Coke or Diet Coke

[Raizinman]

No, not a poll. Lately there has been quite a bit of controversy about regular Coke now being healthier than Diet Coke. I for one was pretty much addicted to regular Coke, but my wife and doctor got me to switch to Diet Coke. Now it seems the switch will cause me more medical problems in the long run. Here are my questions:

Is regular Coke better for you than Diet Coke?

Is Coke (with real sugar) better for you than regular Coke?

Is Coke Zero better than Diet Coke or regular Coke?

For someone with Diabetes (Type II) which above product is best?

Yes, everyone knows water, ice tea and other drinks are healthier, but we are just speaking about Coke products right now. If you are a Pepsi lover, no need to respond.

 

[Zodiark1593]

I'd rather drink the regular coke on rare occasion as opposed to drinking diet coke constantly. Besides, the diet stuff tastes like poopy.

 

[brianmanahan]

the diet stuff is disgusting and unnatural, i always choose regular over the diet

 

[lxskllr]

Too much of anything isn't good. It was historically a dessert drink, consumed in small quantities. It's now a primary beverage, and causes tooth rot, and weight gain. Diet Coke tastes like shit, so the answer is to drink a small quantity of real Coke when you want a dessert, and drink something sensible to replace fluids.

If you insist on drinking large quantities as a diabetic, I suppose Diet Coke is better, but that's on the same line as voting for the less shitty politician instead of doing what's right.

 

[IronWing]

Lately there has been quite a bit of controversy about regular Coke now being healthier than Diet Coke.

Explain please.

 

[Newbian]

Pepsi > coke and seriously diet coke is probably the worst tasting stuff out there.

On the other hand cherry coke is awesome.

 

[ctk1981]

I'd say coke with real sugar is better than regular coke. And if its out of a glass bottle, it rules over everything else.

I'm not sure if diet, zero, and whatever else low calorie is good for you due to the use artificial sweeteners and the effects they have from long term use. But again, I would say I'd prefer a natural sweetener vs artificial. So, sugar cane coke.

If you have diabetes I'd say your best bet is to give up pop all together. I know its tough when addicted to it, I've quit a few times over the years and endured agonizing headaches and down right irritability. Funny thing was, trying a pop after quitting for months I thought to myself....holy shit that's sweet, how the hell did I drink 5 cans a day?!

 

[Instan00dles]

I hate the taste of regular coke and I love diet coke. I love it so much so that I think it has become a problem and I need to drink less, I feel like it is addicting in some sort of way.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Pepsi > coke and seriously diet coke is probably the worst tasting stuff out there.

On the other hand cherry coke is awesome.

I love me some Vanilla Coke. I don't drink coke often, but when I do, it's the Vanilla Coke.

 

[squarecut1]

Coke zero, so much better than diet coke

 

[dighn]

I hate the taste of regular coke and I love diet coke. I love it so much so that I think it has become a problem and I need to drink less, I feel like it is addicting in some sort of way.

same. diet coke is less sugary and therefore more refreshing. i do drink too much and need to cut down.

 

[KentState]

If I drink pop, it's Diet Coke, but only on vary rare occasions. I prefer either coffee with skim milk or water. Probably the most direct ways to get caffeine or hydration.

 

[Ben90]

Sugary drinks are uniformly better in the diet version. When drinking them they taste pretty much the same (slight edge to sugar version) but the after taste goes away completely in the diet version after a few minutes while the sugar one makes your breath smell like shit.

 

[futurefields]

sugar is absolutely terrible for you. i do not agree that diet is worse than regular. sugar in high amounts like in regular soda causes a ton of damage to the arteries, heart, kidney, liver etc...

you want to live longer, stop eating sugar.

 

[jhansman]

Neither. Diet Pepsi.

 

[Mixolydian]

I don't understand how people can drink those nasty, chemically-tasting diet drinks.

Scientifically, the artificial sweetners in those products are quite harmful. But how big of a risk to your health it is would depend on how much you consume. "Studies" claim that most people don't consume enough per day for it to cause any long-term health problems. (aside from obesity of course)

Like any logical person, I'd rather have the real thing less often than drink shit more often.

 

[tygeezy]

I don't understand how people can drink those nasty, chemically-tasting diet drinks.

Scientifically, the artificial sweetners in those products are quite harmful. But how big of a risk to your health it is would depend on how much you consume. "Studies" claim that most people don't consume enough per day for it to cause any long-term health problems. (aside from obesity of course)

Like any logical person, I'd rather have the real thing less often than drink shit more often.

Some people like me are diabetic. A regular soda is not an option because there is way too much sugar in it. I keep soda and orange juice around because there is nothing that raises your blood sugar quicker during a low blood sugar episode.

 

[Mixolydian]

Some people like me are diabetic.

That's different, and understandable.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Pepsi > coke and seriously diet coke is probably the worst tasting stuff out there.

On the other hand cherry coke is awesome.

This x infinity.

 

[Babbles]

I like Coke Zero.

I lost ~35 pounds when I got my crap together, but kept on drinking Coke Zero. I did, however, switch to real sugar for coffee and tea instead of artificial sweeteners. I mention the fat loss because I think there is this counter-culture idea that 'diet' drinks can lead to weight gain. Obviously that can happen, but they certainly can't be the root cause.

 

[Babbles]

I don't understand how people can drink those nasty, chemically-tasting diet drinks.

Scientifically, the artificial sweetners in those products are quite harmful. But how big of a risk to your health it is would depend on how much you consume. "Studies" claim that most people don't consume enough per day for it to cause any long-term health problems. (aside from obesity of course)

Like any logical person, I'd rather have the real thing less often than drink shit more often.

As a scientist and I'm not so certain I would agree with that statement. Analytical chemistry, not. . . sugar physiology?. . . so guess it doesn't matter, but I really hate it when people throw out 'science' or 'scientifically' when so often it doesn't mean a damn thing.

The reality is the FDA tests for what is the likely harm of a product, and as much as people may not like it there is reasonable assurance of health safety with artificial sweeteners. There is always a dose and concentration level at when everything can kill you. There is an entire field called DMPK (drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics) that deals with these things. I have generated bioanalytical data for DMPK studies, so guess I have some credibility there!

Anyhow, my guess is that artificial sweeteners do act as an enabler for people who tend to have a 'sweet tooth' and they increase consumption of sweet goods. It's not the artificial sweetener per se, but the psychology of how people are drawn to certain flavors.

I'm not attracted to really sweet things. However, make it salty and crispy and I'll be all over that junk like nobody's business

 

[mmntech]

Coke Zero is not bad. I like Pepsi Next as well, which is sweetened with a mix of stevia and "sugar". I think it may actually be beet or cane sugar they're using because it does taste somewhat similar to Pepsi Throwback. However, apparently the American formula is different and uses a blend of HFCS and artificial sweeteners. Curious they use the European blend for Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsi_Next


As for diet softdrinks causing weight gain, it does make sense. At least how it was explained to me. Your body expects sugar, doesn't get it, then starts craving it. So you reach for sugary foods you wouldn't have otherwise. Generally anything marketed as "diet" should be avoided. Too many artificial ingredients and fillers.

I think the rule of everything in moderation counts. I only drink pop on the weekends now. I'm down from a can or two a day during my college years to one or two a week. The caffeine is addictive. However, I don't feel the energy boost from it. Just keeps me awake at night.

 

[IEC]

You've got Type II diabetes. Cut out all sugary drinks from your diet, up the exercise and lose some weight. Diet drinks are still bad since you WILL crave more sweet stuff from drinking it.

P.S. Not ragging on you specifically OP, but I'd prefer not to have to see yet another non-compliant diabetic patient with a gangrenous foot/leg getting an amputation in the OR...

 

[Fritzo]

I drink a lot of diet drinks. I don't believe in drinking calories. It works well for me.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Explain please.

I'm definitely no expert in this, but the limited information that I've read/gained is that the artificial sweeteners in the diet drinks causes you to either drink more diet soda than you would normal soda, or it makes your appetite bigger thus eating more overall.

Again, not an expert.