President Donald Trump recently announced on social media that Coca-Cola had agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its regular Coke sold in the United States, a move he described as “very good.” However, Coca-Cola has yet to confirm this change, and nutrition experts quickly weighed in, asserting that such a switch would not make the soda any healthier.

Currently, regular American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a refined liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. Coca-Cola originally used cane sugar but transitioned to the cheaper high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Many other regions globally, and even specific products like Mexican Coke sold in the U.S. in classic glass bottles, continue to use cane sugar, leading some consumers to believe it is a healthier option.

Despite popular perception, nutritionists emphasize that Coke sweetened with cane sugar is not superior in health benefits to its high-fructose corn syrup counterpart. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, explained that while cane sugar might appear “natural” on the surface, this “halo effect stops there.” Both sweeteners are refined sugars, meaning they originate from natural sources but undergo processing that removes other nutrients, leaving primarily pure sugar.

From a physiological perspective, the body processes both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in a strikingly similar manner. Both contain an approximate 50/50 split of the simple sugars fructose and glucose. Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, noted that “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.” Therefore, the type of refined sugar used has little bearing on its metabolic impact.

Experts universally caution against excessive consumption of any refined sugar, regardless of its source. Overindulgence can elevate the risk of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. As Susie succinctly put it, “At the end of the day, it’s added sugar. Those added sugars really do add up.”

Given these health considerations, nutritionists generally advise limiting soda consumption. Moskovitz highlighted that “Whether soda is sweetened with cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, it’s still an empty-calorie, blood glucose-spiking beverage.” Even diet sodas, while calorie-free, offer no nutritional value. The consensus among experts like Susie is that water remains the “gold standard for hydration,” with unsweetened tea and sparkling water also recommended. For those craving a fizzy drink, Moskovitz suggests seltzer enhanced with a splash of juice or fresh fruit like berries, oranges, or limes.