In a very controversial TikTok video that has gone viral, a dietitian has finally put an end to the heated argument between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Registered dietician Abbey Sharp has posted a video in which she breaks down the components of the two well-known Coca-Cola drinks. "In her widely shared video, which went viral on Sunday, she stated that both contain aspartame, caffeine, natural flavors, caramel colors, etc." The Mirror US states that Sharp went on to point out the main difference between the two well-known carbonated beverages. "The key difference is that Diet Coke is sweetened exclusively with aspartame, whereas Coke Zero also contains a sweetener called acesulfame potassium or Ace-K," she said.
"While the wellness community will call both of these sweeteners complete poison, the reality is that they're both FDA-approved and have been deemed safe in moderation," Sharp said in response to the debate around these sweeteners. She continued by discussing aspartame, an artificial sweetener 200 times sweeter than sugar and found in products like Equal, Nutrasweet, and Sugar Twin. In 2017, the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research division labeled aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." However, in opposition to the WHO's position, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that aspartame "does not mean that aspartame is linked to cancer."
Three ingredients are needed to make a banana bread recipe that is moist, fluffy, and tasty. [LATEST] According to the FDA, a person may consume up to 50 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day. Another element is Ace-K, which has 200 times the sweetness of ordinary table sugar. The FDA has approved it as a food additive and tested this artificial sweetener more than ninety times to look for any possible harmful effects. Aspartame was connected to a greater risk of stroke in 2022 French research, whilst Ace-K was linked to a higher risk of coronary artery disease.
"I'm generally not concerned about either of these sweeteners, though I prefer not to take the risk specifically in pregnancy with Ace-K because it has been shown to cross the placenta," Sharp said. Additionally, Sharp drew attention to the notable variation in caffeine levels between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. There are around 46 milligrams of caffeine in a can of Diet Coke and 34 milligrams in a can of Coke Zero. Let's face it, diet sodas are not nutritious foods.
Sharp emphasized that they should be consumed in the same manner as ordinary, full-sugar soda and stressed the importance of moderation. "Aside from perhaps a tiny energy boost and some pleasure, they don't offer much to the diet. If you're going to drink soda, pick your favorite and consume it in moderation, whether it be normal, diet, zero, or something else entirely." Individuals discussed their preferences for Diet Coke or Coke Zero in the comment sections. "Coke Zero has a superior flavor. There's a strange flavor to diet Coke," a TikTok user said. "Diet Coke is just superior, especially with a lime," another individual remarked. "Neither one's flavor appeals to me. But Cherry Coke Zero wasn't that bad," added a third account holder.
