31 Mind-Blowing Coke Nutrition Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published January 4, 2019Updated February 21, 2025

The very first Coca-Cola products contained cocaine, about 9 milligrams per glass. It was removed from the drink in 1903. The original Coke was also alcoholic._[3]
Coca-Cola has traditionally been considered a wonder cure for almost everything, including hiccups, colic, low libido, and jellyfish-sting pain._[1]
A 12-ounce can of Coke has about 39 grams of sugar, which is about 9 1/3 teaspoons of sugar._[2]

Diet Coke is not a modified form of Coke; it is a completely different recipe with a completely different formula

Diet Coke isn't a modified form of Coke. Rather, it is a totally different recipe._[1]
Coca-Cola’s “New Coke” advertising failure in 1985–1986 was so huge that it spawned several conspiracy theories. Some believe that Coke used the New Coke switch-over as a ruse to replace cane sugar in the original with cheaper high-fructose corn syrup. Indeed, by 1985, Coke had revised their original recipe to include HFCS._[1]
The original formula for Coca-Cola is held in a vault in a branch of SunTrust Bank Atlanta, which is close to the Coca-Cola Company headquarters._[2]
The inventor of Coca-Cola, John Pemberton, shared his original formula with at least four people before he died in 1888. When Asa Candler bought the rights to the formula, he created the idea of a "secret formula" as a marketing strategy._[3]
Coca-Cola's "secret recipe" is locked in a vault on the grounds of the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta._[1]
In 1911, the United States government seized 40 barrels and 20 kegs of Coca Cola syrup in Tennessee because they alleged that the caffeine content was "injurious to health." Though charges against the company were later dropped, Coca-Cola agreed to reduce the amount of caffeine in its syrup._[3]
Coca-Cola has sometimes been used for the treatment of gastric phytobezoars, which is a type of trapped mass in the gastrointestinal system, such as indigestible plant material._[3]
The name Coca-Cola refers to two of its original ingredients: kola nuts and coca leaves._[3]

Kola nuts led to the term "cola"

The Coca-Cola Company protects the secret of its syrup by shipping ingredients to its factories in anonymous "merchandises" that are numbered 1 through 9. Factory workers are told how to mix the packages but not what is in all of the shipments._[3]
Though Coca-Cola may have used kola nut in its original formula, there is no evidence that modern renditions of the soft drink contain kola extract._[1]
During the 1980s, most U.S. Coca-Cola bottlers switched their primary sweetening ingredient from cane sugar (sucrose) to cheaper high-fructose corn syrup. However, Mexican Coke still uses cane sugar._[1]
In 1935, Rabbi Tobias Geffen certified Coke as Kosher. However, since the addition of high-fructose corn syrup in the 1980s, Jewish kosher law renders it kitniyot (legumes), and, therefore, forbidden during Passover in certain Jewish traditions._[2]
Coca-Cola stimulates the brain in ways comparable to the way heroin does, making us want another hit of the sweet soda._[1]
Within 20 minutes of consuming Coke, blood sugar levels in the body increase dramatically and cause a dramatic burst of insulin. Our liver then turns the high sugar levels circulating in our bodies into fat._[1]
As soon as the high-sugar content of Coca-Cola enters the human body, it should cause vomiting. However, the phosphoric acid dulls the sweetness, which allows us to keep the soft drink down._[1]

The phosphoric acid keeps us from vomiting the super sweet Coke syrup

An hour after drinking a can of Coke, your body experiences a sugar crash, which leads to drowsiness and irritability._[1]
Scientists warn that regular consumption of the high-fructose corn syrup, refined salts, and caffeine in Coke can lead to higher blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease._[1]
While many diet soda drinkers are devoted to either Diet Coke or Coke Zero, only 54% of tasters were able to tell the difference between the two._[1]
It takes just 10 minutes for the phosphoric acid in Diet Coke to attack the enamel on your teeth._[1]
Those who consume artificially sweetened beverages, such as Diet Coke, double their risk of metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms that includes high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and larger waist circumference._[1]
Because Diet Coke has such a high level of acidity, it disrupts the pH of the body in a way that can cause acne and other skin problems._[1]
While Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero both have zero sugar, they use aspartame and acesulfame-K (artificial sweeteners). Also, while Coke Zero tastes more like normal Coke, Diet Coke has a more unique taste taste._[1]
There have been 12 different types of Diet Coke since its launch, including Diet Coke with Citrus, Diet Cherry Coke, Diet Coke with Lime, and Diet Vanilla Coke._[1]

Something this good can't be ALL bad

The unique taste of Coke is said to be due to vanilla, cinnamon, traces of essential oils, and spices such as nutmeg._[1]
Diet drinks have a pH of 3.2, which is very acidic. As a point of reference, battery acid has a pH of 1._[1]
Because the added sugar in Coke creates a denser solution, normal Coke sinks, while Diet Coke floats._[1]
Because aspartame, an ingredient in Diet Coke, is 2,000 times sweeter than sugar, only a small amount is used in the recipe._[1]
Researchers note that artificial sweeteners trigger insulin, which can actually lead to weight gain. This means that Diet Coke is worse for weight gain than Coke._[1]