Even though we all know Coke is not good for our health, we still like its taste and our food gatherings are incomplete without Coke. With an increase in diabetes and obesity, cutting back on sugar from every product became a norm. That’s why, coca-cola launched its products, Coke Diet, and Coke Zero, which are free of sugar and calories. Both of them look the same and that’s when the debate started- which one is better? If they both are free of sugar, then what’s the difference between Diet Coke and No-sugar Coke or Coke Zero? Which one should you choose? Are they really different or it’s just a marketing strategy- let’s take a look.
What is Coke?
A Coke, also known as Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink, first invented in the late 19th century. It’s a fizzy drink, made up of carbonated water, coca leaves, and kola nuts which work as a source of caffeine. Its sweet and unique taste makes it a part of every other food table.
After the successful launch of Coke, the company thought to bring an alternative for the people suffering from diabetes or who are fitness conscious and avoid sugary drinks. In the wake of this, Coca-Cola launched its Diet Coke and later Coke Zero. Coca-Cola claims both are the same drinks with no sugar and no-calorie amount, except for the taste. But people doubt that.
What is Diet Coke?
A product of a company named Coca-Cola- It’s a sugar-free and no-calorie soft drink. It was first launched in 1983 in the USA.
What is Coke Zero?
It’s also a no-sugar, no-calorie carbonated drink, also manufactured by Coca-Cola and was first launched in the market in the year 2006. It comes in different flavors like cherry, orange vanilla, and vanilla.
Comparison of ingredients between Diet Coke and Coke Zero
To find out if they really are different from each other, let’s take a look at the ingredients of both:
| Water | Color | Sweeteners | Flavorings | Others | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coke Zero | Carbonated | Caramel E150d | Aspartame, Acesulfame K | Natural flavors, caffeine | Phosphoric acid, sodium citrate |
| Diet Zero | Carbonated | Caramel E150d | Aspartame, Acesulfame K | Natural flavors, caffeine | Phosphoric acid, citric acid |
Looking at the ingredients, no one can assume that there could be any difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke.
What’s the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke?
They look and smell the same, then what could be the possible difference between the two? Let’s break into it:
1. Sweetener
Diet Coke uses only aspartame as its primary sweetening agent and adds acesulfame potassium in a very small amount while Coke Zero uses both aspartame and acesulfame potassium (Ace K) in an equal amount. Ace K is known to enhance the sweetness of the drink, is calorie-free, and does not raise blood sugar levels while passing through the body.
2. Caffeine content
Both Coke Zero and Diet Coke have almost similar ingredients but a slight difference in their caffeine content distinguishes them from each other. If you take a look at the label, you’ll see that Coke Zero contains almost 34 mg of caffeine in it, on the other hand, Diet Coke contains 46 mg of caffeine. Though there is a difference in caffeine amount, both come under the recommended daily caffeine limit.
3. Taste
Some people claim that even the taste of both Diet Coke and Coke Zero is similar and does not fall from the real taste of Coke. Coca-Cola the manufacturer has opposite views. The company claims that both Cokes have different tastes. They claim that Coke Zero has an almost similar taste to classic Coke, while Diet Coke is made up of a different blend of flavors, thus it has a bit lighter taste.
Final word
Although Diet Coke and Coke Zero show maximum similarities, Coke Zero wins the game due to its taste. If both have been offering zero sugar and zero calories, then why not drink the one that tastes better. Also, a brownie point for the Coke Zero for offering various flavors to suit the taste buds of everyone. The word “diet” might make it look more legitimate, but if you look at the ingredients, you won’t find any major differences. So, are you team Coke Zero or team Diet Coke?
I look up to fitness as a lifestyle and love to pen down about it. I have 2 years of experience in content writing and I am here to share my research and knowledge on health and fitness.
