The main Coke product that used stevia was Coca-Cola Life, a reduced-calorie version sweetened with a blend of stevia and sugar, identifiable by its green label, though it's largely discontinued but may still be found in some markets or reformulated as Coca-Cola with Stevia (like in Australia) or Coca-Cola No Sugar. Some newer, no-sugar variations might also incorporate stevia alongside other sweeteners like monk fruit, depending on the region.
Coca-Cola Life is a reduced-calorie cola sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia leaf extract. It contains 35% fewer calories per fl oz compared to other leading colas.
Yes. We sweeten Coke Zero Sugar in our bottles and cans with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (or Ace-K). Together, they create a great taste with zero sugar and zero calories. Yes.
TIL Stevia, a sugar replacement, has been banned in the US and Europe as unsafe, supposedly causing cancer. Japan has been using it since the 70s with no known problems.
Some fans hate stevia
But healthy eating advocates say Coca-Cola Life cannot be considered healthy. A 330ml can will still contain 22.1 grams of sugar – 25 per cent of an adult's guideline daily amount. That's down from 35 grams in regular Coke.
Stevia's cons include potential digestive issues (bloating, gas), an unpleasant bitter aftertaste for some, and that many products mix it with other sweeteners like erythritol (linked to heart risks) or fillers (maltodextrin) that can disrupt gut bacteria; it can also be expensive and difficult to bake with, and raw forms lack FDA approval, raising concerns about kidney/reproductive health.
There's no single "number one" unhealthiest soda, as different ones rank poorly for different reasons (sugar, acidity, dyes), but Mountain Dew, Fanta Grape, and orange sodas often top lists due to high sugar, potent citric acid for enamel erosion, and potentially carcinogenic artificial dyes (like Red 40), making them particularly damaging for teeth and overall health, notes this article from Eat This, Not That! and this article from Fowler Orthodontics. Dark sodas (like Coke/Pepsi) are also very unhealthy due to sugar, caffeine, and caramel coloring, while clear sodas (Sprite/7Up) are generally less harmful but still packed with sugar, says this article from MEL Magazine.
Using stevia instead of sugar may help in a few ways: No calories: Stevia has no calories or carbohydrates. Doesn't raise blood sugar: Stevia doesn't raise blood sugar. One study showed that tea with stevia did not change blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
The formulation varied by market location, and in some areas the original formulation had been phased out in favor of a zero-calorie version sweetened with stevia only. The drink was discontinued in 2020 as part of the Coca-Cola Company discontinuing underperforming brands.
Zero-sugar soda and diet soda both contain artificial sweeteners and additives to mimic the taste of the real thing. While diet soda is designed to have a lighter flavor, the health impacts of both are relatively similar. Research suggests that these zero-sugar sodas may actually negatively affect your health.
“Stevia is my favorite calorie-free sweetener,” says registered dietitian Natalie Crtalic, RD, LD. “It's a good alternative for people who don't want to use sugars or other chemical sweeteners. In my opinion, using stevia is more natural than using other low-calorie, chemically processed sweeteners, like aspartame.”
Saccharin
Outdated animal studies have linked saccharin to bladder cancer. Saccharin is approximately 300-400 times sweeter than table sugar, meaning you only need a small amount. You can find it under the brand names Sweet 'N Low, Sweet Twin, and Necta Sweet. The sweetener contains no calories.
Yes, you can use most artificial sweeteners if you have diabetes. Artificial sweeteners replace sugar in food and drinks. They offer the sweetness of sugar without the calories. Artificial sweeteners also are called sugar substitutes, low-calorie sweeteners or nonnutritive sweeteners.
Last October, the company introduced Pepsi True, which offers reduced calories while using stevia, a natural sweetener, instead of controversial artificial sweeteners, and sold it on Amazon.
In the early 1900s cocaine in its crude form was removed. Today the extract of the coca leaves, a de-cocainized version, is manufactured in the United States and used in the flavoring for Coca-Cola.
People dislike stevia primarily due to its distinct bitter, metallic, or licorice-like aftertaste, caused by steviol glycosides activating both sweet and bitter taste receptors, with individual genetics influencing sensitivity, while some blended stevia products also contain sugar alcohols that can cause digestive upset, making it an acquired taste compared to sugar.
The healthiest sugar alternatives are whole foods like fresh/frozen fruit (bananas, berries) and fruit purees (unsweetened applesauce) for natural sweetness with nutrients, while Stevia and Monk Fruit extract are excellent zero-calorie choices for blood sugar control. Other options include honey/maple syrup (use sparingly due to calories) or sugar alcohols like xylitol/erythritol, but always check labels and prioritize reducing overall sweetness, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine and Calo Blog.
Stevia's cons include potential digestive issues (bloating, gas), an unpleasant bitter aftertaste for some, and that many products mix it with other sweeteners like erythritol (linked to heart risks) or fillers (maltodextrin) that can disrupt gut bacteria; it can also be expensive and difficult to bake with, and raw forms lack FDA approval, raising concerns about kidney/reproductive health.
Stevia and monk fruit are both naturally derived from plants and some people feel they have a flavor very similar to regular sugar. The FDA says these sweeteners are “generally regarded as safe,” which means they are safe to use for their intended purpose.
We assessed preclinical studies (in vivo, ex vivo) examining the use of stevia during the last decade. Randomized clinical trials have not been performed yet in humans, and to date, there is no evidence about stevia's meaningful impact on the composition or function of the gut microbiota [27,28,29,30].
It's made by replacing three hydrogen-oxygen groups on a sugar molecule with chlorine atoms. This process gives sucralose an incredibly sweet taste while allowing it to resist being broken down in the body. On the other hand, stevia is a plant-based sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.
7 Worst Drinks for Gut Health
Sprite is caffeine-free, unlike Coke, it still contains a substantial amount of sugar and can lead to dental issues due to its acidity. If choosing between the two, Sprite might be considered slightly less harmful due to the absence of caffeine, but neither is a healthy choice.
1. Soda. It should come as no surprise that soda is one of the worst beverages you can choose for your body, whether you're drinking regular or diet. Both have been linked to weight gain and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.