea is known to have loads of documented benefits (5) (these benefits are dependent upon which spices are steeped) and makes a solid replacement for both soft drinks and coffee. 

We aren’t talking about coffee in this article, but I should probably mention here that it’s something you want to avoid if you have a thyroid problem.

And nowadays, you can find all sorts of clever combinations of teas with added ingredients such as mushrooms, adaptogens (like maca and ashwagandha), and other plant-based ingredients that act to enhance the flavor while also providing benefits such as improved cognition and enhanced energy. 

If you are someone missing the aroma, flavor, and ritual of making coffee daily then you might want to look at Teeccino which has a VERY similar flavor profile to that found in roasted coffee. 

And, by the way, when choosing a tea to support your thyroid (and to replace soda), make sure it doesn’t contain any caffeine. 

#5. Sparkling Mineral Water

If you are someone that likes the bubbly and fizzing that’s often synonymous with soft drinks then you might find yourself at home with just plain old sparkling mineral water. 

There are several brands that fit the bill including: 

• San Pellegrino
• Perrier
• Topo Chico
• And generic versions such as Kirkland (Costco brand)

These drinks contain a minimal amount of naturally occurring minerals to enhance their flavor as well as some added carbon dioxide to give you that effervescent texture that people crave. 

Depending on where it’s sourced, carbonated mineral water can get a little pricey, but it’s still a far better option than soda. 

The only downside is the potential for gas, bloating, and maybe a little bit of acid reflux, but there’s no greater risk compared to regular carbonated soft drinks so this really isn’t anything to worry about. 

#6. Flavored Sparkling Mineral Water

If you like sparkling mineral water but find it a little bit… lacking, then perhaps you’re better suited for flavored sparkling mineral water. 

These beverages contain the same effervescent texture as sparkling mineral water with a dash of natural flavors to enhance their palatability. 

The flavor profile of these beverages is muted because they only contain natural essence and oils (without any added sugar), but this is what gives them their charm and what makes them far healthier than regular soft drinks. 

Common brands to look for include: 

• LaCroix
• Waterloo
• And Spindrift (contains a touch of natural fruit juice)

You’ll probably need to play around with the flavors until you find one that you like but if you spend the time, you should be able to land on one that really hits the spot. 

#7. Water Enhancers & Hydration Multipliers

Lastly, you can always go with water plus the addition of what some people refer to as an enhancer or hydration multiplier. 

These enhancers come in powder forms which can be mixed and added to water to provide it with additional flavors, vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients. 

You have to be careful with this option, though, because it’s really easy to grab a few unhealthy enhancers and think you’re doing your body a favor when you really aren’t. 

Some of these enhancers are loaded with way too much sugar, potentially harmful ingredients like caffeine, and low-quality forms of vitamins that you’re better off avoiding like cyanocobalamin and magnesium oxide. 

If you do want to try some, though, then here are a few brands that are worth considering: 

• Liquid IV
• LMNT
• Natural Vitality CALM
• And Ultima

If you do opt for these enhancers, make sure your water base is filtered, preferably by reverse osmosis!

With all of the options available to you and the almost near-immediate boost you will experience to your health and thyroid (rehydrating your body improves thyroid hormone levels), there’s really no reason to keep drinking soda. 

And while eliminating soda is definitely a great step to take, you should know that there are still plenty of other things you can do to boost your thyroid including changing your diet. 

If you’re ready to take that step then you’ll want to check out my perfect thyroid diet next. 

And if you have any other soda/soft-drink alternatives, feel free to share them below to help your fellow thyroid patients!