Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, also called “Coke Zero,” is made to taste like the original Coca-Cola Classic, but it doesn’t have any sugar or calories.
It’s made to taste like Classic Coke, which is different from Diet Coke, which has its own unique taste. If you are on the very low-carb, high-fat keto diet, you may be wondering if Coke Zero can be a part of your routine.
Maintain Keto Diet
The goal of the keto is to get your body into a state called ketosis, in which it burns fat instead of carbs for energy. This is done by eating a very low-carb diet with only 20–50 grams of carbs per day and a lot of fat.
For example, a 355-mL can of Coca-Cola Classic with sugar has 39 grams of carbs, while a 355-mL can of Zero Coke has none.
When you’re on the keto, if you eat too many carbs, you can get out of ketosis and start breaking down carbs again for energy.
Coke Zero Ingredients
Since the goal of keto is to limit carbs to 20–50 grams per day, it is important to keep track of how many carbs you eat to stay in ketosis. Flavorings and artificial sweeteners work together to give Coke Zero its taste. Artificial sweeteners are used in place of table sugar to make a food product taste sweet.
Coke Zero uses acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) and aspartame, to be more specific. Even though these don’t have carbs or calories, they have been linked to bad health effects like a higher risk of diabetes and weight gain.
Also, remember that each 355-mL serving of Coke Zero has 34 mg of caffeine, which is about 36% of the amount of caffeine in a regular 8-ounce 240-mL cup of coffee. While caffeine can give you an energy boost, it may dehydrate you if you consume it in large quantities. That’s because it’s a diuretic, which means it makes you want to go to the bathroom.
But you would have to drink more than 500 mg per day, which is about fifteen 355-mL cans of Coke Zero, to feel dehydrated.
Keep in mind that some people may feel the effects of caffeine more than others. People who are more sensitive to caffeine might feel anxious, have a fast heartbeat, or have trouble sleeping because of caffeine.
Also, even though it has some sodium and potassium (2% of the Daily Value for each), there are much healthier ways to get these important minerals, which are needed for the heart to work well and many other important things.
Some studies have also shown that drinking cola may make you more likely to get osteoporosis. This could be a problem for people on a keto diet, since it may be harder to get enough vitamin D and calcium when you eat this way. Both of these nutrients are important for keeping bones from getting weak and breaking.
More research is needed to figure out how this link works, especially when it comes to a keto diet. So, you can sometimes drink Coke Zero to quench your thirst while on the keto diet, but water is the best choice.
Other Health Concerns
People like to drink soda, especially diet soda, but it’s also a topic of debate. Drinking soda with artificial sweeteners on a regular basis has been linked to health problems, such as kidney problems, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
A metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms that make you more likely to get a long-term illness. Lastly, people with phenylketonuria (PKU) should stay away from Coke Zero because it has phenylalanine in it.
Phenylalanine is a common amino acid that is bad for people with PKU because it can build up in the body and cause serious problems, like brain damage that can’t be fixed and seizures.
Lastly, if you take drugs for schizophrenia, you shouldn’t drink Coke Zero because the phenylalanine in it can cause problems.
Conclusion
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, also known as “Coke Zero,” has the same taste as Classic Coke but has no sugar or carbs. It does this by putting in artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. This means that you can drink it and not get out of ketosis.
The use of artificial sweeteners, on the other hand, is controversial and has been linked to some health risks. There needs to be more research in this area, especially when it comes to the keto diet.
Coke Zero can be a treat once in a while to spice up your keto diet, but water is always the best choice.