Coca cola is a carbonated, sweet and caramelized drink; it is undoubtedly one of the best known and most widely distributed drinks on the entire planet, if not the most famous.
Coca Cola and Disputes
Since the 2000s, some very significant criticisms have attempted to undermine the Coca-cola brand. Disputes have been raised on various issues, including: health impact, environmental impact and business practices.
The allegations mentioned can be summarized as follows:
- Possible negative health effects
- Environmental impoverishment
- Possible monopoly engagement of business practices
- Questionable labor protocols (accusation of involvement with paramilitary organizations in suppression of trade unions)
- Poor marketing strategy
- Infringement of Individual Property Rights.
The suspicion that all this may be true has favored the emergence of pressure groups towards coca cola, such as the "Killer Coke", or of boycott and legal actions.
Nutritional Characteristics
Coca-cola is a sweet drink rich in water and sugars (monosaccharides or disaccharides) and almost devoid of any other nutrient. There are traces of other molecules, but none of these is contained in such an entity that it can be considered significant.
If appreciated, the average portion of coke should still be limited to 150-250ml / day; this is because the sugars contained in it tend to raise the total energy intake, moreover - if you want to respect the maximum ceiling of 10-12% of the daily calories provided by simple carbohydrates - the intake of sugars through coca-cola requires a consequent limitation of the intake of simple carbohydrates from fruit, milk and vegetables. By limiting these last foods, we tend to significantly reduce the intake of fiber, vitamins, mineral salts and other useful molecules, instead absent in coca cola (which for this reason reason, from a nutritional point of view, it could be defined as a "useless" food or one that provides empty calories).
Coca cola is a sweetened drink to be excluded in the diet against diabetes, overweight and hypertriglyceridemia. Nevertheless, the "light" versions sweetened with artificial non-calorie additives can also be used by these categories of subjects, but always with appropriate moderation.
Coca cola is a product not recommended in children's nutrition, first of all because of the significant dose of stimulants; after all, the caffeine-free version does not have this drawback but still contains considerable percentages of soluble carbohydrates (energy nutrients particularly subject to abuse in this age group).
Nutritional values (per 100 g of edible portion)
Furthermore, as we will see below, coca cola is strongly discouraged for people with weak teeth or with impaired enamel. In this regard, it is advisable to read the article: Diet and Dental Health.
Some people believe that coca cola facilitates digestion; in fact, the opposite is often the case. Let's see why. Coca cola has an acid pH, therefore a possible pro-digestive effect could occur in subjects suffering from hypochlorhydria. However, the statistics reveal that the most common cases of digestive disorders involve hyperchlorhydria, or the excess of hydrochloric acid (favored by the presence of caffeine in the diet). This excess, perceived by the digestive tract, slows the passage of food from the stomach to the duodenum and requires the conspicuous release of buffer molecules by the duodenal mucosa. The long stay of the acid bolus in the stomach also favors the irritation of the mucosa itself, which often (in the long term) results in "gastritis" and an increase in the probability of gastroesophageal reflux and hiatal hernia.
Furthermore, the presence of carbon dioxide in the drink favors an increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to stomach swelling; this circumstance, following the well-known belching, leaves a pleasant sense of liberation and apparent emptying of the stomach. In reality, the distension of the gastric walls represents a further stimulus to the release of acidic juices, not to mention that - in the long run - increases the gastric capacity requiring greater quantities of food for the onset of the sense of satiety.
Finally, remember that the excess of caffeine, in addition to symptoms of a nervous nature (tachycardia, hyperstimulation, diarrhea, etc.), compromises the absorption of some molecules in the intestine (especially vitamins and minerals).
Possible Harmful Effects of Coca Cola on Health
Currently, some American studies have shown that "soda and sugary drinks are the main source of excess calories in the American diet". For this reason, most nutritionists claim that cola and other sweet soft drinks can be harmful (IF consumed in excess). This applies not only to adults, but also and even more so to children, who use coca cola as a "basic" drink and not as a "complement" to water in their daily diet.
It was then pointed out that ordinary consumers of sugary carbonated drinks boast a lower intake of minerals and vitamins such as: calcium, magnesium, ascorbic acid (vit. C), riboflavin (vit. B2) and equivalent retinol (vit. A). ).
Coca cola has also aroused many perplexities due to the high concentration of caffeine, a probable agent responsible for physical dependence on the drink.
A long-term correlation has also been demonstrated between women who are habitual coca cola users and the onset of osteoporosis, but the same result did not involve men. It is possible that this correlation is a side effect of phosphoric acid, as the link showed no difference to the sugar-free or caffeine-free versions.
Another very controversial aspect concerns the health of the oral cavity. Since 1940 there have been many attempts of legal action against coca cola for the alleged negative effect on tooth enamel, secondary to the high acidity (but also, theoretically, to the high sugar intake and stickiness of the drink); however, In the course of various investigations, coca-cola has not been shown to be more harmful than other carbonated drinks or fruit juices. However, frequent exposure of the enamel to coca cola leads to erosion and consequent increased risk of dental caries.
It should also be specified that coca cola has a very high content of fructose or syrups that are rich in it (corn or sugar cane). In addition to the further increase in the probability of tooth decay and the nutritional imbalance, this aspect has given rise to a problem linked to the raw materials used; in particular, the replacement of sucrose from sugar cane with fructose from corn, would imply, in some countries , the use of genetically modified plants (GMOs).
A particular incident in New Zealand in February 2010 further complicated the image of coca cola. Here, Natasha Harris' death was blamed (by the coroner) for excessive consumption of this drink; he declared: "were it not for the consumption of very large quantities of Coke by Natasha Harris, it is unlikely that she would have died when she died and how she died", practically: "if Natasha Harris hadn't consumed such large amounts of coke, it's unlikely she would have died this way and so early". The girl was affected by hypokalaemia and had an enlarged-fattening liver (fatty steatosis) due (again according to pathologist Dr Dan Mornin) to excess sugars in the diet. Natasha's partner, Christopher Hodgkinson, stated that the The victim's daily consumption was around 4 2.25l bottles of coca-cola and precluded any other drink. This is obviously an extreme case, given that even water, if taken in similar quantities (over 8-10 liters per day), it can even be lethal under certain circumstances.
Company and Brand Coca Cola
Coca cola is a multinational capable of spending up to 30 billion dollars a year on brand advertising; its distribution is constantly growing and it is estimated that consumers in over 200 countries around the world currently drink up to 1.8 billions of servings of coke a day.
Fun Fact: Coca cola was also the leading drink in India until 1977, when the company abandoned it in response to the request (issued by the new government) to sell the secret formula as required by the regulation of the trade law (FERA). . In 1993, the company re-entered after the introduction of political liberalization. However, even today coca cola is the subject of numerous controversies in this country, where it is believed that the production of the drink involves the draining of the aquifers and the use of sources contaminated by pesticides.
The facebook page of coca cola has earned, from its opening to today (13 August 2014), over 88 million "Likes", with a progression of about 2 "Likes" every 10 seconds! According to a 2011 study by "Interbrand" (a global branding consultancy), coca cola has earned the title of "most prestigious brand in the world".
The production of coca cola does NOT take place completely in the various plants located around the globe. On the contrary, there is a central dispensing mechanism for the concentrated blend which, locally (subject to a territorial exclusivity contract with the nominated companies), is subjected to dilution, sweetening and carbonation; these intermediaries will be responsible for supplying the packaged products (cans, plastic and glass bottles) to shops and entities for automatic distribution. Furthermore, the concentrate is also delivered to companies operating in the "kegs" sector for staplers.
Coca Cola Company has also introduced other products of various sizes, such as Diet Coke, Coca Cola Without Caffeine, Diet Coke Without Caffeine, Coca Cola Cherry, Coca Cola Zero, Coca Cola with Vanilla and some special versions such as: lemon, lime and coffee.
Birth of Coca Cola
The company is known as "The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta" (in Georgia - USA), but it is often simply called "Coke" (trademark registered by the same company in 1944). Originally, in the 19th century, coca cola was produced for medicinal purposes by Colonel John Pemberton; in particular, this drink served as a remedy for addiction to morphine, the well-known opiate used as an anesthetic (but also for the treatment of dyspepsia, impotence, etc.). The first formula was coined in "Pemberton" s Eagle Drug and Chemical House ", a Georgian pharmacy, with the name of" Coca Wine "(a term probably inspired by" Vin Mariani ") but only later, after the purchase by Asa Griggs Candler became the soft drink par excellence (20th century).
Introduction to production
Coca cola is a sweet drink made from ingredients such as: carbonated water (or water and carbon dioxide), sugar (sucrose or sucrose syrup or high fructose corn syrup, depending on the location), caffeine, acid phosphoric, caramel color (E150d), glycerin and natural flavors (PRESUMABLY coca extract, lime extract, vanilla, orange, lemon, nutmeg and cinnamon).
Today (since 1980), American coke (with the exception of that of Cleveland) is made with corn starch syrup, while the Mexican one with sugar cane syrup.
A 330ml can of Italian Coke contains 35g of soluble carbohydrates (simple sugars or disaccharides, about 8 level coffee spoons), 50mg of sodium and no trace of fat or potassium; the energy intake is 139kcal.
In reality, the formula of the base (or syrup) of coca cola is a secret recipe, since the natural flavors that compose it are secret.
Originally, the stimulants contained in coca cola were cocaine and caffeine, respectively obtained from coca leaves and kola nut (hence the name coca cola - the K has been replaced with a C for marketing purposes). Pemberton's first formula called for five ounces of coca leaves per gallon, but Candler later reduced it to 1/10; until 1903, when it was eliminated, cocaine was included for a good 9mg per glass. In 1904 the company began to use the production residues of the cocaine extraction of the "Tepan Society", that is the "only American company still" authorized to process this South American plant cultivated for pharmaceutical purposes. Contrary to what the name implies, Coca cola TODAY does not contain any kola nut extract, but only caffeine.
VIDEO RECIPES BASED ON COCA-COLA
Coca-Cola® granita
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