Back in 1997, I was part of a group doing research on soft drinks. Our findings were fairly interesting (we didn't survey all the drinks out there, perhaps because some weren't readily available in New Zealand at the time).
Investigating the corrosive properties of various soft drinks, Coca Cola was actually fairly mild. If you see Fanta, run the other way - it dissolved calcium structures (simulated teeth) several times faster than Coke. Diet Coke, on the other hand, actually increased the mass of the calcium structures. That was rather scary. If you drink a bottle of Fanta every day for the rest of your life, be aware that you'll lose 10% of your tooth mass not to decay, but to
acid. Decay is simply an extra layer on top of that.
I don't recall the exact chemical analyses of pH levels and the like, but we did titration and similar experiments. The final thing we did was investigate the additives listed on the label. It's a good thing they're required to put them there by law, because Sunset Yellow colour (Coke doesn't look yellow, but that's what they put in it) is mildly carcinogenic, promotes medical hyperactivity, and can induce athsma attacks. Looking over other colouring agents from other soft drinks, they all shared those three unwholesome characteristics.
And we got the highest marks in the class.
This is why I didn't drink anything with bubbles in it for several years. It was the caffeine that drew me back... but I don't buy Coke any more, I notice. I'm lucky to get fruit juice.
Of course, we all know that Diet Coke contains phenylketone, presumably as part of the sugar substitute. What most people don't realise is that, first, phenylkenote amino acids are the cause of a rare condition called phenylkenoturia, which is caused by the body's inability to process the substance; and secondly, that the sugar substitute has more calories that sugar, which rather defeats the purpose, don't you agree?
Anyway, there's my rant on soft drinks. Sadly, I'm a user not only of the occasional soft drink myself, but I've got a DHMO dispenser and paraphenalia in my kitchen. However, if you're strong maybe you'll kick the habit where I couldn't. Good luck.
