In recent decades, the major brands of soda switched to using high fructose corn syrup rather than real cane sugar. Artificial colors are also prevalent. However, some smaller brand names still produce natural soda...

BLUE SKY: This company offers such flavors as Cherry Vanilla Creme, Orange Creme, Dr. Becker, and Root Beer. In my opinion, the Orange Creme flavor is particularly good. It uses natural beta-carotene for coloring, not artificial colors. The Cherry-Vanilla soda contains 180 calories and 46g sugar. It has natural flavoring, no sodium, and no preservatives.

HANSEN'S: This brand makes lime, black cherry, ginger ale, and other flavors. According to their web site, the natural soda is free of artificial colors/flavors and has real cane sugar. These taste good and tend to cost a bit less than Blue Sky, although I think Blue Sky's root beer is better tasting. They are retailed in twelve-ounce aluminum cans.

ADIRONDACK: Although most of the sodas made by Adirondack aren't natural, their new Adirondack Naturals products have real cane sugar. According to the Price Chopper (a grocery chain that carries them) web site, they have no artificial colors or sweeteners and are offered in five flavors. These are sold in two-liter bottles. Shaw's stores also sell them.

Natural soda is healthier than conventional beverages of this type. However, it's still important to drink it in moderation and brush your teeth afterward when possible, as it contains significant amounts of sugar.

Some health food stores charge 89 cents for a cold can of the "Blue Sky" brand, others offer six packs of "Hansen's" products. The Adirondack Naturals 2-liter bottles cost less than $2 at Shaw's grocery stores.