Pepsi: Risk and Nutrition
In the early days of Pepsi “Delicious and Healthful” advertising theme was used over two decades from 1909 to 1931. However after HFCS was introduced in so many processed foods and soft drinks in the USA since the early 1980s health concerns in regard to its risks in causing obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have been raised. (See an article: HFCS and Weight Gain; watch video about HFCS) Let’s take a look at the risk diagram to see what you get.
Pepsi: Risk and Nutrition
While you get low risk of DDFI = 4/12 = 0.3 coming with the mineral acid and caramel coloring the nutritional value of the beverage is still poor, DDNF = 12/18 ~ 0.7. The CSPI has recently filed a petition to ban caramel coloring in the USA (see also Experts Letter on Caramel Coloring) because it contains carcinogenic 2- and 4-methylimidazoles. With every bottle of Pepsi you also will “enjoy” 500 calories from 70 g (!) of HFCS.
Now let’s take a look into the diet version of Pepsi. Typically “diet” simply means that artificial sweetener is used instead of HFCS and sugar. Because most of sugar substitutes has no or little nutritional value the “diet” soft drinks are in general non-nutritional and of high risk. Therefore it is not surprising that Diet Pepsi has unacceptably high foreign additive risk DDFI = 20/1 = 10 and its nutritional value is ridiculously low; DDNF = 2/42 ~ 0.05.
Diet Pepsi: Risk and Nutrition
Water is the only nutrient (lone green segment) in the Diet Pepsi and all the rest are non-nutrients including potassium benzoate linked to ADHD (see Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2007) on the effect of some colours and sodium benzoate on children’s behaviour) and a controversial sweetener aspartame linked to multiply cancers in laboratory rats (ASPARTAME Carcinigenic Effects). But what is even more disturbing is that long-term exposure to low doses of aspartame increased cancer effects in rats (Life Span Exposure to Low Doses of Aspartame). Therefore those who regularly drink “diet” soft drinks with aspartame may well be at greater risk of cancer. (Read an article on aspartame health risks and watch a video on aspartame side effects). This is the price you pay for zero calorie and zero HFCS content.
Obviously Perrier and S. PELLEGRINO Sparkling Natural Mineral Water are much better choices!
S. PELLEGRINO Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 23.5 FL OZ (750 ml), $1.50
This mineral water you can find at Wal-Mart stores. Without issues associated with HFCS, caramel color or aspartame it is superior thirst quencher. Hydrate yourself right!
Category: American diet, Soft drinks
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