Featured image Cola Zero: healthy or not?
Coca-Cola Zero is healthier than regular cola, or at least that is what many people claim these days. We all know that sugar is bad for our teeth. After all, a 250 ml glass of classic Cola contains no less than 27 grams of sugar! It is therefore not surprising that a number of people switched to the Diet Cola variant years ago. Nowadays, there is also Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. But is it actually that healthy?
Not only less sugar is important for healthier teeth
When it comes to damaging teeth, a glass of cola involves not only sugar but also acid. Research also indicates that diet soda is sometimes considered less safe.
So is drinking a glass of Cola Zero really that much healthier than regular cola?
In Coca-Cola Zero sit fewer calories
According to many, Cola Zero is much healthier; it is recommended as an alternative for living a healthier life. Zero variants contain no sugar.
This way, you don't have to give up Cola entirely; instead, you replace regular Cola with diet soft drinks, including Coca-Cola Zero. After all, you have to treat yourself to a glass of diet soft drink every now and then, right?
Zero contains sweeteners
But is it really healthier? Despite containing no sugar and having hardly any calories, the manufacturer has to replace the sugars with something that has that sweet taste of regular soda. That taste is artificially created using sweeteners. Sweeteners have E numbers and are therefore claimed to be completely safe, but it is still interesting to compare this healthy replacement with the regular version.
Healthier in terms of calorie intake
If we look at calorie intake, Cola Zero is much healthier than regular soft drinks. After all, sugar provides a lot of calories, and Cola Zero contains almost none.
However, the body will also react to sweeteners, and you may experience negative effects from this. The negative effect of Cola Zero is that the artificial sweeteners may cause an even greater spike in blood sugar levels than with regular sugar. The difference is not large, but it is present.
What is the difference between Diet Coke and Zero drinks?
The question is often asked what the difference is between the light and zero variants. In both cases, they contain sweeteners and are sugar-free.
The main difference between the two is the taste. In terms of calories, there isn't much difference. One isn't really healthier than the other.
Unique taste
Many people say that the light version has a unique taste, and that the zero version tastes more like the regular one, but without sugar. So, it is mainly a matter of preference.
Both are low in calories and are a good choice if you want to lose weight.
Coca Cola Zero Sugar and tooth erosion
Another possible negative of Coca-Cola Zero is tooth erosion.
Even though soft drinks like Cola Zero do not contain large amounts of sugar, prolonged use can still lead to damage to the teeth. As mentioned earlier, with these types of drinks, it is not just about sugar, but also about acid.
When does dental erosion occur?
Dental erosion occurs when you eat or drink acidic products. This causes the teeth to become sensitive and brittle. Time and again, these problems also appear to recur with drinks like Cola Zero.
Is it completely possible no harm for the teeth?
So, is Cola Zero completely harmless to your teeth? Yes, it actually is. Dental erosion is simply a result of eating or drinking acidic things. These are strong enough to dissolve tooth enamel.
Saliva protects against this, but when you expose your teeth to acid, the saliva is no match for this impact.
When the tooth enamel dissolves and the dentin is exposed, the teeth become sensitive.
Acids are also erosive
Sugar can have this effect, but acids can too. Cola Zero also contains a lot of acids; after all, Coca-Cola is a drink known for being quite acidic despite tasting so sweet.
Dental erosion can therefore be caused in part by Cola Zero.
Dental health and the consequences of poor dental health on overall health are sometimes overlooked. The mouth plays a major role in protecting the body because many bacteria enter the body through the mouth, particularly via food and drink.
Acid and pH values
Something that is acidic has a pH value lower than 7. The lower the value, the more acidic a drink is. The pH value of Cola Zero is 2.4!
Research by the Consumers' Association
Research also shows that Cola Zero has an erosive effect on teeth; this has been extensively tested by the Consumers' Association.
In the "soft drinks" study, the erosive effect of Coca-Cola Zero on teeth is classified as "erosive." This is on a scale of non-erosive, moderately erosive, erosive, and very erosive. This is therefore the second-highest degree of erosion. The impact on the teeth is also considered "significant.".
So, is it unhealthy?
Look, there is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking Coca-Cola Zero every now and then, and all in all, it is certainly the proven healthier alternative to the Regular version.
All we want to make clear is that there are indeed effects on dental health, and that these are not much less than those of the regular variant.
So it is not that there are no concerns about the health of your teeth, but if you keep it to a minimum, there is nothing to worry about. We also provide a number of handy tips below!
A few tips!
Do you want to minimize the risk of tooth erosion caused by Coca-Cola Zero? Then we have a number of smart and handy tips for you!
- Always drink Coca-Cola Zero with a straw. This way, you enjoy the taste, but it does not linger in your mouth and therefore damages your teeth the least.;
- Drink it immediately, do not rinse your mouth with it;
- Do not drink it too often;
- Do not brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking something acidic; give the enamel a chance to recover. Ideally, it is best to wait an hour.;
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.