A Rationalist Drinks Diet Coke

Hey, Het here.

Let’s get this out of the way: when I open a Diet Coke can, I’m not chasing “fitness” goals. You know, cold can and soft crack of the tab are my reset between tons of tasks. It’s a five minute pause, a tool for regaining focus(does’nt work everytime). In my world, everything that earns a permanent spot on my desk owes me an explanation. So, what’s actually under the tab?

What Does “Diet” Mean?

Most labels tell stories; science tells facts. Chemically, “diet” is code for near-zero calories, not magic. The trick? It’s high intensity sweeteners swapped in for sugar. If something clocks under 5 kcal/serving, laws let you stamp “0 Calories” on the can. Not a lie, not exactly honest. Call it molecular rounding.

Nutrition Snapshot (per 12 oz/354 ml can)

• Calories: 0
• Sugar: 0g
• Sodium: ~60mg
• Caffeine: ~46mg

No macros, but a pinch of sodium and just enough caffeine to tickle my brain is more than classic Coke, but nowhere near an espresso(with milk).

Side note on Caffeine: Diet Coke gives you about 46mg per can. That’s more than a classic Coke (~34mg) but way less than your standard coffee (about 90–120mg/cup). If you’re chasing focus, two cans will put you near an espresso shot, but nowhere close to the edge. Fun hack: Red Bull hits 80mg/250ml. I track all my caffeine.

Ingredient Breakdown

• Carbonated water: CO₂ under pressure. Fizz = science (shoutout to Henry’s Law). The chill makes the thing chilled.
• Caramel colour: Looks good, does nothing else. No calories, no sweetness.
• Acids: phosphoric and citric: These set the tang. Control the pH. Every time a dentist winces at soda, it’s about enamel erosion, not sweeteners.
• Sweeteners (Aspartame, sometimes Ace-K): Aspartame is wild! 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Your body flips it into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and a trace of methanol (skip it if you have phenylketonuria, btw I learnt this today itself only lol). Pairing with Ace-K makes the taste stable in storage.
• Potassium benzoate: Kills microbes. Keeps flavour safe at low pH.
• Natural flavours: The “secret cola formula.” If you know, you know.
• Caffeine: Bitter and stimulating, but not excessive.

Is This a “Diet” Drink?

• Calorie control: Sweeteners, not sugar. Your blood sugar stays chill.
• Safety: Aspartame, the bad press versus the math. WHO said “possibly carcinogenic”, but actual safety limits are high: 0–40mg/kg body weight/day (JECFA). Unless you’re downing twenty cans daily, you’re good. I play it safe: habits > headlines.
• Metabolic nuance: Some studies link heavy diet soda use to weird appetite changes. The data isn’t solid proof, but it won’t hurt to track your personal outcomes: weight, cravings, sleep, teeth.
• Dental health: The real enemy is acidity. Brush and rinse. Never let a can linger.

Pro tip: If you use Diet Coke as a focus tool, try tracking your total caffeine (including tea, coffee, pre‑workout). Sleep, productivity, and even anxiety can shift based on the mix.
Dental hack: Rinse with water after Diet Coke, especially if you drink slow. Fast + cold is best for enamel.

Bottom line: Diet Coke is a tool for control, not a health badge. Use the science, not just the marketing.

How It’s Made (Speed Tour)

1. Water gets scrubbed in the lab.
2. Syrup, acids, sweeteners, flavours get batch-mixed.
3. Blend’s chilled, carbonated for max fizz.
4. Cans filled, sealed with oxygen kept out.

Why I Drink It

The hit is crisp. Sets the rhythm for getting things done. No sugar crash, no stories. It’s control over the pattern, not blind habit. One can is a choice. Two cans are a pattern (worth reviewing if it gets out of hand).

Truth is, half my Diet Coke consumption happens while hacking stuff, late night, AirPods on, Burp Suite running, can sweating beside my Mac. If it’s not hacking, it’s episode twenty two of a sitcom.

My Rules

• Water first, Diet Coke as the “spike.”
• Drink it cold. Don’t nurse acidic stuff.
• Track caffeine, always.
• If cravings get loud, I take a week off—the ritual over the streak.

Quick FAQ

Moderation math: ADI for aspartame is 40mg/kg/day (JECFA). For a 70kg human, that’s 2,800mg/day → 20+ cans (don’t go there). Treat the ADI as a ceiling, not a goal.

If you have more hacks (flavour or tech), let me know at hi@hetmehta.com.