Coke-related stories
Coke Introduces 90-Calorie Mini-Cans
Photo: Coca-Cola
When it comes to staggering obesity figures, the fat finger of blame is often pointed in the direction of soda giants like Coca-Cola. And they feel bad about it -- so bad, in fact, that they're not only contributing to obesity-fighting causes, they're also rolling out a product designed for soda lovers on a diet (and no, we're not talking about Diet Coke here).
Introducing Coke's all-new (but not particularly innovative) 90-calorie mini-cans. At first glance, this is a pretty feeble attempt at appearing like they care about the size of America's waistline -- one which they stand to make a huge profit from.
The 7.5-ounce cans will first be rolled out in New York and Washington D.C. in December. The rest of the nation should see the petite servings by March. The soda maker will also offer the smaller containers for Sprite, Fanta Orange, Cherry Coca-Cola and Barq's Root Beer. The cans, however, will not replace the 20-ounce sodas found in nearly ever deli, corner store and gas station. Instead, they will come in 8-packs.
Here's the thing: Just because it comes in a smaller package, doesn't mean it's good for you. Buying smaller containers in bulk also may not translate into less consumption for soda addicts. Sugary junk -- mini-can or not -- is still just sugary junk. Heck, even diet soda may make you fat. Granted, the introduction of the mini-can may inspire once-in-a-while soda drinkers to reach for the smaller can over the large one, but will this move actually make a difference in the obesity war?
This move also comes as Coke shifts the nutritional information onto the front of their soda labels. Even so, California is still investigating a soda tax.
Soda isn't the only beverage that can pack on the pounds. Click on the gallery below to see other drinks that may be bad for your health.
Your favorite beverage may be just as diet-wrecking as fatty fast food, adding calories, sugar and fat and offering little or no nutritional value. Watch out for these drink shockers that will tip you closer to the F.D.A. and U.S.D.A. recommended daily limits for calories (2,000), fat (65 grams) and added sugar (40 grams) a day. Added sugars means any sugar not found naturally within the food, so look out for ingredients like sugar, maple syrup, honey, corn syrup and molasses, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Drink Shockers
By Mary Kearl
Your favorite beverage may be just as diet-wrecking as fatty fast food, adding calories, sugar and fat and offering little or no nutritional value. Watch out for these drink shockers that will tip you closer to the F.D.A. and U.S.D.A. recommended daily limits for calories (2,000), fat (65 grams) and added sugar (40 grams) a day. Added sugars means any sugar not found naturally within the food, so look out for ingredients like sugar, maple syrup, honey, corn syrup and molasses, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Red Bull
Size: 8.3 oz can
Calories: 110
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: 27 g
This drink contains more than half the sugar you should have in one day. Plus, do you really want to use 110 of your 2,000 calories on something you can drink in about 10 seconds?
*Calories per Ounce: About 13
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Sunsweet Prune Juice
Size: 8 fl oz
Calories: 180
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: 18 g
While Sunsweet's juice is 100 percent juice and does not contain any added sugars, it still is a high concentration of natural sucrose, which means the calories can add up. In comparison, one serving of Sunsweet's regular prunes contains 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar. Plus, it contains 11 percent fiber which you miss out on when you drink the juice.
*Calories per Ounce: 22.5
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Hawaiian Punch Juicy Red
Size: 8 fl oz
Calories: 120
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: 29 g
Hawaiian Punch Juicy Red contains five percent juice, which means 95 percent of it comes from water, plus dubious ingredients like High Fructose Corn Syrup, artificial flavoring, juice concentrates and sugar. Since many "juice" drinks like Hawaiian punch do not contain 100 percent juice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting juice intake to 4-6 ounces for kids under 7 years, and no more than 8-12 ounces for older children and teens.
*Calories per Ounce: 15
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Hershey's Chocolate Milk
Size: 1 cup, or 8 fl oz
Calories: 200
Fat: 5 g
Sugars: 29 g
Just one serving of this milk contains 17 more grams of sugar than regular low-fat milk, or nearly half the added sugar you should have in one day. Make this an occasional treat, not a once or twice-a-day habit.
*Calories per Ounce: 25
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
McDonald's McFlurry with M&M's candies
Size: 12 oz
Calories: 620
Fat: 20 g
Sugars: 85 g
When it comes to calories, this drink is about the equivalent of one meal. Plus, you better watch your sugar intake for the rest of the day.
*Calories per Ounce: About 52
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Wendy's Chocolate Twisted Frosty with M&M's
Size: 16 oz
Calories: 560
Fat: 19 g
Sugars: 72 g
Yes, this drink is a little lighter on all counts than a McFlurry, but you'd still be better off ordering a chocolate or vanilla Frosty in the junior or small sizes. You'd save 250 to 410 calories and 11 to 15 grams of fat.
*Calories per Ounce: 35
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Glaceau Vitamin Water
Size: 20 oz
Calories: 125
Fat: 0 g
Sugars: about 33 g
There is one easy way to avoid this diet trap. If you're feeling dehydrated or low on energy, drink a glass of calorie-free, sugar-free, fat-free water and eat one of your five to nine servings of fruits or veggies recommended by the U.S.D.A.
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Crème, Double Chocolate Chip Crème (without whipped cream)
Size: Venti, 24 fl oz
Calories: 550
Fat: 11 g
Sugars: 79 g
By adding whipped cream this drink becomes even more shocking with an extra 120 calories and 11 fat grams.
*Calories per Ounce: About 23
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Baskin Robbins Cappuccino Blast Caramel
Size: 24 fl oz
Calories: 720
Fat: 24 g
Sugars: 102 g
Steer clear of this cappuccino the next time you're at Baskin Robbins -- it contains about a third of your daily fat allowance -- and head for the low fat variety of the Cappuccino Blast. At 220 calories and 2 grams of fat it's a much lighter option. But watch your sugar content for the rest of the day because even this option contains 44 grams.
*Calories per Ounce: 30
Rebecca McAlpin for AOL
Coke Comes Clean on Calories
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| Photo: DeusXFlorida, Flickr |
Coca-Cola Co. recently announced that it will begin including calorie information on the front of almost all of its product packages, including soft drinks, flavored waters, energy drinks, fruit drinks and juices. The new product labels are expected to hit U.S. store shelves later this year; the new labels are already being used in Europe and Australia.
Coke says they're the first beverage company to provide this front-of-the-container information to consumers. "Now more than ever, people expect facts about the product they consume to be both readily available and visible," said Muhtar Kent, Coke's chairman and CEO, in a press release.
Diet Coke Plus is More of a Minus
Diet Coke Plus is supposed to include quite a few vitamins and minerals right in with your favorite soda. But the FDA and the Coca Cola company are in the middle of a he-said/she-said type of battle. Coca Cola stands by its product, but the FDA says it doesn't meet their standards.In my opinion, the whole concept of getting vitamins and minerals from soda is ridiculous. If you want a diet soda, then go ahead and treat yourself. But know that it's a treat. Soda just shouldn't be considered part of your daily nutrition no matter how many vitamins and minerals are added into the mix. It's the liquid equivalent of those glorified candy bars that are considered health food because they have a little extra protein thrown in.
You're much better of getting your vitamins and minerals from natural sources, such as fruits and vegetables.
Cooking with Coke
The Thai prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was recently forced to resign for having a TV cooking show (considered moonlighting). But he could have been canned for cooking his signature dish -- pork leg stewed in Coca-Cola. It turns out the Thai prime minister's Coke cooking method isn't all that unusual. Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has also tried using the soda in unusual ways, and the Coca-Cola website has lots of recipes available including French Onion Soup (with Coke... eew) and Diet Cherry Coke Lentils (double eew).
I can think of plenty of other ingredients that would add better flavor without all the unwanted and artificial ingredients. I think cooking with Coke is clearly a case of just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Fried craziness
Fitz just told us about chocolate-covered bacon. That's pretty outlandish (not to mention it sounds utterly disgusting). But the deep fryer holds it's fair share of nastiness, too. Maybe you've spotted some different concoctions -- like deep-fried Twinkies -- at your local greasy spoon. Or maybe you've visited your state fair and sampled some of the newest trends in fried foods.
If you must indulge, just remember to keep high-calorie, high-fat foods like these to extremely rare treats -- your arteries will thank you.
Workplace Fitness: Got a soda habit? Break it with these healthy alternatives
Do you have a soda habit? I went through a period when I used to work in an office and I would drink cup after cup of loaded coffee all morning and bottle after bottle of Diet Coke all afternoon -- talk about sugar and caffeine overload! I have since pretty much cut out soda (and am still working on cutting down on so much coffee) but it wasn't an easy transition. For me the habit-breaking point came when I moved into a home office that (thankfully!) didn't come stocked with a Diet Coke vending machine calling my name from across the room. 
A user's guide for caffeine efficiency
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss
Caffeine's reputation among people goes up and down like a yo-yo practically on a monthly basis. One day it can increase the risk for a miscarriage, the next it can help treat baldness. What's a coffee fan to do? Well, if you're a huge caffeine nut like I am, try reading these tips to start using the ever-popular stimulant a little more efficiently.For starters, try consuming less of it more often. The amount can be as minuscule as 20mg to a more normal 200mg -- depending on body weight and other factors (like tolerance). Hourly doses have been shown to wake up the prefrontal cortex at times of the day when it would normally start slowing down. This could positively affect cognitive functions if used efficiently.
Caffeine's effectiveness on the body can also be maximized using certain complements. Sugar, for example, has been shown to boost cognition when coupled with the stimulant. This was in comparison to either one being used alone, by the way. Perhaps a little bit of honey could add some pep to your morning java! More tips can be found here for additional information.
Will taxing soda help us slim down?
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Soda has gotten a bad reputation over the years. As our national waistline grows, many people blame these sugary drinks (and lack of exercise too). In San Francisco, the mayor is proposing a "soda tax" in order to raise funds to combat chronic obesity. Gavin Newsom thinks that when grocery stores sell drinks with high fructose corn syrup, they should be taxed for it.The cause and effect nature of excessive soda consumption is evident. As this old post states, if you're trying to shed pounds then stop drinking cokes. And here's one referring to the report claiming that dark-colored cola could increase your risk for kidney disease!
But is this the right move to encourage healthy living? Taxing soda by itself seems a bit unfair. Why not just tax Twinkies while they're at it? From a purely dietary standpoint, any number of junk food culprits could be singled out here. A tax on soda, or better yet any unhealthy food, could be a very effective way to raise funds for anti-obesity initiatives. However, it's an obvious move by the government to tinker with the free market that could end up killing this proposal in its tracks. It will definitely be interesting to see how this pans out.
Dark-colored cola may cause kidney disease
Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
It appears as though there may be a risk to drinking diet soda after all, although it has nothing to do with the alleged risk of obesity. Rather, there is evidence to suggest that drinking dark-colored diet cola (and dark-colored regular cola) can increase your risk of kidney disease.
Based on a report published in the journal Epidemiology, drinking two or more dark-colored sodas -- such as Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and similar generic brands -- per day doubles your chances of kidney disease.
The phosphoric acid found in dark colas, but not in clear sodas such as Sprite and 7-Up, is what gives it its unique taste, but also what may lead to the development of kidney stones. This, in turn, can potentially lead to complications and disease.
I suppose this is yet another reason to just stick to plain ol' water.
Less high-calorie sodas being found in schools these days
In what I consider to be a winning situation in American schools these days, an industry report (just a disclaimer) states that there are fewer amounts of high-calorie soft drinks in schools.This is due partly to the banning of these beverages from schools due to newer state laws, and as a result, drinkmakers are introducing healthier drinks to replace them. I'm not sure that replacing high-calorie sugar water being replaced with 'healthier' versions is enough. Well, unless we see what versions are popping up in school vending machines.
Have you seen healthier soft drinks appearing in school machines recently? If so, I'd love to see what newer selections have started appearing. With 22 states having passed various pieces of legislation governing the types of drinks sold in school vending machines, there are apt to have been numerous changes with the new school year that has just started.
Lumae: Coca-cola's new skincare line
This is just the newest in a bunch of 'healthy' drinks that coke has, including a new Diet Coke infused with vitamins, and another one that aids in weight loss called Enviga. I'm quite skeptical about any of these having the desired effect they were intended too, and the Beauty Brains are equally as put off -- check out what they have to say about the notion of 'drinking your way to better skin'.
I think coke is coke and no matter what they put in it, it will be bad for you. What do you think about all this?
Another reason to can the soda completely
Soft drinks are very tasty on a hot summer's day -- that is, unless you prefer mounds of sugar filled with empty calories. Advice: drink ice-cold water instead.But besides being nutritionally deficient in many ways, how about sodas being bad for heart health? According to WebMD, a recent study concluded that the folks out there with a "soda habit" (an addiction, in other words), have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Google that term and read about it -- it will make your head turn.
What to do, you might ask? Slowly wean yourself off of sugary soft drinks week by week, even turning to diet versions to help the transition. Slowly get to the all-natural fruit drink or water route, even though boring corporate afternoons may not have the "jump" you may be used to with a super-sugary soft drink. It's hard, but can be done.
How acidic are your favourite drinks?
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
- Coke, with a pH of 2.63
- Pepsi at 2.49
- Gatorade at 2.95
- Doctor Pepper at 2.95
- Minute Maid at 2.8
Soda and your teeth: A bad combination
I consider myself lucky because growing up, I wasn't allowed soda, and these days I still don't have a taste for it. My parents weren't health nuts either -- they were just old fashioned and believed that homemade was better than mass-produced. So to me it really is baffling that people can't give up soda. What is it? The taste? The caffeine? The carbonation? Are we slaves to the advertising? I'll take healthy teeth, bones and body over a coke any days.
Cucumber-flavored Pepsi?
I am usually of the philosophy that the grosser two flavors sound together (like banana and peanut butter sandwiches) the better they usually taste once you actually try them. But I'm not so sure about this one, called Pepsi Ice Cucumber. Yeah, that's right! Cucumber-flavored Pepsi! Eeeeew. I'm half curious, but I have to get past the idea that just thinking about anything both sweet and cucumber-flavored turns my stomach a little. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we in the U.S. won't get to try it since it's being released for a limited time in Japan only. I suppose if it's a raging success over there we might get lucky, but I'm not holding my breath.
And no, I'm pretty sure drinking one of these would not count as a serving of vegetables!
