Diet Mountain Dew is a popular diet soda choice, but what exactly goes into making this beverage, and what are the nutritional implications? This article delves into the ingredients and nutritional information of Diet Mountain Dew, providing a detailed look at what you're consuming.
Nutritional Information
A 12-fluid ounce aluminum can of Diet Mountain Dew contains a negligible amount of macronutrients. Specifically, a serving provides 0 g of fat, 0.1 g of protein, and 0.4 g of carbohydrate. The carbohydrate content includes 0.3 g of sugar and 0 g of dietary fiber. The remaining carbohydrate content is complex carbohydrates. This serving also contains 0 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol.
In terms of micronutrients, a 360 g serving of Diet Mountain Dew contains 1.1 mg of vitamin C and trace amounts of minerals, including 0.04 mg of iron and 0.00 mg of calcium.
It's important to note that the % Daily Value (DV) indicates how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
Diet Mountain Dew falls under the 'Non-Alcoholic Beverages Ready to Drink' food category.
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Key Ingredients Explained
Let's break down some of the key ingredients found in Diet Mountain Dew:
Non-Nutritive Sweeteners: Diet Mountain Dew utilizes artificial sweeteners to achieve its sweet taste without the caloric impact of sugar. It is important to remember, that non-nutritive sweeteners may not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.
- Acesulfame Potassium: Also known as acesulfame K or Ace K, this is a calorie-free sugar substitute. Chemically, it's the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide. Its safety remains controversial, with some sources classifying it as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B). It is marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One.
- Sucralose: This is another artificial sweetener and sugar substitute. The body doesn't break down most of the ingested sucralose, making it noncaloric. It's produced through the chlorination of sucrose. Sucralose is significantly sweeter than sucrose (about 320 to 1,000 times), aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. Brand names for sucralose-based sweeteners include Splenda, Zerocal, Sukrana, SucraPlus, Candys, Cukren, and Nevella. Sucralose is stable under heat and across a wide pH range, making it suitable for baking and products with long shelf lives.
Preservatives: These ingredients help to maintain the shelf life and quality of the beverage.
- Sodium Benzoate: A widely used food preservative with the chemical formula NaC7H5O2 and the E number E211. It's the sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in that form when dissolved in water.
- Potassium Benzoate: With the E number E212, this is the potassium salt of benzoic acid. It acts as a food preservative by inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and some bacteria. It's most effective in low-pH products (below 4.5), where it exists as benzoic acid. Acidic foods and beverages, like fruit juice (citric acid), sparkling drinks (carbonic acid), soft drinks (phosphoric acid), pickles (vinegar), and yogurt toppings, may use potassium benzoate.
Gum Arabic: Also known as acacia gum, arabic gum, gum acacia, Senegal gum, and Indian gum, this is a natural gum from the hardened sap of various acacia tree species. It's a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. Gum arabic is soluble in water and used in the food industry as a stabilizer, with the EU E number E414.
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO): BVO is a complex mixture of plant-derived triglycerides that have been reacted to contain atoms of the element bromine bonded to the molecules. It is used primarily to help emulsify citrus-flavored soft drinks, preventing them from separating during distribution. Careful control of the type of oil allows bromination of it to produce BVO with a specific density of 1.33 g/mL, which is noticeably greater than that of water -1 g/mL-. As a result, it can be mixed with less-dense flavoring agents such as citrus flavor oil to produce a resulting oil whose density matches that of water or other products.
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Considerations Regarding Consumption
While Diet Mountain Dew offers a sugar-free alternative to regular soda, it's essential to consider the potential health implications of its ingredients.
- Artificial Sweeteners: Although they provide a sweet taste without calories, the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners are still debated. Some studies suggest potential links to weight gain, altered gut bacteria, and other health issues.
- High Sugar Consumption: Although Diet Mountain Dew does not contain sugar, it is important to note that a high consumption of sugar from other sources can cause weight gain and tooth decay.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
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