In this day and age, we are all aware of the global health issues around us: from a nationwide weight gain, to supposed scandals with « health checked food items ».  Although some of the products we consume are surely safe and healthy, like most fruits and vegetables (yes there can be debate over pesticides being used during growth), we shall look at one case worth discussing.

With the ever growing popularity of energy drinks and caffeine enriched drinks on the market, and our yearning for more general knowledge of what is truly healthy and what is not, why not take a look at one of those products, that has made an effort to help us make that healthy choice.  Coke Zero has made a stand for good health on the soft drink market, claiming that their drink is good for you, in that there are no carbohydrates (meaning no sugar), no traces of fat and no calories.

* (as a side note, we are aware of other similar products and are not necessarily blaming Coke in particular but everyone in the same basic group, Coke is only our exemple)

We are being sold a product that sells the idea that we can ingest something that will keep us awake or make us more alert, and yet not be harmful.  This is the perfect solution, isn’t it?  We are such a busy people, what with work, exercise and hobbies, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day or energy in our bodies to get us to accomplish everything we want too.  We look to coffee to get us up in the morning but it isn’t anything more than a wake-up drink… enter sodas and energy drinks offering a boost of energy and a thirst quenching taste.

Of course if they are taking that much of the original recipe out, they have to put something back in.  What they came up with (among other ingredients) was a little thing called aspartame.  Now I’m not the most knowledgeable person on any health issue, but I was surprised to learn what effects aspartame can have on the body if over used or even after regular consumption.  Here’s what they had to say at www.foodanddiet.com

Aspartame contains these following things:

-40% aspartic acid

-50% phenylalanine

-10% methanol

These things separate or together have very harmful effects such as

- cancer

- tumors

- diabetes

- emotional disorders

- insomnia

- joint pain

- memory loss

- migraines

- weight gain (strangely the opposite of what they say their product does)

- etc.

Now of course these effects might be a little extreme, and it is mentioned that for even the slightest side effect you must ingest at least 4 sodas a day. Looking at that list though, you have to wonder, why we let these products even get to the market?  We have come to expect side effects for pills, but are we really going to let it happen for foods and drinks as well?  We can also argue the validity of the effects, and the authenticity of the research behind it, but will we really keep drinking it?  And at the same rate some of us do, if we know it’s bad for us?  Well I know that right now, at 11:35 p.m. I’m going to need to stay awake to keep writing this… I think I’ll grab myself a Coke Zero…