Diet Coke Nutrition Facts About Diet Sodas.
Diet sodas came to the marketplace as an answer to health conscious consumers wanting to lose weight and improve physical fitness by reducing their sugar intake and still enjoy a refreshing carbonated thirst quencher. Advertisements presented athletes and others touting the new healthy sodas
Let's briefly examine three areas of diet sodas; sugar substitutes, nutrition and dieting. Currently there are four chemicals that have been used as sugar substitutes in diet sodas.
The category of cyclamates is probably better known as its relationship to being used with saccharin. In my research I found this to be the first artificial sugar to be used in diet drinks, Tab being the best recognized. However, in the 70's lab mice developed cancer after exposure to cyclamates and the FDA banned the product as an artificial sweetener.
Saccharin became the chemical of choice once cyclamates were banned. In the last 70's a temporary ban was placed on saccharin because of an association with cancer. In the early 90's most diet sodas started using aspartame. Saccharin continues to be used, but usually in conjunction with other sweeteners to help improve the taste.
Aspartame is probably the most used artificial sweetener for diet beverages today. In the early 80's Diet Coke came out using aspartame and it was very well accepted by the general public. This success improved the acceptance of aspartame in the beverage industry.
Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are two relatively new chemical sweeteners primarily used along with other artificial sweeteners. However, Diet Rite became popular by just using this chemical duo because of taste and it did not contain phenylalanine, which made it safe for phenylketonurics.
This should be obvious but diet sodas have no real nutritional value. They are simply a thirst quenchers or alternatives when trying to break your habit of drinking regular sodas that are loaded with sugar. Check out the nutrition facts label on the container of a diet soda and you will find a list of zeros, with the possible exception of sodium and caffeine.
Diet Sodas and Dieting
In my research I was amazed to find that scientific studies have indicated there is little difference in obesity ratios between drinking regular sodas with sugar and diet sodas with artificial sweeteners. I also read a report that concluded people who regularly drink sodas eat more calories, eat less fiber, and exercise less.
Further investigation uncovered the risk of obesity is even greater for people who only drink diet beverages. Some of this could be do to trade-off rationalization. The thinking being if you give up all that sugar by drinking a diet cola you can super-size what ever you are going to eat. Also, it is believed that various receptors in your body may react to artificial sweeteners as they would to natural sugar and signal the rest of your body to adjust accordingly. In this case the body may develop cravings for sugar that was not there. All of this can become a loop of reactions that can result in obesity.
Okay, I like an occasional ice cold diet cola when it is hot and work is done. Many feel the same. No problem. It is the regular consumption of diet colas when dieting that is in conflict with trying to lose weight. A good diet plan will include balanced nutrition using mostly natural ingredients with structured but flexible menus, a proven discipline and regular exercise.
Diet Coke Nutrition Facts.