President Donald Trump recently announced that Coca-Cola had agreed to use cane sugar in regular Coke sold in the United States, departing from its current use of high-fructose corn syrup. While Trump hailed this as a positive development, Coca-Cola has yet to officially confirm such a switch, and the announcement has prompted nutritionists to weigh in on the potential health implications. Experts are quick to point out that replacing high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would not render the soda any healthier.

Currently, American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. This is a refined sugar, meaning it originates from natural sources but undergoes processing to strip away other nutrients, leaving behind pure sugar. Historically, Coca-Cola was made with cane sugar, but the company transitioned to the cheaper high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Interestingly, many other regions globally, such as Mexico, still produce Coke using cane sugar, exemplified by the 'Mexican Coke' sold in classic glass bottles in the U.S.

Despite common perceptions, nutrition experts assert that Coke sweetened with cane sugar is not a healthier alternative to its high-fructose corn syrup counterpart. The two sweeteners are remarkably similar in their fundamental composition. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, noted that while cane sugar might appear healthier due to its 'natural' label, this 'halo effect' is misleading. Both cane sugar, derived from sugarcane or sugar beets, and high-fructose corn syrup are refined sugars.

From a molecular standpoint, both sweeteners are quite similar, containing an approximate 50/50 split of the simple sugars fructose and glucose. More crucially, the human body processes and digests them in an identical manner. Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, explained, “Our bodies aren’t going to know if that’s cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. We just know that it is sugar and we need to break that down.” Regardless of the source, she emphasized, “At the end of the day, it’s added sugar.”

Nutritionists caution that consuming excessive amounts of any refined sugar, whether high-fructose corn syrup or cane sugar, poses significant health risks. These risks include an increased likelihood of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. The cumulative effect of these 'added sugars' over time is a major concern for public health.

Considering these health implications, experts generally advise against regular soda consumption, regardless of the type of sweetener used. Both Moskovitz and Susie highlight that soda, sweetened with either cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, offers 'empty calories' and causes rapid spikes in blood glucose levels, providing no nutritional value. While diet soda, which contains no sugar or calories, might seem like a marginally better option, it too is not recommended by experts due to its lack of nutrients.

For optimal hydration and health, experts recommend water as the gold standard. Other healthy alternatives suggested include unsweetened tea and sparkling water. For those craving a fizzy beverage, Moskovitz suggests seltzer enhanced with a splash of juice or flavored naturally with fruits like berries, oranges, or limes, offering a healthier way to satisfy the desire for a sweet, carbonated drink.