We all know by now that excessive sugar consumption is linked to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, all serious conditions that can dramatically decrease length and quality of life. But even for healthy people, sugar consumption can cause long-term harm in ways that might not be as obvious. When combined together over time, sugar’s impacts on the body can lead to long term damage and even chronic health conditions. Here are 3 less talked about ways that sugar affects your body that you might not be aware of. 

Sugar ages your skin

What's a party without some nice, refreshing beverages? World Party Day is upon us and we're in the festive mood. To celebrate, we're sharing a few of our favorite cocktails and mocktails as some inspiration for todays festivities. As always, we keep things all natural and free of any added sugar.

Since March is National Kidney Month, it feels appropriate to shine some light how exactly hydration affects kidney health. The most recent CDC data reveals that kidney disease is in the top 10 leading causes of death in the US. Ensuring that your body is hydrated plays a big role in keeping your kidneys working properly.

We’ve all experienced the emotional impact of a sugar crash, the moody, disoriented, anxious feeling commonly experienced a few hours after consuming heavy sugar and carbs. Doctors and scientists call it “reactive hypoglycemia.” Symptoms can include fatigue, unclear thinking, headaches, irritability, tremors, and yes, even depression.

Currently, coronary artery disease – also known as ischemic heart disease – is the leading cause of death worldwide by a fair margin. With February being American Heart Month, we’re taking time to help raise awareness of heart disease and shed some light on how to prevent it. These 5 important tips will help ensure your heart is as healthy as can be.

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According to the CDC, about half of adults in the US consume at least one sugar-sweetened beverage a day. That means roughly 6-7% of adults' caloric intakes come from sugar-sweetened beverages alone. With an increasing emphasis being placed on health, companies have been trying to replace sugar with various artificial sweeteners for years. Unfortunately, each come with their own host of health problems.

Stevia is the plant that makes our beverages taste sweet and delicious. A sustainable, natural, and non harmful alternative to sugar, stevia is an ingredient we are proud to stand behind. Here are 4 positive health benefits of stevia backed by science that illustrate why stevia is such a miracle of nature.

1. Stevia can help lower blood pressure

The big game is finally here! With all of the snacks around during the game, it's nearly impossible to avoid indulging at least a little bit. Like most days, you're better off eating your calories as opposed to drinking them. No game day party is complete without cocktails though right? Swapping out your run-of-the-mill cocktails for these no sugar added, better for you drinks made Zevia gives you the best of both worlds.

The Super Bowl is one of the most exciting days of the year. Heck, it might even qualify as a holiday at this point. No Super Bowl party is complete without drinks, of course. This year, we'd suggest replacing your drink mixers with Zevia. Swapping out a regular cocktail for a no-sugar-added version made with Zevia means you can save your calories for all of your game time snacks. That's a win-win if you ask us!

The New Year is the perfect opportunity to make a positive change. One change that almost everybody can make is reducing their consumption of sugar. “Sugar is so bad for you!” We’ve heard it a million times. What doesn’t get talked about that often is why sugar is so bad for you. Sugar impacts our bodies in so many ways that many may not realize.

Here are the 5 biggest health effects that come from excess sugar consumption.

1. Unnecessary Calories

Yes, that's right. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 34.8% of Americans are sleeping less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep per night. The CDC also reported that sleep deprivation is related to greater insulin resistance, metabolic abnormalities, and weight gain - which might in turn be linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Vodka tonics and gin and tonics are pretty standard cocktails when you're out and about. What most people don't realize is that traditional tonic water really isn't that much different than traditional sodas. A 12 oz serving of tonic water contains 32g of sugar, just like soda. Yes, you read that right. That's equal to drinking EIGHT sugar cubes per can. When tonic water is supposed to be the cleaner choice, what's the point?

Americans currently consume between 13 to 20 teaspoons of added sugar per day, when the recommended amount is between 6 to 9 according to the American Heart Association. This January, we challenge you to go a full 30 days without any added sugar. A simple 30 day challenge can lead to a permanent change in your eating habits.

Simple syrup is one of the most common ingredients in cocktails. It can be found in everything form mojitos to whiskey sours. But what is it exactly? The answer is both simple and sad: sugar and water. For anyone who hasn't ever made simple syrup, it's merely water with sugar dissolved over heat. With so many cocktail mixers already containing loads of sugar, what's the need to add more?

With the release of our 3 new Zevia Mixers, we've been testing out lots of new drinks. Whether you're planning on throwing a party in the near future or you just want to experiment and try them all, we've got you covered! Thanks to the help of High Proof Preacher, we've got a new cocktail to go along with each mixer. Each one is simple, free of added sugar, and absolutely delicious.