Live data from Hacker News

What Coke Contains (2013)

medium.com

111–120 of 185 posts

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#111
post #14

> The number of individuals who know how to make a can of Coke is zero. This reminds me a fact I remember time to time. If civilization collapses after, say, a world war, I most probably can't make a pot, can't grow plants, can't differentiate if one is edible or not, can't dig for petrol, can't make plastic (or even glass), can't reinvent concrete, can't make gunpowder etc., you get the point. I can only write softw…

"Left to his own devices he couldn’t build a toaster. He could just about make a sandwich and that was it." http://www.thetoasterproject.org/

I was relatively unimpressed by this one. Iron smelting can be done manually but he uses a microwave to do it instead. Which skips over a huge chunk of the story.

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're referring to carbonic acid, it's too weak to cause tooth decay (at least, according to my reading of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_erosion ). But, in addition to phosphoric acid, Coke also has citric acid. I'm not sure you could remove both and get a drink that's still tasty enough... EDIT: See below. Carbonic acid may not be as meek as I thought.

Coke only contains phosphoric acid, not citric acid. However, in some countries, Coke is indeed made with citric acid instead of phosphoric. Coke changes ingredients around to fit local regulations. In Europe, Diet Coke uses acesulfame potassium ("ace-K"), aspartame and sodium cyclamate. Cyclamate's effect is to neutralize some of the bitterness of ace-K and aspartame, but it's banned in the US and some other countri…

Actually, the Diet Coke I have in front of me lists both acids in the ingredients. Not sure if only the diet version has both.

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#113

> coca-leaf which comes from South America and is processed in a unique US government authorized factory in New Jersey to remove its addictive stimulant cocaine According to Wikipedia "The Stepan Company is the only manufacturing plant authorized by the Federal Government to import and process the coca plant, which it obtains mainly from Peru and, to a lesser extent, Bolivia. Besides producing the coca flavoring agen…

It would be interesting to see how the cocaine supply line works. I imagine they'd need armored vehicles and a lot of security for the entire trip from NJ to MO.

For what it's worth, regular-looking tractor trailers loaded with valuable stuff pay visits to the US Mint and Federal Reserve buildings in downtown Philadelphia. If they take any special precautions, they aren't evident.

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#114
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My Grandfather used to use it to take the rust off his car.

In my country Coke is used by plumbers to unblock drains and pipes. Just knowing that has always discouraged me from drinking it.

I'm not sure why knowing that would discourage you. I'm sure stomach acid would be even better at those tasks, yet your body handles it just fine. Vinegar is great at getting hard water spots of paint. That doesn't mean I stop dousing my fish & chips in the stuff.

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're referring to carbonic acid, it's too weak to cause tooth decay (at least, according to my reading of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_erosion ). But, in addition to phosphoric acid, Coke also has citric acid. I'm not sure you could remove both and get a drink that's still tasty enough... EDIT: See below. Carbonic acid may not be as meek as I thought.

Coke only contains phosphoric acid, not citric acid. However, in some countries, Coke is indeed made with citric acid instead of phosphoric. Coke changes ingredients around to fit local regulations. In Europe, Diet Coke uses acesulfame potassium ("ace-K"), aspartame and sodium cyclamate. Cyclamate's effect is to neutralize some of the bitterness of ace-K and aspartame, but it's banned in the US and some other countri…

[deleted]

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coke only contains phosphoric acid, not citric acid. However, in some countries, Coke is indeed made with citric acid instead of phosphoric. Coke changes ingredients around to fit local regulations. In Europe, Diet Coke uses acesulfame potassium ("ace-K"), aspartame and sodium cyclamate. Cyclamate's effect is to neutralize some of the bitterness of ace-K and aspartame, but it's banned in the US and some other countri…

Actually, the Diet Coke I have in front of me lists both acids in the ingredients. Not sure if only the diet version has both.

Well, I did say Coke, not Diet Coke. Diet Coke contains citric acid (but less than phosphoric), Coke does not.

(Downvotes, really?)

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#117

1 can of coke contains 160% of your recommended daily intake of sugar. But you won't see that on the label because money.

(This is probably pedantic.) USDA recommendation: "It is suggested that the maximal intake of added sugars be limited to providing no more than 25 percent of energy." (src: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/DRI/DRI_Tables/macronutrients.p...) For 2000 kcal, that would be 32.5g. Reads slightly different as a maximal intake rather than a RDA.

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try drinking water and eating fruit when you feel the urge to have a soft drink. Maybe you do already. It worked really well for me.

Try plain old soda water. It takes awhile to get used to it, but it's the most refreshing drink ever! It helps to start by adding a little lime juice to the soda water, but after a few months you won't need it. I started out bringing my own bottles from Safeway to the office, but other people started drinking it and now we go through about 40 liters a week.

I used to drink 1 liter or more club soda most days for several years. At some point I cut back considerably (at most .25 liter in a day), and just drank plain water most of the time. Anecdotally, I felt much more refreshed throughout the day. Comparing how I feel now to then, the soda would have a temporary feeling of being very refreshing, but I would feel thirsty much sooner than drinking plain water.

Re: What Coke Contains (2013)

#120
post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me get this straight: you're advocating commercial dough deep fried in corn or soy oil over some sugar? You have no idea what you're talking about. Sugar does not produce major swings in blood sugar levels unless you're diabetic. Have a working pancreas? Good, then sugars are a perfectly healthy source of calories which your system will merrily mop up into glycogen. Anyway, starch produces a larger insulin respon…

How on earth is it hard to eat 2500 calories?! What do you eat? Paper and cardboard? If you find yourself 400 calories short, try a pork pie. If you're 800 calories short, eat two. If you're 1200 calories short, stop skipping lunch.

I thought it was known by now that carbs are the Problem and not the solution.
Post reply on HN