Cola

[cbrunny]

In particular, Pepsi Next. And I'm learning via the google that apparently that isn't as straight forward even with a specific brand name. I mean Pepsi Next as sold in Canada, which includes no artificial sweeteners and is sweetened with Stevia. I guess in many jurisdictions, Pepsi sweetens this same product not with Stevia but with four different artificial sweeteners.

Anyway, I tried this recently (the Canadian one) and quite liked it. I don't like drinking regular colas as they have RIDICULOUS amounts of sugar, and I'm very weary of diet drinks with artificial sweeteners for reasons that seem to be well founded by the general health community. But I am having trouble finding out how bad something like Pepsi Next is. Thought I'd turn to the experts here for some thoughts.

Basically, how bad is it? Less bad than diet/regular cola but still way worse than a non-soda pop drink? 17 g of sugar is still WAY too much, but as a once in a while treat I'm wondering how bad it would be. Once a week, tops.

These days of infographics and "This is what a can of Coke will do to your body in 1 hour" have left me uninterested in googling individual ingredients on the can of Pepsi Next to find out what each of them does.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Stevia is nasty.

 

[cbrunny]

Stevia is nasty.

taste or other?

taste is relative. wondering about the "other".

 

[Kaido]

taste or other?

taste is relative. wondering about the "other".

For me, taste. It's not bad going down, it's the aftertaste that is horrible. Makes me shudder like I just drank strong cough syrup :thumbsdown:

 

[deadlyapp]

Whenever they come up with new artificial sweeteners the data and evidence usually lags behind by a number of years, and by the time the data comes out, a new sweetener has been developed or marketed.

As always, everything in moderation. Sugar on it's own isn't bad but obviously excessive amounts of sugar and carbohydrates are. Stevia at one point was considered carcinogenic and then studies showed no link. I suspect you're OK as long as you're not shooting stevia like cocaine.

The wikipedia in this case has pretty good information and references on stevia and might be worth perusing if you're concerned.

 

[master_shake_]

i miss real sugar...

 

[Tweak155]

Mexican Coke is quite delicious.

 

[hightree]

As far as I now, "soda" in English basically means "carbonated water" and this, by itself, has not been proven bad.

Soft drinks have got bad reputation because of sugars or artificial sweeteners.

Sugars, such as glucose, sucrose (table sugar) and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) by themselves again are not bad. The potential bad thing is that you can very easily get too much calories from them, which can lead to obesity and this to diabetes and other problems. Also, sugary foods can be addictive.

About artificial sweeteners -- so far, I have found no reliable scientific evidence about any harmful effect. Again, they are sweet and they maintain your sweet tooth...which can make you eat more.

My point is that, on the end, you personally need to decide what's good for you. Taste, feelings after eating, your beliefs about sugars/sweeteners...can help you decide. Sugars can be bad for you but not for someone other...or vice versa...

 

[solidstar]

Stevia is nasty.

my husband has been using stevia for his coffee, it's not that nasty but there is an after taste