All About Diet Sodas . We drink it to avoid the sugar calories from regular soda, right? But do the benefits of consuming fewer sugar calories outweigh the risks of consuming artificial ingredients? What is diet soda? Good old 1. 95. 2. TV debuted in Canada and the first diet soda was sold. It was a ginger- ale, called No- Cal Beverage. The first diet cola was released seven years later. These beverages were sweetened with saccharin (think: Sweet .
In theory, since sugar- sweetened sodas provide such a huge number of calories to the American diet, one would think that replacing these sugars with a non- caloric sweetener would result in some major weight and health changes. They’ve changed all right: since the introduction of non- caloric sweeteners, weight has increased and health has arguably diminished. Why is diet soda so important? In the 1. 99. 0s, diet soda consumption was stable but started to increase in 2. TV debuted in Canada and the first diet soda was sold. It was a ginger-ale, called No-Cal Beverage. The first diet cola was released seven years later. In the U. S., consumers spend about $2. By comparison, these same consumers only spend $1. What you should know about diet soda. Have you ever heard of Diet Coke? Let’s break down the ingredients. It contains carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, natural flavors, citric acid and caffeine. We’ll take them one by one. Carbonated water. This is water dissolved with carbon dioxide. Poof, we have carbonic acid. While it doesn’t do much for enhancing health (and in fact, it’s part of the process of respiratory excretion as the body tries to rid itself of carbon dioxide), it’s great for getting rid of coffee stains. Caramel color. Without this, cola wouldn’t be brown and happy hour beers wouldn’t be gold. Caramel color is the most commonly consumed food coloring ingredient in the world. It provides no flavor, only color. It’s produced by heating carbohydrates (like fructose, dextrose, or invert sugar) with a food- grade acid (like sulfuric, phosphoric, or citric) to break the sugar bonds. Or the carbohydrates can be heated along with salts (like ammonium, sodium, and bicarbonate). Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids are also used as anti- foaming agents during the production of caramel color. Think of caramel color as burnt sugar. As you might assume (since it’s used in diet soda), caramel color is soluble in water. Negative health consequences of caramel color are unlikely as long as someone doesn’t consume more than 2. Still, there is the potential of an allergic reaction, but that comes with many food ingredients. Caramel color has a very low caloric content, and most of it is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. If you want to know what life would be like without caramel color in diet colas, set your time machine for the early 1. Crystal Pepsi. Aspartame. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener that’s composed of aspartic acid, phenylalanine and a methyl ester, is a chemical, not a naturally occurring compound. It was discovered in 1. G. D. 1. 6 years later, aspartame received limited sanction, and in 1. It’s the most popular sweetener in the U. S. With more than 9. Brand names for aspartame include Equal, Nutra. Sweet and Tri- Sweet. Aspartame exceeds table sugar sweetness by 2. Since it still contains 4 calories per gram (as does table sugar), this intense sweetness allows much less of it to be used in diet sodas. The AXS Cookie Policy. This website, like most others, uses cookies in order to give you a great online experience. By continuing to use our website you accept to our. In the past, humans have practiced cannibalism in many parts of the. Dad was Charles Henry Cooper, who. The first diet soda was called No-Cal Ginger Ale. It was created by Hyman Kirsch, a Russian immigrant to New York. Kirsch founded a soft drink company in 1904 but. Our Company; Our Company Main; About Coca-Cola Journey; Mission, Vision & Values; Diversity & Inclusion; Human and Workplace Rights; Workplace Overview; Coca-Cola Leaders. In 1936, a Danish researcher managed to measure and tag one of these reclusive beasts. When he recaptured it in 1952, it had grown by just 8 centimeters The major vehicle for aspartame consumption in North America is diet soda. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is set at 5. U. S. For an 8. 0 kg person, this is between 3,2. The following chart shows the aspartame content of typical products. Product category. Serving size. Aspartame content. Carbonated soft drinks. Gelatin dessert. 4 ounces. Powdered soft drink. Hot chocolate. 6 ounces. Pudding. 4 ounces. Frozen novelty. 2 . These substances can then enter the blood. Phenylalanine may accumulate in the bloodstream, but it’s difficult to predict how high doses of phenylalanine will react, as animal research models metabolize it differently. Methanol is further metabolized into formaldehyde and formic acid. But before you call the poison control center, remember that we also get methanol from figs and orange juice (along with other foods), and we get formaldehyde from scary substances like apples, carrots and coffee. Hope you covered the kid’s eyes for that one. Acidosis can occur with significant blood levels of formic acid. Research in animals provides evidence that aspartame has a strong cancer causing and brain damage potential, with the dosage tested approximated at the ADI for humans. Human research shows that consuming 2 to 1. In 2. 00. 7 and 2. Moreover, when exposure begins during fetal life, the chances of cancer are enhanced. With this being said, no reliable epidemiologic study has been undertaken. There was a 9. 8 page review about aspartame in a 2. Critical Reviews of Toxicology (published shortly before the aforementioned research was released). The review indicates that the more aspartame we consume, the greater potential for health to go awry. In saying that, the authors concluded that no credible link exists between consumption of aspartame (at levels estimated in the human diet) and conditions related to the nervous system and behavior. Also, it appears that overall evidence is limited on its cancer causing and rebound hunger potential. Aspartame has 9. 2 side effects listed by the FDA and use by pregnant women and young children is discouraged. Hmmm, if it’s not safe enough for the pregnant mom down the street, is it safe enough for everyone else? Phosphoric acid. This stuff has a tangy, sour taste and slows the growth of mold and bacteria. It’s a bit different from straight phosphorus as it binds with magnesium and calcium in the digestive tract to form salts that aren’t absorbed. This may lead to a decline in the materials needed for bone deposition. So as you might assume, studies have associated phosphoric acid consumption to a lower bone density. Still, other studies have found that phosphoric acid has no impact on calcium excretion. Diet colas, which generally contain phosphoric acid (non- colas usually don’t), have also been linked to kidney disease and kidney stones. Two or more colas per day more than doubled the incidence of kidney disease in one study; non- colas didn’t have the association. While phosphoric acid doesn’t do much to improve our health, it’s exceptional for removing rust from iron and steel tools. Potassium benzoate. This stuff is a preservative and discourages the growth of yeast, mold and bacteria. It has minimal taste and risk for toxicity. Unfortunately, along with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), potassium benzoate can form benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Sodium benzoate is also used in some diet sodas, but since most people don’t want the extra sodium, manufacturers are using it less. While potassium benzoate doesn’t do much to improve our health, it’s great for pyrotechnic whistle noises in fireworks. Natural flavors. Well, the magical natural flavor used to be saskra root in diet coke, but that plant is now extinct. With that being said, natural flavors can include countless items. I received the following statement from The Coca- Cola Company after inquiring about the natural flavors they use: Thank you for contacting The Coca- Cola Company, Mr. We appreciate your interest in Diet Coke. As you may know, flavor formulations are very valuable proprietary information, therefore we do not discuss the blend of flavoring materials used in Coca- Cola brand products. However, consumers can be assured that all flavors used in brands of The Coca- Cola Company are recognized as safe and suitable for use by the local regulatory officials in the countries in which they are sold. Additionally, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the substances that can be labeled as flavors, whether natural or artificial, and we strictly adhere to all such guidelines. If you would like to learn more about the FDA standards relating to flavors, they can be reached at www. INFO FDA. We hope this information is helpful. If you have additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact us again. Gisele. Industry and Consumer Affairs. The Coca- Cola Company. Citric acid. More than half of all citric acid is produced in China. It acts as a preservative and provides a sour taste. Too much of it can erode tooth enamel. While it does exist naturally in citrus fruits, this isn’t where most . Actually, cultures of something called Aspergillus niger are fed on a sugar containing medium to produce it. Aspergillus is a mold found growing on starchy food crops. While citric acid doesn’t do much to improve our health, it’s great as an additive in bathroom cleaners. Caffeine. Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant in the world and occurs naturally among several plants such as coffee bean, kola nut, tea leaf, and cacao seed. Other common methylxanthines include theobromine and theophylline, which are found in cocoa and teas. Methylxanthines act as adenosine receptor blockers and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. If you have no idea what I just said, here’s some further explanation. Adenosine acts as the . So when its effects are blocked (by caffeine), stimulation occurs. Caffeine is actually one of the most widely studied, and most effective, ergogenic acids on the planet. However, its purpose in diet soda is likely for immediate stimulation and it offers the potential for dependence. Does diet soda actually help people stay lean and healthy? Those who tend to overeat seem to use a greater amount of artificial sweeteners and diet sodas. This may reflect some ability of artificial sweeteners to actually stimulate overeating, possibly through enhancing appetite and/or disrupting learned associations between sweet taste and caloric density of food. Remember, we get used to sweet tastes. Diet sodas provide an extremely sweet sensation that may deter from the enjoyment of unprocessed/naturally sweet foods. 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