Coca-Cola has a total of twenty brands which it makes available to UK shoppers. Under those, there are 80 different drinks which include their three key colas, Coke Classic, Coke Zero and Diet Coke. Within these categories, a proportion of the drinks are free from sugar and caffeine, whilst others include alternative flavours to enhance the drink. The Original Coca Cola and Variants Zero Sugar No Calories This product is GMO free This product is gluten free This product is allergen free This product is suitable for vegetarians/vegans

We all know that it’s important to lower our intake of sugary drinks, but sometimes a glass of coke with ice is incredibly tempting. It is not all bad for fans of the drink however as there are ways it can also be of benefit to your body and wellbeing. Twisted Strawberry – Another fresh product, Twisted Strawberry has been available since 2019 and caters for those who want a fruity element in their cola drink. It gives people who prefer drinking cola an alternative to the many fruit-flavoured water drinks which are currently popular. When it comes to the standard versions of each drink, many people consider Coca Cola to have stronger notes of vanilla, whilst Pepsi tends to taste sweeter. The sweetness gives Pepsi a more piquant finish, whilst Coca Cola is a smoother drink. This means that like a lot of food and drink-related debates, the Coca Cola vs Pepsi war essentially comes down to personal taste. Is Coke Vegan?Energy booster – Although it won’t last longer than an hour, the ingredients in the original coke will deliver a sugar rush of pure energy very soon after being consumed. It might not be the ideal way of getting your body to respond, but it can give you the motivation to get going. Zero Sugar Coke has always been marketed on the premise that it tastes more like real coke, with none of the calories. While it would seem to be healthier than sugar-rich drinks, some of the ingredients used may have negative effects on the body. Research carried out by Harvard University suggests that sweeteners can encourage weight gain in the long term. This is because the brain responds to sweet tastes by signalling us to eat more. They also found evidence of an increase in type 2 diabetes. Zero Sugar Cherry – For people who want a fruity diet drink but prefer the Zero flavour, Sugar Cherry was launched in 2007 and marketed at the New York Fashion Week. It did not appear on UK shelves until 2014. Caffeine-free – Developed for people who want to avoid sugar and caffeine, this caffeine-free drink tastes very much like the original Diet Coke and includes the same sweeteners. It was launched a year after Diet Coke in 1983, to compete with Pepsi Free, their main competitor’s caffeine-free drink.

Coca-Cola Cherry – Just like the original but with a cherry twist, Cherry Coke was first launched in 1985. Before this time many cafes and bars were using cherry syrups and liquors to enhance plain colas. Exotic Mango – One of the first of a new crop of fruity variants on the original taste, Exotic Mango delivers a subtle hint of mango whilst retaining the same cola taste. It’s a nice alternative for those looking for a bit more sweetness than you find with regular diet coke. It has diuretic properties – Due to the caffeine content, coke can act as a diuretic. This means that although it tastes deliciously refreshing, it is not a great rehydrating drink because it can make you urinate more. As part of this process, your body will also expel nutrients like zinc and calcium which it really should be holding on to. However, it is worth remembering that these studies were carried out on people who drink a lot of Zero Coke and the odd can or glass is unlikely to have any significant effects on your health. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Drinking Coca Cola? Coke Zero – Coca-Cola rebranded its second sugar-free range as Coke Zero Sugar in 2017, but it still has the exact same formula. The brand claims that this version of their sugar-free drink offers an alternative blend of flavours, which keep the taste light in the mouth and more akin to the original version.

Questions & Answers

Zero Sugar Cinnamon – Marketed as a Christmas drink in the UK and Europe, Zero Sugar Cinnamon was first available in 2018. It is infused with cinnamon flavour to reflect the season and is a good mixer drink.