An ice cold Coke Zero at the 10 a.m. break, every day, without even thinking about it. This ritual speaks to many French people, reassured by this seductive promise: “zero sugar, zero calories“. However, a New Zealand journalist and a Swiss Internet user decided to stop everything. And their bodies gave them unexpected reactions.
For four years, travel reporter Vita Molyneux treated herself to her daily Coke Zero, always at 10 a.m. sharp. For his part, a Swiss reader went much further, consuming up to 4 liters per day. They both stopped in their tracks. But what surprised them was not the lack… it was the absence of the effects they feared.
Before stopping: a well-established habit
At Vita Molyneux, it all starts with a banal gesture: a very cold Coke Zero, never lukewarm, sometimes in a can when she travels. Day after day, this routine sets in, until it becomes automatic. She then realizes that she no longer remembers a single day without it. This trigger is accompanied by a form of guilt, which pushes her to try a week without it.
The Swiss testimony, published on cuk.ch, is even more striking: at least 4 liters of Coke Zero per day for years, alongside a high consumption of coffee and sweeteners. On August 11, he decided to stop suddenly. He expects a withdrawal comparable to that of tobacco… but does not feel any tremors or irritability.
After stopping: surprising effects
For Vita Molyneux, the first day without Coca Zero went better than expected: no headaches, no drop in energy. On the other hand, the desire is omnipresent. She talks about a real “craving”, a persistent obsession with her usual drink. As the week goes by, another unexpected effect appears: his sleep deteriorates, with difficulty falling asleep and frequent awakenings.
Among Swiss Internet users, the changes take longer to appear, but they are significant. Two months after stopping, he observed a drop in his heart rate of 7 to 8 beats per minute, as well as better recovery. His sleep is clearly improving:I sleep like a log“, he wrote, although he previously suffered from numerous nocturnal awakenings. Even more surprising, his sleep apnea – around six per hour – would have disappeared.
What the experts say
For dietician-nutritionist Coline Flandrin, a can of Coke Zero certainly provides barely 1 kcal, but above all carbonated water, phosphoric acid and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or acesulfame-K, without any real nutritional contribution. These substances maintain the taste for sweets and can stimulate the appetite, despite the absence of sugar.
Doctor Jimmy Mohamed also warns of potential risks: according to him, the consumption of Coke Zero could be associated with an increased risk of certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. Comments to be qualified, but which encourage caution.
In the end, many specialists agree on one point: whether classic or “zero”, Coke must remain an occasional, pleasure drink. Advice which, incidentally, can also reduce the budget: the Swiss Internet user estimates saving between 300 and 400 Swiss francs per month, or around 310 to 410 euros.