Most women may be apprehensive about drinking coke during pregnancy because they are unsure of its safety. Coke is a carbonated drink with caffeine and sugar. It does not have much nutritional value.
Drinking coke might not be hazardous to health if you stick to consuming the recommended amount of caffeine. Also, the drink does not have any nutrition, and the caffeine present in coke becomes difficult to be digested by the fetus. Therefore, excess consumption of coke might lead to side effects and elevate the risk of health issues like diabetes and heartburn.
Read the post to learn about the safety of consuming coke during pregnancy, the permitted dosage of caffeine for pregnant women, and the side effects of drinking excess coke.
What Is Coke And How Is It Made?
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Wikipedia defines Cola as a beverage that has been carbonated and flavored. Traditionally, the Cola constituted of caffeine from Kola Nut, cocaine from Cola leaves, and vanilla as the flavoring agent. However, now cocaine usage has been stopped, and even flavoring extends beyond the vanilla flavor. And that’s the reason you now see all varieties of drinks available in the market.
Did You Know?Preparation of Coke is pretty simple, the machines fill the clean bottle with water, and then sugar is added. The machine then mixes the sugar water with a secret formula [whose recipe, ingredients, and the proportion are known to very few companies] and is topped with some caramel coloring. Finally, carbon dioxide is added to the mixture to make the soft drink fizzy and then bottled up (1).
Nutritional Value Of Coke
So Coke mainly consists of
- Sugar
- Carbon Dioxide – making it acidic in nature
- Caffeine
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Preservatives
Let’s look at the sugar and caffeine value of some of the common drinks (2):
| Drink Name | Sugar Content [g/100ml] | Caffeine Content [mg] |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola [Classic] | 11.1 | 34.0 |
| Pepsi [Classic] | 11.4 | 37.5 |
| Sprite | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mountain Dew | 12.0 | 55.0 |
Is Drinking Coke During Pregnancy Safe?
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To answer it in one line, yes, it is safe if you restrict caffeine intake to 300mg daily. But limiting does not guarantee that its side effects are now nil. Mostly caffeine takes a bit longer in getting digested, and as pregnancy progresses, even the breaking down of caffeine slows down, exposing the unborn baby to the ill effects of caffeine.
Drinking coke during pregnancy might not be a good option as it does not offer any nutritional value, and the calories which you keep on sipping are considered to be empty calories. And we all know how important it is for a pregnant woman to take a balanced and nutritious diet. So limiting soda consumption is crucial.
The Side Effects Of Exceeding The Permissible Limit Of Coke
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Caffeine present in the coke, which is present in a woman’s body in the indigestible form, reaches through the placenta, and the baby absorbs it completely. Studies have shown that in the body of a pregnant woman, caffeine is present for up to 11 hours. But the fetus can retain it until 100 hours, for the simple reason that they are developing babies and don’t have necessary enzymes to detoxify and break down caffeine.
For the pregnant woman, if she is exceeding the daily measure of coke, it could result in:
- Dilated pupils
- Opening of bronchial tubes
- Increase in heart rate
- Higher blood pressure
- Discharge of insulin into the blood stream from the liver
- Tightened muscles
- Higher metabolism
- Could result in Miscarriage
- Reduced Fertility
- Diuretic in nature and makes our body lose water.
- Insomnia
Also, for the fetus it has an adverse effect as it could lead to:
- Birth Defects
- Pre-Term Delivery
- Low Birth Weight
What Are The Sweeteners And Preservatives Added To Coke?
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Don’t be fooled by Zero Sugar or diet coke labels which give the impression that they don’t have sugar. Most of the aerated soft drinks come with artificial sugars. Studies have shown that sweeteners, flavoring agents, and preservatives are not advisable for pregnant women. Moreover, consuming excessive amounts of sugar in pregnancy might increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Some of the commonly used sweeteners are:
- Aspartame (NutraSweet) – It is a safe sweetener, but you should consume it in a moderate quantity. In fact, studies have shown that a pregnant woman should avoid this sweetener as it could also cause depression or chronic pain.
- Sucralose (Splenda) – This is just a modified version of table sugar and is pretty much safe during pregnancy (1).
- Saccharin (Sweet and Low) – This sweetener can cross the placenta and is considered to be safe for the baby but again you should be taking it in a moderate quantity.
Research findsDo You Wish To Get Away With Coke Cravings?
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Pregnancy makes a woman crave many things, but she needs to know which things are safe to indulge in. It is not easy to kick the habit! But you need to remember to cut down on caffeinated drinks to ensure proper fetal growth and development. So look out for these options as an alternative, and if you still feel the urge, sip it and keep it within safe limits. Drink it occasionally and not regularly to avoid the adverse effects of cold drinks during pregnancy.
- Cut the caffeine slowly. Don’t just hash it.
- Look for options which have no caffeine like Decaf Coffee.
- Exercise, to fight against the withdrawal symptoms and keep yourself refreshed.
- Drink lots of water and healthy fluids.
Food Items To Try Out:
- Fresh fruit juice
- Lime water
- Lassi [sweet and salted]
- Aam pana or raw mango water
- Coconut water
- Homemade smoothies
Marie, a mother, wardrobe stylist, and actor, shares her take on soda during pregnancy. She says, “I have completely cut out diet pop, which was very hard for me but I did it and my guts thank me, but sometimes I will have a Coke as a treat. That’s all I drink for caffeine. But I mostly drink water with lemon (i).”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the sugar in soda safe during pregnancy?
Over-consumption of sugar-laden soda or soda pop may cause adverse effects on maternal health as excessive sugar consumption is linked to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, problems with metabolism, taste perception, and an increased risk of obesity in babies (3).
2. How many diet cokes can I drink when pregnant?
Research done in Canada has found that pregnant women who drank artificially sweetened sugary beverages gave birth to heavier babies than those who did not. Therefore, you may occasionally have a serving of diet coke. But it is best to skip artificially sweetened drinks during pregnancy (4).
3. What kind of soda can I drink during pregnancy?
You can try seltzer or carbonated water to help with nausea. However, be sure to limit your intake of sodas during pregnancy and consume them in moderation.
4. Can drinking Coke during pregnancy cause heartburn and acid reflux?
Drinking Coke or other sugary drinks in moderation during pregnancy is generally safe, but excessive consumption may increase the risk of heartburn. Soda contains acid that can irritate the stomach lining, causing heartburn and acid reflux (5).
5. Can drinking Coke during pregnancy cause diarrhea?
Experts suggest that it is best to limit caffeine intake to 300 mg a day during pregnancy to avoid the risk of adverse effects. Hence, you may occasionally grab a glass of coke during pregnancy but not make it a part of your daily routine. Moreover, consuming higher amounts of caffeinated beverages could put you and your baby at risk of pregnancy and birth complications such as preeclampsia and preterm delivery. Nevertheless, it would be great to try out healthier alternatives for caffeine while pregnant.
Infographic: Health Effects Of Having Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy
Many soda manufacturers add artificial sweeteners to their drinks. Therefore, you need to be cautious about consuming them, especially during pregnancy, as the preservatives and sweeteners may harm your and your baby’s health. Check out the infographic below to learn how having artificially sweetened beverages when pregnant can affect your baby’s health after birth. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Coke contains caffeine, carbon dioxide, and large amounts of sugar.
- Moderate consumption of coke is not hazardous for pregnant women.
- Excessive intake of coke during pregnancy can lead to various adverse effects such as miscarriage, birth defects, pre-term delivery, low birth weight, insomnia, and reduced fertility.
- To avoid harmful cravings during pregnancy, it is recommended to replace coke with safe options like coconut water, decaf coffee, and homemade smoothies.
Illustration: Coke During Pregnancy: Is It Safe To Drink?
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. How I’m staying healthy during my pregnancy.https://mariealamode.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-im-staying-healthy-during-my.html
References
- The Secret Science of Soda.
https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/secret-science-stuff/soda-pop.html - Caffeine Content Of Popular Drinks.
http://www.math.utah.edu/~yplee/fun/caffeine.html - Effects of consuming sugars and alternative sweeteners during pregnancy on maternal and child health: evidence for a secondhand sugar effect
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30501650/ - Why pregnant women should avoid artificially sweetened beverages
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pregnant-women-avoid-artificially-sweetened-beverages-201605179714 - 6 Reasons to Stop Drinking Pop
https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/blogs/6-reasons-to-stop-drinking-soda - 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have IBS
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/5-foods-to-avoid-if-you-have-ibs - 7 foods that might make you “go”
https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2017/10/16/20/49/7-foods-that-might-make-you-go - Did Coca-Cola Ever Contain Cocaine?
https://www.justthinktwice.gov/article/did-coca-cola-ever-contain-cocaine#:~:text - Consuming sweeteners during pregnancy may affect baby’s microbiome and obesity risk.
https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2022/01/14/consuming-sweeteners-during-pregnancy-may-affect-babys-microbiome-and-obesity-risk
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