Protein diet coke, which is a mixture of zero cola and protein shakes, has become a hot topic of conversation on TikTok recently. The video clip of Tik Tokker Rebecca Gordon mixing zero cola with vanilla-flavored protein supplement has racked up 2.4 million views. As the two ingredients are used when going on a diet, many people say they are curious about the taste, and it has become a trend to copy and certify. After watching the video, people commented, “It’s so delicious and surprising,” and “It’s hard to like this.” Protein supplements are usually eaten with milk and water.
If you mix cola with protein shakes, you can’t get as much protein as you can with water. “If you mix cola with supplements, you can’t get enough protein,” said Jack Turner, an American biomedical and physician. “The carbonation and sweetener make it difficult to digest protein supplements.” Carbonation can destroy the nutrients in supplements, such as protein, amino acids, and casein. Also, drinking protein diet cola can cause abdominal bloating. “The carbonation of cola and whey (excluding curd in milk) in protein supplements cool the stomach and cause indigestion,” said Adi Mejid, a nutritionist at Maccabi Healthcare Services, an Israeli healthcare organization. Zero cola can also increase insulin intake, leading to diabetes. According to a study published in Food Research International, aspartame, an artificial sweetener in soft drinks, remains in the body for a long time and increases blood sugar levels.
To fully realize the effectiveness of protein supplements, one scoop of water is required. This is due to fast absorption of protein in the body. In addition, eating a lot does not always mean that you get stuck to your muscles. The recommended intake of protein is 1 to 1.2 g per 1 kg of body weight. Adults weighing 60 kg should eat 60 to 72 g of protein per day. If an additional intake of protein exceeding this amount of protein increases the amount of calories consumed, which can result in fat rather than muscles. In addition, excessive intake of protein has an adverse effect on the liver and kidneys. If there is too much protein in the body, the liver is forced to break down what is left after use, and the kidneys are burdened by the treatment of toxins generated during the protein metabolism. In addition, eating too much protein increases the bad LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol. As a result, the risk of hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and heart disease increases, and sometimes people suffer from abdominal pain, headache, and feeling of lethargy.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
