The Many Faces of Diet Coke
All right so you're discovered that in order to lose weight and or become buff, you have to go on a diet. Seems simple enough...so you'll stick to Diet Coke for a while. However, you soon realize that there are a lot of Diet Cokes on the market. What is Diet Coke and why are there all these different "faces?"
Let's first discuss the basics of sugar. In general, drinking or eating a lot of sugar is not a good idea. Everyone deserves a tasty treat once in a while, but if you're consuming large amounts of sugar on a daily basis you are putting your heath at risk--not to mention your ideal body. Overconsumption of sugar has been linked to tooth decay, an increase in blood sugar levels, diabetes, obesity, and even gout.
The idea of Diet Coke (or diet anything else) is a good idea, in the sense that you are trying to control your sugar intake. However, many people switch to diet drinks only to increase their intake of sugar-less soda, rather than decrease their total--which should be the goal. Yes, people can become "addicted" to artificial sweeteners based on a false concept of drinking more soda pop without the ill-health effects.
Coca-Cola resisted adding a brand name diet drink to its products for a long time, but experimented with the Tab logo, which they produced. It was only when Pepsi released their own Diet Pepsi that Coca-Cola really started to get serious about their health-conscious market and put a Coke label on the product. The original Diet Coke from Coca-Cola (released in 1982) was not merely an altered Coke formula; it was a brand new formula and had no sugar in it. Within a year, the company added an artificial sweetener called aspartame, and blended it with saccharin, another artificial sweetener. However, the company switched the formula again when Diet Rite cola started using the "100% aspartame" text on the label as a marketing tactic. Coke then switched to NutraSweet, when that company decided to no longer allow the brand name on blended products.
When Splenda (another artificial sweetener) became the next big thing, Coca-Cola created a Diet Coke with Splenda product, replacing aspartame with Splenda, or sucralose and acesulfame potassium. The Splenda Diet Coke did not do as well as the company hoped, and eventually they focused efforts on a new Coca-Cola C2, a Coke formula that has half the carbs of a normal Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Zero followed a year later, which is one of the company's smartest products to date. This product focused on what many nutritionists believed to be the problem; the calorie count in Diet Coke, not merely the sugar or carbs. Indeed, the new Coca Cola Zero has no calories, only added sugar and a variety of other flavors, sweeteners and food colorings.
How are these Diet Cokes compared to the original Coca-Cola? Are you better off drinking the Diet Coke alternative? Not necessarily. Many health-conscious consumers avoid Coca-Cola Zero because of the reputation of artificial sweeteners. Some research has suggested that aspartame (and other sweeteners) is toxic and can lead to a number of health ailments, as well as a higher-than-average craving for sugar.
At the same time, regular Coca-Cola is made with high-fructose corn syrup, an artificial and highly processed sweetener that is linked with obesity. Therefore, individuals who are on a low carb or low sugar diet would certainly find it refreshing to drink a Coca-Cola that tastes like the real thing rather than the similar but distinctive Diet Coke.
There are also two more alternatives to "dieting" Coke. There is a colloquially named "Mexican Coke" which is created using refined cane sugar rather than the cheaper and more questionable high-fructose corn syrup. Many companies have actually followed Coca-Cola's lead and are releasing "throwback" versions of their own soda pop brands, which contain only refined cane sugar.
Last but not least, in the near future there will be a Stevia-based Coca-Cola drink, thanks to a collaboration of Coca-Cola and Cargill, a Stevia-producer. Stevia is a new sweetener that is completely natural and contains no carbs, calories or sugar. It is perceived as a healthier drink than products containing aspartame or sucrose.
Yes, there have been many Diet Coke faces throughout the years and the company continues to market its mysterious and delicious formula to consumers who need a drink. Remember, there is nothing wrong with Coca-Cola or Diet Coke, provided you drink it in moderation. Never drink out of thirst; there is 0 carb, 0 sugar water for that purpose. Treat Coca-Cola as an occasional treat and you will be well on your way to a better body.
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