Most people know Coke Zero and Diet Coke to be low-calorie and low-fat alternatives to regular Coca-Cola and other soft drinks. But if both beverages have zero calories and no fat, what could be the difference between them?
Below, we’ll explore this question and help you decide between these two soft drinks the next time you need to quench your thirst.
Both Drinks
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First, let’s look at what both of these drinks have in common. Both Diet Coke and Coke Zero contain 0 Calories, 40mg Sodium, 0g Fat, 0g Protein, and 0g Carbs. Both drinks are also derived from regular Coke — made to taste like the real thing.
Diet Coke
Diet Coke in its signature silver packaging was the first to arrive on the soft drink scene in the early 80s. The sweetener in Diet Coke is Aspartame. Most people who taste this drink say that it tastes much different than regular Coke while Coke Zero tends to have a closer taste resemblance to traditional Coke. Most people who initially try Diet Coke in a blind test can tell almost immediately that it’s not “real Coke.”
Coke Zero
Coke Zero was introduced to the public in 2005. Unlike the silver of the Diet Coke cans and bottles, Coke Zero has a black theme. It is marketed to have the “real Coke flavor” of regular Coke, and this seems to be the verdict with most taste-testers. One difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero is that Coke Zero uses both Aspartame and acesulfame potassium as sweeteners while Diet Coke uses just Aspartame. Generally speaking, Coke Zero is also marketed at men while Diet Coke is marketed at women.
What’s important to remember is that neither Diet Coke or Coke Zero are exactly healthy for you. If you can, instead of indulging in one of these soft drinks, consider a glass of water with fruit for flavor or a sparkling water. But if you like to have a glass of zero calorie Coke every once in a while, it’s really a toss up as to nutrition and overall taste.
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