Why do you drink Diet Coke or Coke Zero?

[tvguy]

Yeah, but there is a difference in taste between "diet" sodas and "zero sugar" ones. "Zero Sugar" is a special process that was developed by an independent company. It was exclusive to Coke for a time, but now you see thier branding on many Zero sodas from all the major companies. It does taste significantly better too!

Nope. Yes, in the case of Coke the formulas are designed to have a different flavor, and use different diet sweeteners but they are both diet sodas according to the FDA.
Yes you are correct, the makers are moving away from using Diet on the label, but a diet soda is a diet soda. Just like they used to just use the Sugar Free label.

 

[CdnCarrie]

But you can learn how to manage it, thanks to a little Quaker Oats.

Yes a carb filled breakfast is perfect for diabetics...

 

[tvguy]

This is why they can't jsut replace Diet Coke with the Zeroes. Arguably the Zeroes taste closer to the original, but there are many people who simply like the taste of DC. They've tried to alter the formula before to be closer to the original, but that's not what fans want.

Interestingly, "Diet" drinks were typically mostly marketed more toward women, while "Zero" sodas were designed to be marketed toward men.

In the case of Coke Zero and Diet Coke, they use different artificial sweeteners. Some people can't tolerate certain artificial sweeteners, so by using two different formulas, they offer give people an diet option with a sweetener they can tolerate.

 

[tvguy]

I grew up in the 60's too, and don't remember ever hearing about cyclamates! What are those supposed to be? I guess it didn't bother me because I always drink diet coke. I just love the taste. When I accidentally drink my daughters regular coke while at a restaurant, I can hardly stand it.
So mark me down as a diet coke fanatic.

Here is a nice background article on the ban. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclamate

It impacted my household because all we bought was diet soda, mostly Diet Rite and Fresca until cyclamates were banned..

 

[Mysterian]

Yes a carb filled breakfast is perfect for diabetics...

Yeah well, that's the reason why Wilford Brimley is still living to the ripe old age of...

Ooops, nevermind.

 

[tvguy]

Different processes and formulations. Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero are completely different, same with Dr. Pepper.

Yes, but all diet sodas according to the FDA. As mentioned above, the big reasons for the different formulas and different sweeteners is to offer a slightly different taste, and to over come the issue that there are many who have a sensitively to certain artificial sweeteners.
Aspartame gives me a headache. Stevia tears up my tummy. I used to only buy Splenda and the yellow label Diet Coke which is made with it, but after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes Doctor says I am better off without any artificial sweetener or sugar in my system. I drink a lot of flavored sparkling water, ice tea and coffee now.

 

[BrianL]

In the case of Coke Zero and Diet Coke, they use different artificial sweeteners. Some people can't tolerate certain artificial sweeteners, so by using two different formulas, they offer give people an diet option with a sweetener they can tolerate.

Well, yeah, I understand that they are chemically similar, but sodas labeled as "Diet" taste different ahnt those labeled as "Zero" and the expectations are different. This is a marketing distinction, but still notable and useful in discussions about them.

 

[tvguy]

Well, yeah, I understand that they are chemically similar, but sodas labeled as "Diet" taste different ahnt those labeled as "Zero" and the expectations are different. This is a marketing distinction, but still notable and useful in discussions about them.

You nailed it. It is all marketing. They transitioned from Sugar Free to Diet years ago, and now they are transitioning to Zero. And yes, the soda makers have taken advantage of the opportunity to offer slightly different flavors. Shades of the New Coke mess back in 1985. You had New Coke and old Coke selling side by side and huge controversy. Different flavors. But what looked like disaster turned into a marketing win because the total amount of soda sold by coke went up in the end.

 

[tvguy]

Yeah well, that's the reason why Wilford Brimley is still living to the ripe old age of...

Ooops, nevermind.

Well, let's see. The life expectancy of someone born in 1934 is 59.3 years, I think Wilford did pretty well making it to 86 not counting his dya-bee-tees.

 

[Mysterian]

Well, let's see. The life expectancy of someone born in 1934 is 59.3 years, I think Wilford did pretty well making it to 86 not counting his dya-bee-tees.

Had to be the cocoons.

 

[Colleen27]

Habit, mostly. I got used to diet because in my younger days when I was a serious soda addict - before I discovered coffee - my grandmother was still alive and suffering from both diabetes and dementia. So if I wanted to keep soda at her house, which I did because I was her back-up caregiver and often ended up there on short notice, it had to be diet just in case she decided to get into it. And once I switched, regular soda just didn't taste right. It tastes too thick/syrupy. My grandmother passed in '08 but I never did make the jump back to sugared soda other than the very occasional glass bottle/cane sugar Faygo or Coke. I've cut way back on soda overall since those days, but when I do drink it, it is still diet.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah well, that's the reason why Wilford Brimley is still living to the ripe old age of...

Ooops, nevermind.

He made it to 86 though. Are we supposed to assume it was the oatmeal that killed him?

 

[Notreallyaustralian]

I LOVE sugar. But for some reason, I usually don't like it in drinks. So if I'm going to drink soda, I drink diet. Lately, I mostly drink tea and don't add sugar. I do like things like smoothies and juice but in limited amounts.

 

[dizneegirl]

Sugared sodas are far too sweet for my taste. I don't care for the Coke Zero - I think it's sweeter tasting as well. I love Diet Coke for the taste, and my favorite is Caffeine Free Diet Coke, taste-wise.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Coke Zero, strictly because of taste

 

[MIGrandma]

I’m diabetic, rarely drink soda/pop but when I do it is usually at a movie with popcorn. I prefer Diet Coke, caffeine free if they have it. I don’t want all the sugar in regular Coke.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I like Diet Coke or Diet Dr Pepper. I’ve never been one to drink regular sodas.

Yeah, my doctor thought my kidney numbers were just slightly concerning for my age (still fine, just a little off). She advised me to drink more water. I usually had about two sodas a day (cans), one with lunch and one with dinner. That's probably not excessive, excepting that those and a morning chai latte might be the only fluids I would drink in a day! That's definitely an issue. I have made a concentrated effort to drink more water. I have reduced one soda too - if I drink it with lunch, I have water with dinner. I might have a little extra on a weekend, but am generally trying to keep it lower.

My son sees a kidney specialist due to a kidney problem he had, and he recommended no brown sodas because he said the brown part is inflammatory. He also is supposed to follow an anti-inflammatory diet (mostly Mediterranean, really). BTW if you are muscular, DS’s new kidney doctor said slightly elevated readings (as DS’s are) can be normal. (Who knows.) Lots of water is good except for one category of heart patients who has to restrict fluids.

Speaking of elevated blood sugars, someone I saw in the hospital this week had consistent readings over 500.

 

[mousefan73]

I travel the world a lot, and each country has its own taste when it comes to Diet Coke or Zero. I prefer Diet Coke usually over zero even as a child. I cannot stand the taste of regular Coke or Pepsi that hurt my teeth, made me more thirsty, and gave me probably heartburn as a kid. I actually preferred the taste of Diet Coke, so really had nothing to do with saving calories.

Are used to be a big diet sprite fan but then I noticed that it has a weird aftertaste now. Maybe they changed the formula when it comes to which sweetener they use or I just got used to the regular Sprite

 

[Mysterian]

He made it to 86 though. Are we supposed to assume it was the oatmeal that killed him?

Do you suspect foul play?

 

[CdnCarrie]

Do you suspect foul play?

It was a cereal killer...