To have Coke Zero at every meal (dinner) time

Yep, I've been trialling a CGM for the last 2 weeks, and I'm not getting any spike at all with Pepsi Max or Coke Zero. Bloody skyrocketed the one time I grabbed the wrong can out of the fridge and had a full fat coke though!

That’s a myth. It doesn’t cause glucose spikes. It’s actually biologically impossible for it to do so.

Mumsnet is obsessed with these drinks being bad for you.

In reality, it’s pretty much just flavoured water with a bit of caffeine and sweetener. There is no evidence at all that sweeteners are bad for you - the studies people always cite were a) done on mice, who do not have the same biology as humans and b) involved consuming amounts of sweetener equivalent to hundreds of cans of Diet Coke in one sitting.

The amount of caffeine in Coke Zero is equivalent to about one-quarter of a cup of coffee, or about the same as a cup of tea. You’d have to be unusually sensitive to caffeine for consuming that amount at dinner time to disrupt your sleep.

I have three glasses a day of pepsi max, spaced out, and I don't drink any in the evenings after 7pm. Teeth are fine, and I don't think I crave sugar that much.

I have one can of it per day, usually in the morning..on a bad day I have one in the evening too. I don't think it's the worst thing in the world, cigarettes would be worse!! (Imo) I'm sometimes partial to the normal coca cola, it has a bit more taste.

I used to drink a can of Coke Zero every day. I think it’s a bit addictive. But I decided to stop buying it and drink water instead. I now always have a jug of tap water in the fridge.
I used to look forward to my Coke Zero but now have no desire to drink any

I drink a can of diet coke most days at lunchtime. But if it helps, I do feel slightly embarrassed about it.

Yes it is. Pepsi Max is far superior.

Full "fat"?

solid research is emerging that one can a day of soft drink, and particularly with artificial sweeteners, is terrible for the micro biome, bad for the kidneys and bad for cardiovascular system. But you crack on and you can be your own experiment.

@ShinySquirrel @worrisomeasset @ThinkingIsAllowed

Thanks. That’s interesting to know. I watched a documentary where they said the fat effects on the body from sweeteners were the same due to the insulin spike - the only ones that didn’t were the plant based ‘natural’ ones. If you’ve had real time readings to counter that, that’s heartening.

Like op, I love my Coca Cola!

The science is conflicting... but since sweetners became the default over sugar in the vast majority of soft drinks, public heath at a population level has not improved.

The affects of the body's response to sweetness without sugar to metabolise seems to vary from individual to individual. Some people find that it stimulates further cravings for sweetness.

The acid content is not good for teeth or bone density anyway so it's not a neutral act in terms of health when it's consumed regularly.

I do not get on with sweetners at all. Their initial taste is unpleasant, often tasting like someone left soapy water in the drink. Some are bitter. The hours of persistant cloying aftertaste is also unpleasant. They also give me a stonking headache. I'm not a fan!

Sometimes it's nice to have something other than water with a meal, but I wouldn't want the sweetness of full-sugar Coca Cola at every meal anyway, and it can override the flavour of some foods.

Sweetener is worse for you than sugar - look it up!

I prefer the Diet Coke to the other types they do, we have lidls own, for months now they’ve not stocked the one I like so I’ve not been drinking it. When we both did drink the diet one we were having 2/3 litres a day between us, now I buy myself either diet coke or Diet Pepsi in cans and have 1 with lunch at work and I only work 4 days a week and I very rarely have a can at home

Up to you but there is good evidence now that sweeteners massively increase the risk of diabetes. Better off with actual sugar.

I don't think one can a day is excessive. If you're worried, you could try alternating it with something less processed, e.g. fresh fruit juice mixed with sparkling water.

It's believed that the phosphoric acid in fizzy drinks, including Coke Zero, is the cause of lower bone density in it's drinkers. For that reason alone I would try cutting back.

@CatherineWheel2 My DH drank a can of Coke Zero each day for about a year, but stopped when our dentist told him the acidity was visibly damaging his teeth.

Yes.

I love coke zero too, and yes have it with every meal. I’ve purchased some caffeine free cans to try, they are ok, but missing the oomph! I do need to reduce my intake though

You mean apart from the carbonic acid damaging your teeth, the caffeine stressing your system and the chemical sweetener which has unknown effects......!

Why not drink water instead. You will feel much better, save money, have healthier teeth, and throw fewer cans in the recycling.

Doesn’t bother some people. I can drink tea then go to bed, my dad often has a coffee

Yes very bad for you.. drink water instead

I've read somewhere that, although coke zero doesn't spike blood sugar (because no sugar) it does cause a release of insulin, which can have am effect on metabolism over time, by increasing the likelihood of the body becoming insulin resistant

I have one with evening meal usually and I like it so not going to stop. I drink water during the day. It’s all about balance for me