Now this is just silly

by Christopher Wharton

Criminy.  Just when I thought there were no foods or beverages left to fortify with vitamins and minerals, Coca-Cola went and proved me wrong.  In April, the company will launch Diet Coke Plus, a soft drink "fortified" with vitamins B3 (niacin), B6, and B12, along with the minerals magnesium and zinc.

Do we really need a nutrient-fortified soft drink? I say no. Aside from the fact that food companies now fortify everything (from healthier choices like orange juice down to ridiculous products like gummy candies), there really is no need for many of the extra nutrients.  As a case study, let’s run through the nutrients of choice in Diet Coke Plus.  In the US, B3 deficiency is extremely rare, generally occurring only in those suffering from alcoholism or dealing with a particularly rare metabolic disorder.  On average, adult men and women exceed the recommended intakes of B6 on a daily basis.  Adult men and women also consume 2-3 times the recommendations for B12 intake and consistently exceed zinc recommendations.  In fact, magnesium is the only nutrient found in Diet Coke Plus that Americans consistently underconsume.  Still not so useful, as it turns out.  Soft drinks often are high in phosphoric acid, and phosphoric acid is very good at disallowing absorption of magnesium.

So, what happens to all these nutrients if we already are getting enough of them?  For the most part, our consumption of “added-value” products like Diet Coke Plus results in added-value urine.  If you’re worried that you’re low on one or more particular nutrients, look for the FOODS that contain those nutrients, and eat them.  Or, take a real supplement.

Comments

[Amy Vallery]

Thanks for the interesting explanation of what is actually in the new fortified diet coke. I agree that the fortified food hype has become ridiculous. Too many people assume that because something is labeled as fortified, light, healthy, whole grain, low carb, low fat, sugar free, etc. that it is nutritionally good for you, when usually it is not. It will be interesting to see if diet coke plus follows the standard practice of jacking up the prices for "healthy" foods like they did with C2.

[Mark]

I agree with this, but the same argument applies to claims that certain organic vegetables are better for you because of slightly more nutrients of various sorts. The problem with the American diet is that not enough vegetables are eaten. If you eat lots of non-organic vegetables, you're going to be fine as far as nutrients go. Organic is a con and a waste of money, viewed strictly from a health standpoint.

[Mara]

Listen here, if it makes me feel even an iota less....conflicted, shall we say?....about drinking diet soda, then bring on the vitamins!

I should really switch to just seltzer water but I do love that bite and kick from a diet soft drink. In moderation, of course.