Is sparkling water with squash better than Coke Zero?

[EnglishRain]

I've gotten into drinking Coke Zero, maybe two cans a day at times

I think it's the 'fizz' that I enjoy, so I'm thinking of swapping to sparkling water and adding a no added sugar squash to start with if the sparkling water on its own is too bland.

I know it won't be good for me, but am I right to think it's got to be better than Coke as there isn't so many random things in it?

What does 'better' mean, OP? We don't actually know what artificial sweeteners do to the body.

If you eat/drink nothing sweet for a week, your tastebuds will change. It's really quick. A week.

And then, if you enjoy fizz, you can just enjoy fizzy water.

What you're asking is 'Which bad drink is baddest?', and we don't know, scientifically. They are probably equally bad.

Fruit juice is artificially sugary. Say there's 6 oranges in a large glass of juice. Could you actually eat 6 oranges in the time it takes you to drink the juice? Juice starts to look as preposterous as it should, viewed in this light.

@Lockandtees

Sparkling water is pretty bad for your teeth *@QuiteGood*

According to what? The article posted above by @SheldontheWonderSchlong says different.

Fridge cold water is approximately 23 times nicer than tap cold water. Keeping a jug of water in the fridge transformed my water drinking. I'd rather have a glass of water now than squash or fruit tea.

Fridge cold water is approximately 23 times nicer than tap cold water

Not for everybody. I like my drinks ambient. Cold water makes me jump, on the insides!

You must never travel to the US Eckhart, you will spend your whole time explaining what "no ice" means.

@EnglishRain

Ah I could do fruit juice, when I googled people seemed to think the constant sugar highs even from a small amount of juice added was exceptionally bad?

I drink fizzy stuff through a straw so my teeth aren't exposed to much of it.

These are the sweeteners in what I've been looking at.

Sucralose, Acesulfame K

Isn't drinking through a straw even worse for your teeth?

I have the same issue as you, would love to find something i enjoy that gives me the satisfaction that fizzy drinks do. I dont like the taste of plain sparking water.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, interesting points coming up.

My DM is a dentist and has always told me to drink fizzy through a straw so that it goes straight down my throat and doesn't make contact with my teeth. Still get the fizzy 'hit' that feels thirst quenching though.

Definitely agree re refrigerated water, I have cold water in a chilly next to me pretty much 24/7. If I've been on a walk and gotten hot it just doesn't hit the spot though. Since having DD who is 7mo I get so hot all the time and a can of fizzy drink revitalises me far more than water/squash/tea.

I think the body has to counteract the phosphoric acid in coke etc with calcium from the body and you really need calcium.

I drink Dash/ugli which are sparkling water in cans so I can have a can where I’d normally have Pepsi.

No sweeteners either.

God yes. I love cordial with fizzy water as I hate chemicals in my drink. They just taste awful to me.

I need to drink at least 2l water per day on top of anything else.

For me it has to be cold too.
I have one these. Brilliant - slimline and easy to fill etc

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Slim-Fridge-Water-Dispenser-Tap/dp/B08DRLTXHY/ref=ascdff_B08DRLTXHY/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=451906556296&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15946896652131691818&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006466&hvtargid=pla-931510050187&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=103301798057&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=451906556296&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15946896652131691818&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006466&hvtargid=pla-931510050187

Sorry about the link

@QuiteGood

Could you get used to drinking sparkling water as it is? It’s pretty much my main drink. Maybe add fresh mint to it or lemon slices?

Yeah, I was going to suggest this. I like sparkling water with a good squeeze of lemon and lime.

@nordica

Have you tried those cold brew fruit teas if you want to flavour your water without the sugar or sweeteners?

I love the Twinings purple jar.

I bought a soda stream last week to try and reduce the plastic I was using for sparkling water.