Dalston's Sodas (bold flavours with real fruits)

Dalston’s Soda Co was founded by a chef who did not like sugary soft drinks, so started experimenting in a kitchen in an East London nightclub. Each can is just 50 calories.

Many soda drinks on sale (as well as being in plastic bottles) are made with artificial sweeteners and flavourings, and don’t even taste nice). Although water is the drink of choice, if you fancy a fizzy pop, here are some better brands.

Check medication before consuming rhubarb or grapefruit (avoid hibiscus and caffeine for pregnancy/nursing). Also read about organic and fair trade colas.

Most sodas are sold in glass bottles or aluminium cans (easily recycled, which saves up to 95% on making new aluminium, which then does not have to be mined). You could even set up a community aluminium can and foil recycling scheme, and raise money for community projects, by selling the cans back to industry.

Before recycling, pop ring-pulls back over holes (and pinch or flatten top) to stop wildlife getting trapped. Give cans a quick rinse beforehand to remove sugary scents (nutmeg in cola and spiced apple is toxic also to birds, wildlife and pets).

Everything is sustainably-sourced (elderflowers hand-picked from a farm in Ross-on-Wye). Pineapples are sourced from sustainable farms in Costa Rica. Flavours include: