Is It True That Coke Zero Has No Sugar?

Coke Zero Sugar contains:

• Carbonated water
• Caramel color
• Phosphoric acid
• Aspartame
• Potassium benzoate (to protect taste)
• Natural flavors
• Potassium citrate
• Acesulfame potassium
• Caffeine

The contents in Coke Zero Sugar are given in descending volume order. At least three of these nine components have been linked to harmful health impacts, such as weight gain and kidney issues.

Coke Zero Sugar contains artificial sweeteners, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved these and considers them to be generally regarded as safe (GRAS).

• According to research published in Nutrition Reviews in 2017, long-term aspartame consumption can damage cell membranes, create oxidative stress, upset the body's antioxidant balance, and cause widespread chronic inflammation even when ingested within the recommended safe levels.
• According to a 2017 study published in the Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases, aspartame consumption is associated with weight gain and obesity, metabolic syndrome, imbalances in beneficial gut bacteria, and potential damage to kidney tissue. However, more research is needed to draw firm conclusions about these associations. Aspartame is present in Coke Zero and other diet sodas.
• In 2017, scientists specifically examined the consumption of acesulfame potassium and reported their findings in the journal PLoS One. The main takeaways were that regular use of the artificial sweetener can lead to weight gain, an imbalance in the gut bacterial microbiome, and accelerated cell damage (unproven claim).

An inorganic mineral acid called phosphoric acid is a preservative found in processed foods and beverages, such as soda. It lends the beverage some of its distinctive tartness and extends its shelf life.

• Even though data on the health consequences of phosphoric acid is limited. A review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in September 2014 suggested a link between phosphoric acid-containing sodas and a loss of bone mineral density in women's hips.
• A study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology in January 2017 reported that consuming phosphoric acid-containing sodas raises the risk of kidney disease.

The distinctive caramel-brown hue of Coke Zero Sugar is due to ammonium molecules. This chemical is used to create this synthetic caramel hue to decompose to produce a chemical called 4-methylimidazole or 4-MEI.

• According to a study published in PLoS One in 2015, regular exposure to 4-MEI is one of the risks of Coke Zero and can raise the risk of various types of cancer.
• In response to studies linking caramel color to cancer, California declared 4-MEI as a carcinogen under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also called Proposition 65.
• This study mentions that Coca-Cola and other soda producers decided to restructure their caramel colorings, so they no longer include 4-MEI. Coca-Cola adds on its website that although it did lower the levels of 4-MEI in its products, they still contain trace amounts of the chemical.

No soft drink is a healthy choice.

You should not have either ordinary Coke or Coke Zero Sugar.

• Coke Zero and other diet sodas have several other side effects that are problematic. 
• Regular Coke does not include any artificial sweeteners, but it does contain high-fructose corn syrup, which has its own set of issues.

High-fructose corn syrup has been connected to metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. According to a review published in Obesity in 2019, the high-fructose corn syrup and the different ways that the liver metabolizes fructose could be to blame for these unfavorable effects.

If you are unsure which beverage to pick, water is always the best option. The next best is green tea.