Latest news with #DietCoke
Health Line
10 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke: What's the Difference?
There isn't much difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke. You can drink either coke if you want to reduce your sugar intake, as both of them contain artificial sweeteners. You've likely heard that limiting the amount of added sugar in your diet is important for your health. People who regularly consume sodas may try switching to sodas made with artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners to reduce their added sugar intake. These alternatives make products taste sweet but don't lead to the blood sugar increases that traditional sugar may cause. Diet drinks are a way to avoid added sugars in beverages, but more recently, sodas with 'zero' in their name have hit the market alongside them. Coca-Cola is a popular example of a brand with both 'diet' and 'zero' varieties. If you're wondering about the differences between Coke Zero and Diet Coke — and how to determine which is a better choice for you — read on. Nutrition facts and ingredients of Coke Zero and Diet Coke Below are the ingredients and nutrition facts for both Coke Zero and Diet Coke. In this section, we'll break down some of the key differences and similarities you may want to consider. Coke Zero nutrition facts Coke Zero's ingredients include: carbonated water caramel color phosphoric acid aspartame potassium benzoate (to protect taste) natural flavors potassium citrate acesulfame potassium caffeine It also contains the amino acid phenylalanine, so people with phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid it. A 12-ounce (355-mL) serving of Coke Zero provides: Calories: 0 Total fat: 0 grams (g) Sodium: 40 milligrams (mg) Total carbohydrate s: 0 g Total sugars: 0 g Protein: 0 g Potassium: 60 mg Caffeine: 34 mg Coke Zero contains no added sugars since it uses artificial sweeteners instead. It comes in a variety of flavors, including cherry, cherry vanilla, orange vanilla, and vanilla. Coke Zero also has less caffeine than Diet Coke. Caffeine-free Coke Zero is also available. Diet Coke nutrition facts Diet Coke's ingredients include: carbonated water caramel color aspartame phosphoric acid potassium benzoate (to protect taste) natural flavors citric acid caffeine Like Coke Zero, Diet Coke contains the amino acid phenylalanine, so people with PKU should avoid it. A 12-ounce (355-mL) serving of Diet Coke provides: Calories: 0 Total fat: 0 g Sodium: 40 mg Total carbohydrate: 0 g Total sugars: 0 g Protein: 0 g Caffeine: 46 mg Diet Coke contains no added sugars since it uses artificial sweeteners instead. Regular Diet Coke uses aspartame, but you can also purchase a variety of Diet Coke that's made with Splenda, a brand of sucralose. Flavor varieties of Diet Coke include ginger lime and feisty cherry. Like Coke Zero, Diet Coke also comes in a caffeine-free version. Key differences between Coke Zero and Diet Coke These products are essentially the same, especially regarding their main selling point: not containing sugar. What differs between the two is the type of sweetener they contain, as well as their caffeine content, although these two differences are still unlikely to be significant to most people. While Diet Coke uses aspartame as its sweetening agent, Coke Zero uses both aspartame and acesulfame potassium, also called 'Ace K' or 'acesulfame K.' Acesulfame potassium is another calorie-free sweetener that passes through the body without raising blood sugar levels. Per Diet Coke's ingredient label, its primary sweetener is aspartame, and since ingredients are listed in order by weight, it's reasonable to assume that it contains much less acesulfame potassium. This means that these drinks are quite similar in terms of ingredients. The other key difference is caffeine content. Coke Zero has less caffeine than Diet Coke. However, both beverages are well below the recommended daily caffeine limit of 400 mg per day for adults. One debatable difference is the taste of these two drinks. Some say they cannot taste a difference, while others swear by either Diet Coke or Coke Zero as tasting closest to the 'real deal.' Taste comparison As of late, Coca-Cola writes on its website and in its most recent marketing materials that it has developed a new recipe for Coke Zero. The company doesn't go into detail about how it has changed but maintains that it 'has more real Coca-Cola flavor, still without any sugar'. Coke Zero has a slightly different aftertaste than Diet Coke, likely due to its acesulfame potassium. Diet Coke tastes more like regular Coke to many people. However, for some, it's the reverse. Neither tastes just like the original Coca-Cola. Depending on multiple factors — like whether you get it from a beverage fountain, in a can, or in a bottle — each type may have a slightly different taste. Potential side effects For most, not many harmful side effects come from drinking carbonated beverages in moderation. However, caffeine and artificial sweeteners may negatively affect some people, even at moderate intake levels. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that adults have no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. That's about 4 cups of coffee, or nine or eleven 12-ounce (355-mL) cans of Diet Coke or Coke Zero, respectively. So, you're unlikely to exceed the limit by drinking these sodas in moderation. If you're highly sensitive to caffeine, though, you may want to watch your intake of these beverages. Otherwise, they contain a relatively low amount of caffeine. Aspartame may cause headaches for some people, according to the American Migraine Foundation. While this effect may vary, it's good to know ahead of time so you can connect the dots if you start experiencing headaches after drinking these beverages. In addition, some research has indicated that aspartame may be carcinogenic. More long-term, high quality human studies are necessary before we can connect aspartame to cancer. A concluded that products containing aspartame are safe to consume by the general population at current levels. However, it may pose certain health risks for certain populations, such as: people with seizures neurological conditions people with phenylketonuria people who are pregnant Those who take a more cautious approach to ingredients in foods may want to avoid aspartame, and that's OK. However, it's worth noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers aspartame safe. Similar to aspartame, acesulfame potassium has been evaluated for potential carcinogenic effects. Again, however, the evidence is unclear, and more long-term, high quality human studies are necessary. Acesulfame potassium is FDA approved. Which is a better choice? There are very few differences between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. As such, there is no concrete, measurable reason to suggest that one is superior to the other. Nutritionally, there are no significant differences. Their ingredient and caffeine contents are similar as well, so neither is healthier than the other. Remember that diet soda is not considered a healthy drink. It's a fun treat that can be consumed in moderation — and switching from original sodas to diet ones is a great starting place if you're trying to cut back on added sugars. Whichever you choose will depend largely on which tastes better to you. Coke Zero has been said to taste more like regular Coke, but some people feel differently and even prefer Diet Coke over regular Coke. Tips for reducing diet soda intake With the conflicting evidence surrounding artificial sweeteners, you may be wondering how you can get your fizzy fix while limiting your artificial sweetener intake. Here are some ideas you can try: Flavored waters: Calorie-free flavored waters can be refreshing and hydrating. Consider them as a healthy addition to your fridge or cooler. Kombucha: Kombucha is a probiotic-filled beverage that promotes healthy gut bacteria and is naturally fizzy due to the fermentation process. Most kombuchas have less sugar than regular sodas, but compare labels to ensure you're not overdoing it on added sugars. Probiotic sodas: Some brands of probiotic 'soda' are similar to kombucha. They're designed to taste similar to soda but have far less sugar. Their benefits are similar to those of kombucha due to the probiotics. Stevia sodas: Several brands of fizzy drinks mimic popular soda flavors and contain no artificial sweeteners. Instead, these sodas use plant-based alternative sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit. They still taste similar to soda but have no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sparkling water: If it's fizz you're after rather than the sweetness, sparkling waters may come to your rescue. While they're not always sweet, they still provide carbonation without any sugar or artificial sweeteners. The bottom line If you want to limit added sugars, sodas made with artificial sweeteners — like Diet Coke and Coke Zero — may seem like a good choice. While some of the artificial sweeteners in these two drinks have faced controversy over their potential negative health effects, consuming either beverage in moderation should not be a concern, especially when compared with the negative effects of their sugar-laden alternative. Coke Zero and Diet Coke are essentially the same nutritionally. They differ mostly in their flavor.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
33 Must-Have Beach Products For Family Trips
A sand removal bag filled with a talc-free, reef-friendly powder to help remove the pesky particles your kiddo will likely have all over them after rolling around in the local playground's A rolling beach cart capable of holding everything a parent may need when heading out for the day with their kiddos in tow (which is A LOT of stuff, TBH). The wheels can handle most terrains, including sand and dirt, and it'll fold up flat to easily fit in the trunk of your car. Crab-shaped mesh bags and sifters tykes can use to gather all the exciting treasures they find while strolling along the beach or, honestly, even in their own backyard! Reusable water balloons made of eco-friendly material — sooooo easy to fill so you'll spend less time prepping and more time indulging in an intense water balloon battle alongside your kiddos. Or a hilarious poop-shaped version your kids won't be able to stop giggling about all summer long. All they'll need to do is fill it with water and let the magnetic seal do the rest. A set of sand castle molds that'll solidify your "cool parent" status when you break 'em out at the beach and help your kiddos craft a structure worthy of a prince or princess. A too-cute set of silicone beach toys in, dare I say, rather aesthetically pleasing colors you'll be proud to hand off to your kids for a day of fun in the sun. And collapsible buckets you'll love because they won't take up precious cargo space in your trunk — which you and I both know is packed to the brim when you bring your kids anywhere, let alone the beach. A watermelon pool ball made of PVC material that'll hold up stronger than your willpower when your kiddo makes their eyes super big and very sweetly asks for an ice cream cone. Be warned: this isn't just any beach ball! It can be dribbled underwater (I KNOOOOW!), can be inflated in seconds with a water hose using an included needle-sized disaster, and weighs over 14 lbs when it's full! Baby Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen, a must-have for parents and their littles — it's unscented, moisturizing, 100% mineral based, vegan, cruelty free, and dye free. It'll certainly get the job done! And a sunscreen applicator that'll make covering your mini-me from head to toe a whole lot easier — especially if they're squirmy! Pour the lotion inside this travel size container, flip it upside down, shake it, and apply. No mess and no stress. Plus Supergoop Glowscreen for *your* exposed skin — it actually protects skin (hellooooo SPF 40👋) while making it shimmer just like Edward freakin' Cullen in the sunlight. Playful clips that are as practical as they are pretty — they'll hold your towel in place on your chair so you won't have to chase it across the pool deck and can focus on more important things like sipping on a Diet Coke and making sure your tyke isn't peeing in the kiddie pool. A pop-up beach tent complete with a splash pool and UV protection that'll keep your baby cool — can't promise they'll be calm and collected, but it's a start. A battery-operated fan with a flexible handle so you can adjust it as needed to keep your little the perfect temperature while kicking back on a towel at the beach. Polarized toddler sunglasses that fold up super small so when your tyke decides they no longer want to wear them, you can stash them in your pocket or diaper bag without accidentally snapping them in half. Plus round sunglasses for the parent who is constantly losing their favorite pair while chasing their kiddo up, down, and around the playground and is sick and tired of spending far too much money on replacements. These are stylish and *so* cost-effective you can stock up for the summer! A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates you can count on to revive your mini-me's precious curls after a day at the pool. Summer tangles are not to be underestimated! Huggies Little Swimmers diapers you'll pat yourself on the back for purchasing when the opportunity to take your baby for their first dip in the pool or ocean arrives. These easily open at the sides, so they're a breeze to take on and off. A JellyCap you can pop onto most regular bottles and will magically transform it into a makeshift sippy cup — ideal for anyone planning to hit the beach with their kiddos this summer and *knows* their mini-me is going to want to drink out of their water bottle. Some reusable pouch tops that'll fit any one you've purchased from the store — yes, even that VERY specific brand that's the only one your kiddo will seemingly CONSIDER eating. It has a no spill control valve you'll thank your lucky heavens for when your little one is eating in the car on the way home from the beach. A Java Sok to keep your drink chilled, perfect for any parent who is tired of drinking watered-down iced coffee because they got caught up in the morning madness with their baby and didn't have a spare moment to sip on it. Plus a Brumate Era 40-ounce water bottle featuring a *genius* design with a metal straw inside but a silicone straw on top for drinking comfort that seamlessly locks in place so you'll never find yourself drenched after tipping it a bit too far. It'll also keep your drinks cold for 24 hours, so even if it takes you ALL day to hit your water quota, it'll still be as refreshing as when you first poured it. Waterproof playing cards so you can get a fierce game of Go Fish going without fear of the moment your kids inevitably spill their drink all over the place. Or a waterproof version of the beloved Taco, Cat, Goat Cheese, Pizza game — it's a card game you can play with your family for guaranteed giggles and a way to catch your breath from traipsing around in the ocean. Spikeball, an easy-to-transport game that is kinda like volleyball and will have your kids asking you to bring it on every beach trip. A sand-free blanket designed so that sand (or dirt) rolls right off it — because is there anything worse than finding debris in every crevice of your car after lounging at the beach all day? It can fit four adults on it and and folds up nice 'n' small, so you can carry it around with ease. A swiveling UPF 50 plus protection umbrella with an adjustable clamp you can attach to a chair (or a stroller, parents!) to create some much-needed shade on hot summer days. A JBL portable speaker that's both waterproof *and* dust-proof (incredible) and will help you *pump up the jams* during your next pool or beach day with your fam — it easily clips onto a chair, so no worries about having to physically carry it around. A cooling towel you soak in cold water and place around your neck to keep you feeling refreshed even if you've been running after your toddler in the hot summer heat for hours. Reviewers also say you can use it to cool down your dog, as well! An insulated picnic basket that'll keep you fresh fruit, well, fresh! It can hold up to 65 pounds (wowwwwza), so fill it to the brim with all kinds of goodies and enjoy snacking the day away. A portable lock box designed to be secured around two beach chairs, so you can stow your wallet/phone/keys away safely and enjoy a long swim without constantly having to poke your head up to check that your items are still there. And Burt's Bees After Sun Soother lotion, because summer is here and so are the sun's harsh rays! This lotion is packed with aloe and coconut oil to help your skin feel cooler after a day of outdoor adventures.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
Go Ahead, Have a ‘Fridge Cigarette'
Two Sundays ago, Rachel Reno relaxed in a park in New York with a sandwich, a bag of chips and a fridge cigarette. While lounging, she posted a video of herself, with the caption: 'overheard someone call Diet Coke a 'fridge cigarette' and nothing's been more true to me since.' She cracked open the can and took a sip. 'I feel like it's one of those things that doesn't need a lot of explanation,' Ms. Reno, a freelance creator in New York, said in an interview. She first heard the alternative name for a can of diet soda from a co-worker at her previous job at an advertising agency. Those who get it know that 'the crack of the can is like the spark of a lighter,' she said. Then comes the sparkly sound of fizzing bubbles and the mouthfeel of that first hit, and suddenly 'all the worries and cares in the world go away.' Crucially, having a soda is the equivalent of stepping outside for a few minutes for a smoke break. It's an excuse to 'take a moment,' Ms. Reno said. Ms. Reno's video in the park has been viewed more than three million times and received almost 300,000 likes, with many people commenting on how accurate that term is. It has inspired others to use the expression, capturing not just a shift in perception of soda and cigarettes but also a collective search for a breather, as Casey Lewis, founder and writer of the internet-culture newsletter After School, described it. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump installs pair of 88-foot-tall new flag poles at the White House
Trump installs pair of 88-foot-tall new flag poles at the White House President Donald Trump said the flags were a gift from him. Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump installs Diet Coke button in Oval Office From Diet Coke buttons to portraits of Andrew Jackson, here's a look inside Donald Trump's Oval Office decor. WASHINGTON ― Massive new flag poles have been installed on the White House grounds after President Donald Trump said they were desperately needed and he would pay for them himself. The placement of the two 88-foot-tall flagpoles — one on the north lawn and one on the south lawn — began early in the morning of June 18. A U.S. flag was later raised on the south lawn around 1 p.m. at a ceremony that included Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The couple was at the White House to watch the swearing in of Charles Kushner, Jared's father, as U.S. ambassador to France. 'How do you like it, everybody?' Trump said to reporters after the flag reached the top of the pole. Soon afterward, the second flag pole of identical height was installed on the North Lawn. The second flag has not been raised, however, after thunderstorms with lightning rolled into Washington D.C. Presidents have long put their own mark on how the White House is decorated, and Trump, who built his personal brand flipping commercial properties, is no exception. "It is a GIFT from me of something which was always missing from this magnificent place," Trump said in a social media post. "Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!" Trump said he paid out of his own pocket to install the poles, which cost about $50,000 each. Trump: 'Now I'm the hunter' This week, the White House traded a bust sitting in the Oval Office of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. for one of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Trump said earlier this year he'd like to see a new ballroom built in the White House. When asked what gave him the idea to install the flag poles, Trump said he first considered the flags during his first term but blamed distractions caused by the media for getting in the way. 'I was the hunted. And now I'm the hunter,' Trump told reporters on June 18. "It's a big difference." Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Block's CFO explains Gen Z's surprising approach to money management
One stock recently impacted by a whirlwind of volatility is Block—the fintech powerhouse behind Square, Cash App, Tidal Music, and more. The company's COO and CFO, Amrita Ahuja, shares how her team is using new AI tools to find opportunity amid disruption and reach customers left behind by traditional financial systems. Ahuja also shares lessons from the video game industry and discusses Gen Z's surprising approach to money management. Pentagon Pizza Index: The theory that surging pizza orders signal global crises What is a fridge cigarette? The viral Diet Coke trend explained 5 signals that make you instantly more trustworthy at work This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by Robert Safian, former editor-in-chief of Fast Company. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today's top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. This embedded content is not available in your region. As a leader, when you're looking at all of this volatility—the tariffs, consumer sentiment's been unclear, the stock market's been all over the place. You guys had a huge one-day drop in early May, and it quickly bounced back. How do you make sense of all these external factors? Yeah, our focus is on what we can control. And ultimately, the thing that we are laser-focused on for our business is product velocity. How quickly can we start small with something, launch something for our customers, and then test and iterate and learn so that ultimately, that something that we've launched scales into an important product? I'll give you an example. Cash App Borrow, which is a product where our customers can get access to a line of credit, often $100, $200, that bridges them from paycheck to paycheck. We know so many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That's a product that we launched about three years ago and have now scaled to serve 9 million actives with $15 billion in credit supply to our customers in a span of a couple short years. The more we can be out testing and launching product at a pace, the more we know we are ultimately delivering value to our customers, and the right things will happen from a stock perspective. Block is a financial services provider. You have Square, the point-of-sale system; the digital wallet Cash App, which you mentioned, which competes with Venmo and Robinhood; and a bunch of others. Then you've got the buy-now, pay-later leader Afterpay. You chair Square Financial Services, which is Block's chartered bank. But you've said that in the fintech world, Block is only a little bit fin—that comparatively, it's more tech. Can you explain what you mean by that? What we think is unique about us is our ability as a technology company to completely change innovation in the space, such that we can help solve systemic issues across credit, payments, commerce, and banking. What that means ultimately is we use technologies like AI and machine learning and data science, and we use these technologies in a unique way, in a way that's different from a traditional bank. We are able to underwrite those who are often frankly forgotten by the traditional financial ecosystems. Our Square Loans product has almost triple the rate of women-owned businesses that we underwrite. Fifty-eight percent of our loans go to women-owned businesses versus 20% for the industry average. For that Cash App Borrow product I was talking about, 70% of those actives, the 9 million actives that we underwrote, fell below 580 as a FICO score. That's considered a poor FICO score, and yet 97% of repayments are made on time. And this is because we have unique access to data and these technology and tools which can help us uniquely underwrite this often forgotten customer base. Yeah. I mean, credit—sometimes it's been blamed for financial excesses. But access to credit is also, as you say, an advantage that's not available to everyone. Do you have a philosophy between those poles—between risk and opportunity? Or is what you're saying is that the tech you have allows you to avoid that risk? That's right. Let's start with how do the current systems work? It works using inferior data, frankly. It's more limited data. It's outdated. Sometimes it's inaccurate. And it ignores things like someone's cash flows, the stability of your income, your savings rate, how money moves through your accounts, or how you use alternative forms of credit—like buy now, pay later, which we have in our ecosystem through Afterpay. We have a lot of these signals for our 57 million monthly actives on the Cash App side and for the 4 million small businesses on the Square side, and those, frankly, billions of transaction data points that we have on any given day paired with new technologies. And we intend to continue to be on the forefront of AI, machine learning, and data science to be able to empower more people into the economy. The combination of the superior data and the technologies is what we believe ultimately helps expand access. You have a financial background, but not in the financial services industry. Before Block, you were a video game developer at Activision. Are financial businesses and video games similar? Are there things that are similar about them? There are. There actually are some things that are similar, I will say. There are many things that are unique to each industry. Each industry is incredibly complex. You find that when big technology companies try to do gaming. They've taken over the world in many different ways, but they can't always crack the nut on putting out a great game. Similarly, some of the largest technology companies have dabbled in fintech but haven't been able to go as deep, so they're both very nuanced and complex industries. I would say another similarity is that design really matters. Industrial design, the design of products, the interface of products, is absolutely mission-critical to a great game, and it's absolutely mission-critical to the simplicity and accessibility of our products, be it on Square or Cash App. And then maybe the third thing that I would say is that when I was in gaming, at least the business models were rapidly changing from an intermediary distribution mechanism, like releasing a game once and then selling it through a retailer, to an always-on, direct-to-consumer connection. And similarly with banking, people don't want to bank from 9 to 5, six days a week. They want 24/7 access to their money and the ability to, again, grow their financial livelihood, move their money around seamlessly. So, some similarities are there in that shift to an intermediary model or a slower model to an always-on, direct-to-consumer connection. Part of your target audience or your target customer base at Block are Gen Z folks. Did you learn things at Activision about Gen Z that has been useful? Are there things that businesses misunderstand about younger generations still? What we've learned is that Gen Z, millennial customers, aren't going to do things the way their parents did. Some of our stats show that 63% of Gen Z customers have moved away from traditional credit cards, and over 80% are skeptical of them. Which means they're not using a credit card to manage expenses; they're using a debit card, but then layering on on a transaction-by-transaction basis. Or again, using tools like buy now, pay later, or Cash App Borrow, the means in which they're managing their consistent cash flows. So that's an example of how things are changing, and you've got to get up to speed with how the next generation of customers expects to manage their money. This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter:
