Pop Vs. Diet Pop

If you enjoy the taste of pop, but are seeking to restrict the amount of calories you consume each day, diet pop can help you achieve this goal. Diet pop also contains fewer amounts of many other ingredients that can hinder your attempt to maintain a healthy weight and general cardiovascular health. Both beverages contain preservatives and other chemicals, which can lead to health concerns, so you should enjoy all forms of pop in moderation.

Ingredients

Pop and diet pop are made with a blend of carbonated water, artificial flavorings and preservatives. The key difference between these two beverages is the type of sweetener they use. A can of Coca-Cola, for example, uses high fructose corn syrup as its primary flavoring ingredient, while Diet Coke uses aspartame, a non-sugar based sweetener. Both of these substances are considered safe for human consumption by the FDA, but have been associated with adverse health effects when consumed in excess.

Calories

A 12-oz. can of regular Coca-Cola contains 140 calories, while a similar-sized can of Diet Coke contains none. Coca-Cola gets its calories from its sugar content. Sugar is a carbohydrate and contains four calories per gram. Because Diet Coke has no sugar, it has no caloric value. A can of regular Coca-Cola represents about 7 percent of the calories in a 2,000-calorie diet.

Sugar

A can of regular Coca-Cola contains 39 g of sugar, while a can of Diet Coke contains none. Excessive sugar intake is related to weight gain, diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk, and the American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 150 calories of sugar each day for men, and just 100 for women. The aspartame found in Diet Coke is believed to be up to 200 times sweeter than sugar, but this chemical has been linked to headaches, gastrointestinal problems, seizures and possibly cancer.

Sodium

A can of regular Coca-Cola contains slightly more sodium than Diet Coke. A can of regular Coca-Cola contains about 45 mg of this mineral, while Diet Coke contains 40 mg. Excessive amounts of sodium are related to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, and you should try to eat less than 1,500 mg of this mineral a day.

Caffeine

A can of regular Coca-Cola contains about 34 mg of caffeine per 12-oz. can, while a can of Diet Coke contains about 31 mg. Caffeine is a mild stimulant, in the same chemical class as amphetamines. While caffeine can help provide a feeling of energy, excess caffeine may be harmful. There is no nutritional requirement for this drug, but MedlinePlus considers excessive caffeine intake to be about 2,500 mg a day.