Soft drinks are very popular beverages, and Coca-Cola is definitely royalty among the beverages, having recently celebrated its 124th year in business. Sold in various forms like sugar free, calorie free, vanilla, and cherry, 9.8 billion cases were sold in 2009. Nutrition experts discourage regular consumption of cola due to sugar content and its connection to bone density loss.
Ingredients
According to the Coca-Cola Co., original-flavor cola contains carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors and caffeine. Both vanilla- and cherry-flavored colas list the same ingredients, but the flavorings are different. Coke Zero ingredients substitute the high-fructose corn syrup for aspartame, potassium benzoate, potassium citrate and acesulfame potassium. Diet Coke includes citric acid instead of potassium citrate and acesulfame potassium. Phenylketonurics cannot consume Coke Zero or Diet Coke due to the presence of aspartame, but Diet Coke with Splenda is permissible because sucralose is used instead of aspartame. Caffeine-free cola is the same as the original flavor, but no caffeine is added.
Calories
The Coca-Cola Co. reports that one 12-oz. can of cola provides 140 calories. Twelve-ounce cans of vanilla and cherry colas provide 150 calories each. Diet Coke and Coke zero each provide zero calories. Caffeine-free Coke provides 140 calories. According to Nutrition Data, the 12-oz. size of cola is the child's size at McDonald's, and the adult small is 16 oz. The medium-sized, 21-oz. cola provides 210 calories. The super-sized, 42-oz. cola provides 410 calories.
Sugar and Nutrients
Sugar content in soft drinks is often quite high and the primary source of the calories in the beverage. A 12-oz. original flavor cola provides 39g of sugar, as does the caffeine-free cola. Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Diet Coke with Splenda do not provide a nutritive amount of sugar, and the sweetness provided in those drinks is not absorbed by the body. Cola does not provide vitamins or appreciable amounts of minerals, according to Nutrition Data, but the Coca-Cola Co. reports that it provides up to 6 percent of daily phosphorus intake.
Carbonic and Phosphoric Acids and Bone Density
The Coca-Cola Co. reports that carbonic acid is a weak acid that forms when carbon dioxide and water interact, and carbon dioxide is incorporated into soft drinks to give it the bubbly carbonation sought by consumers. Phosphoric acid is used to give it the "pleasant tartness" that is the signature of cola drinks. ABC News reported that regular consumption of cola drinks, including Coca-Cola, has been linked with lower bone density in women, but not men. It also noted that consumption of other carbonated beverages does not appear to correlate with lower bone density. While some believe bone density is decreased because consumers would drink cola over milk, thereby reducing calcium intake, the study's participants appeared to have comparable calcium intake regardless of beverage choice. There seemed to be a different reason, but the study did not research it.
Coca-Cola and Tooth Health
The U.S. Department of Energy described the pH of Coca-Cola as a 3.0, which is quite acidic. In comparison, it states that the Mammoth Cave water has a pH of 3.5, and the acidic water carved the cave walls. Your teeth could be damaged by the acidic soda, but your body has effective buffers to counter the acidic content and reduce the damage. In addition, you probably do not expose your teeth to long-term soaking in cola, which would damage the enamel. Soft drinks usually have sugar that bacteria in your mouth will eat, and they can cause tooth damage as well. After drinking soda, rinse your mouth of the acidic beverage, and drink other non-cola drinks more often than soft drinks.
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