{"id":604930048306,"title":"Is Coke Zero Bad For You? A Registered Dietitian Answers","created_at":"2023-03-02T19:21:54-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Is Coke Zero Bad For You? A Registered Dietitian Answers\",\n \"keywords\": \"coke zero, is coke zero bad for you, coke zero ingredients, is coke zero sugar bad for you, coke zero sugar\",\n \"description\": \"Our RD and research team analyze the ingredients in Coke Zero based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not it's bad for you. We highlight some questionable additive ingredients and compare Coke Zero to Diet Coke and regular Coke.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/is-coke-zero-bad-for-you\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"exercise, drugs, pharmaceutical, health, workout, strength and conditioning, nutrition, dietetics, medicine, medical research, scientific research, scientific method, healthcare, patient care, wellness\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Is_Coke_Zero_Bad_For_You_Thumbnail.png?v=1677803052\",\n\"width\": \"1772\",\n\"height\": \"1772\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8042911\/\", \n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34368996\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/is-diet-coke-bad-for-you\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21130826\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31246081\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/ghost-protein-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6097542\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8243436\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Coke Zero Sugar\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"aspartame\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"acesulfame potassium\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"caffeine\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"high fructose corn syrup\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Diet Coke\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Insider Science\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Idz\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"H3\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-03-02\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Is_Coke_Zero_Bad_For_You_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1677802713\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eC\u003c\/span\u003eoke Zero, also called Coke Zero Sugar, is a zero-calorie soda that many consumers consider to be healthier than regular Coke. The brand claims that this drink “has a great taste with zero sugar or calories.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut does Coke Zero have any unhealthy ingredients? Is it healthier or less healthy than regular Coke? How is it sweetened? And how do real customers describe its taste?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Coke Zero based on medical studies to give our take on whether it’s bad for you or if it’s a healthy, low-calorie option.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also review the ingredients in regular Coke to give our take on which is healthier, and share real, unsponsored user reviews with a taste test.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Coke_Zero_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1677802749\" alt=\"Coke Zero ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in Coke Zero are shown above. Aspartame and acesulfame potassium are the sweetening ingredients, and both are artificial sweeteners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAspartame\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8042911\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEnvironmental Health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal to be potentially carcinogenic (cancer-causing) based on clinical trials on animals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcesulfame potassium\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e has been shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34368996\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to cause harm to the intestinal tract.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhosphoric acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a flavor enhancer that may have a negative impact on bone health. As we documented in our analysis of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/is-diet-coke-bad-for-you\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDiet Coke ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, medical studies have shown that women regularly consuming drinks containing phosphoric acid have lower blood calcium levels, which can lead to osteoporosis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePotassium benzoate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a preservative which was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21130826\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFood and Chemical Toxicology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal to be toxic to human cells.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCaffeine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is also included in this drink, but it’s a relatively low amount that shouldn’t have a negative effect on the vast majority of consumers. Only 34 milligrams (mg) of caffeine is included, which is equivalent to around 33% of the dose in one cup of coffee.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we consider Coke Zero to be bad for you. It’s a processed beverage containing a wide range of questionable additive ingredients, with essentially no nutritious ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how does it compare to other Coke drinks? We’ll analyze in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Coke Zero Healthier Than Regular Coke?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Coke_Nutrition_Facts_Optimized.png?v=1677802740\" alt=\"Coke Nutrition Facts\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Nutrition Facts for regular Coke (20 ounce bottle) are shown above. The most notable thing is the added sugar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCoke contains 65 grams (g) of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eadded sugar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e per bottle, which exceeds the Daily Value by 30%. A 2019 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31246081\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e reports that added sugar consumption in excess is associated with increased risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe added sugar is actually in the form of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ehigh fructose corn syrup\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e rather than regular white sugar. This may be even unhealthier. As we documented in our review of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/ghost-protein-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGhost Protein Powder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, high fructose corn syrup is strongly linked to obesity in clinical trials.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe two ingredient lists are very similar. The main difference is that Coke is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and Coke Zero is sweetened with artificial sweeteners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe consider Coke Zero to be healthier than regular Coke\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, because the negative health effects of such a high dose of high fructose corn syrup seem clearer in our opinion than that of artificial sweeteners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut is Coke Zero healthier than Diet Coke? The Diet Coke ingredients are shown below:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eYou’ll note that the ingredients are extremely similar to Coke Zero.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere is no acesulfame potassium in Diet Coke, but there is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ecitric acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which is a flavor enhancer shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6097542\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eToxicology Reports\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal to cause whole-body inflammation in some individuals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe consider Diet Coke to be healthier than Coke Zero because it only contains one artificial sweetener.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Diet Soda Bad for the Body and Brain?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn interesting, animated video published by Insider Science examined whether diet soda intake could be harmful to the body and brain. The video is only three minutes long:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1XAgqAk1i08\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoctor Discusses Health Effects of Coke Zero\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA medical doctor named Dr. Idz discussed the health effects of Coke Zero on the H3 podcast:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eKcAzEvVBS8\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Healthy Soda Pick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Healthy_Soda_Image.png?v=1669081439\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we don’t recommend drinking soda overall and would recommend replacing it with water, tea or coffee, for consumers who are set on drinking soda we consider \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3TW47My\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoppi Sparkling Prebiotic Soda\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to be a much healthier alternative to Diet Coke.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoppi is sweetened naturally with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eorganic cane sugar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and juices like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eraspberry juice\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003estrawberry juice\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It only provides 20 calories and 4 g added sugar per can (10% of that in a regular Coke), and contains \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eapple cider vinegar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e which is shown \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8243436\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ein medical research\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to have a favorable effect on cholesterol and blood sugar levels.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe would prefer to recommend a healthy soda brand without any added sugar at all, and without natural flavors, but for the time being this is the healthiest option we can locate. We definitely consider it to be a healthier option than Coke and Diet Coke. Poppi is free of artificial sweeteners, free of citric acid, and free of preservatives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Poppi Sparkling Prebiotic Soda \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3TW47My\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to the product’s official Amazon listing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider Coke Zero to be bad for you, although nearly anything in moderation in the context of a healthy diet is likely fine. So while we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking Coke Zero daily, if it’s an occasional indulgence in the context of a diet where most drinks are water or coffee, it shouldn’t be a problem.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCoke Zero contains two artificial sweeteners with negative health effects according to clinical research, but we still consider Coke Zero to be healthier than regular Coke due to the high amount of added sugar in regular Coke in the form of high fructose corn syrup.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe would recommend Diet Coke over Coke Zero because it has one fewer artificial sweetener.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider diet sodas to be generally unhealthy and would recommend consumers choose other carbonated options like seltzer or fruit drinks that may be more nutritious.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-03-02T19:29:27-05:00","updated_at":"2023-03-02T19:29:28-05:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in Coke Zero based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not it's bad for you. We highlight some questionable additive ingredients and compare Coke Zero to Diet Coke and regular Coke.","template_suffix":"","handle":"is-coke-zero-bad-for-you","tags":"_related:nutrition"}

Is Coke Zero Bad For You? A Registered Dietitian Answers

Is Coke Zero Bad For You? A Registered Dietitian Answers


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Coke Zero, also called Coke Zero Sugar, is a zero-calorie soda that many consumers consider to be healthier than regular Coke. The brand claims that this drink “has a great taste with zero sugar or calories.”

But does Coke Zero have any unhealthy ingredients? Is it healthier or less healthy than regular Coke? How is it sweetened? And how do real customers describe its taste?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Coke Zero based on medical studies to give our take on whether it’s bad for you or if it’s a healthy, low-calorie option.

We’ll also review the ingredients in regular Coke to give our take on which is healthier, and share real, unsponsored user reviews with a taste test.

Ingredient Analysis

Coke Zero ingredients

The ingredients in Coke Zero are shown above. Aspartame and acesulfame potassium are the sweetening ingredients, and both are artificial sweeteners.

Aspartame was shown in a medical review published in the Environmental Health journal to be potentially carcinogenic (cancer-causing) based on clinical trials on animals.

Acesulfame potassium has been shown in a clinical trial to cause harm to the intestinal tract.

Phosphoric acid is a flavor enhancer that may have a negative impact on bone health. As we documented in our analysis of Diet Coke ingredients, medical studies have shown that women regularly consuming drinks containing phosphoric acid have lower blood calcium levels, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Potassium benzoate is a preservative which was shown in a clinical trial published in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal to be toxic to human cells.

Caffeine is also included in this drink, but it’s a relatively low amount that shouldn’t have a negative effect on the vast majority of consumers. Only 34 milligrams (mg) of caffeine is included, which is equivalent to around 33% of the dose in one cup of coffee.

Overall we consider Coke Zero to be bad for you. It’s a processed beverage containing a wide range of questionable additive ingredients, with essentially no nutritious ingredients.

But how does it compare to other Coke drinks? We’ll analyze in the next section.

Is Coke Zero Healthier Than Regular Coke?

Coke Nutrition Facts

The Nutrition Facts for regular Coke (20 ounce bottle) are shown above. The most notable thing is the added sugar.

Coke contains 65 grams (g) of added sugar per bottle, which exceeds the Daily Value by 30%. A 2019 medical review reports that added sugar consumption in excess is associated with increased risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.

The added sugar is actually in the form of high fructose corn syrup rather than regular white sugar. This may be even unhealthier. As we documented in our review of Ghost Protein Powder, high fructose corn syrup is strongly linked to obesity in clinical trials.

The two ingredient lists are very similar. The main difference is that Coke is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and Coke Zero is sweetened with artificial sweeteners.

We consider Coke Zero to be healthier than regular Coke, because the negative health effects of such a high dose of high fructose corn syrup seem clearer in our opinion than that of artificial sweeteners.

But is Coke Zero healthier than Diet Coke? The Diet Coke ingredients are shown below:

You’ll note that the ingredients are extremely similar to Coke Zero.

There is no acesulfame potassium in Diet Coke, but there is citric acid which is a flavor enhancer shown in a medical review published in the Toxicology Reports journal to cause whole-body inflammation in some individuals.

We consider Diet Coke to be healthier than Coke Zero because it only contains one artificial sweetener.

Is Diet Soda Bad for the Body and Brain?

An interesting, animated video published by Insider Science examined whether diet soda intake could be harmful to the body and brain. The video is only three minutes long:

Doctor Discusses Health Effects of Coke Zero

A medical doctor named Dr. Idz discussed the health effects of Coke Zero on the H3 podcast:

Our Healthy Soda Pick

While we don’t recommend drinking soda overall and would recommend replacing it with water, tea or coffee, for consumers who are set on drinking soda we consider Poppi Sparkling Prebiotic Soda to be a much healthier alternative to Diet Coke.

Poppi is sweetened naturally with organic cane sugar and juices like raspberry juice and strawberry juice. It only provides 20 calories and 4 g added sugar per can (10% of that in a regular Coke), and contains apple cider vinegar which is shown in medical research to have a favorable effect on cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

We would prefer to recommend a healthy soda brand without any added sugar at all, and without natural flavors, but for the time being this is the healthiest option we can locate. We definitely consider it to be a healthier option than Coke and Diet Coke. Poppi is free of artificial sweeteners, free of citric acid, and free of preservatives.

Interested consumers can check out Poppi Sparkling Prebiotic Soda at this link to the product’s official Amazon listing.

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Conclusion

We consider Coke Zero to be bad for you, although nearly anything in moderation in the context of a healthy diet is likely fine. So while we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking Coke Zero daily, if it’s an occasional indulgence in the context of a diet where most drinks are water or coffee, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Coke Zero contains two artificial sweeteners with negative health effects according to clinical research, but we still consider Coke Zero to be healthier than regular Coke due to the high amount of added sugar in regular Coke in the form of high fructose corn syrup.

We would recommend Diet Coke over Coke Zero because it has one fewer artificial sweetener.

We consider diet sodas to be generally unhealthy and would recommend consumers choose other carbonated options like seltzer or fruit drinks that may be more nutritious.




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