President Donald Trump recently announced that Coca-Cola had agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its regular Coke products sold in the United States. This declaration, made by the President on social media, suggested a significant change for the iconic beverage. However, the Associated Press noted that Coca-Cola had not yet confirmed this switch. The potential alteration sparked immediate discussion among health experts regarding its implications for consumer well-being.

Currently, American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. This substance 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 initially used cane sugar but transitioned to the more cost-effective high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Interestingly, many other regions globally, including the formula for Mexican Coke sold in the U.S. in classic glass bottles, continue to use cane sugar as their primary sweetener.

Despite the perception that cane sugar might be a healthier alternative, nutritionists unanimously agree that Coke sweetened with cane sugar is not superior in health benefits to Coke made with high-fructose corn syrup. Both are refined sugars; cane sugar, sourced from sugarcane or sugar beets, also undergoes processing. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, highlighted this, stating, "Cane sugar on the surface may seem healthier because it’s ‘natural,’ but this halo effect stops there." Experts explain that these sweeteners possess similar molecular structures, each containing an approximate 50/50 split of the simple sugars fructose and glucose, and are metabolized identically by the human body. Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized that our bodies do not differentiate between cane sugar and HFCS; they simply recognize and process it as sugar.

Consuming excessive amounts of any refined sugar, regardless of its source, carries significant health risks. Susie warned that such consumption can lead to an increased likelihood of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. She underscored the critical point that "At the end of the day, it’s added sugar. Those added sugars really do add up."

Given these health considerations, experts generally advise against regular soda consumption, whether sweetened with cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Moskovitz described soda as an "empty-calorie, blood glucose-spiking beverage." While diet soda, which contains no sugar or calories, might appear to be a slightly better choice, nutritionists still do not recommend it due to its lack of nutritional value. Susie pointed out that both regular and diet sodas offer "zero nutrients." For optimal hydration, water remains the gold standard. Other recommended healthy alternatives include unsweetened tea, sparkling water, or seltzer with a splash of juice or flavored with natural fruits like berries, oranges, or limes.