TikTok is home to many different types of content, but our favorites are beauty tips and health videos. A new trend has recently emerged on the app, in which users are making ‘Healthy Coke,’ an increasingly popular beverage that aims to serve as a “healthier” version of Coca-Cola, as some might say.
With millions of views and more and more videos related to the trend being uploaded each day, we checked in with registered nutritionists, dietitians and other health experts to see if ‘Healthy Coke’ is really worth the hype, and if it has weight loss and/or health benefits that many users have been raving about.
Read on for insight from Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, Jessi Holden, MS, RDN, registered dietitian and nutritionist at The Kitchen Invitation and Trista Best, registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements.
@mandyvjones @LaCroix Sparkling Water ♬ original sound – Amanda Jones
First Off, What Is ‘Healthy Coke?’
While the phrase ‘healthy Coke’ currently garners millions of views when searched on TikTok, user Amanda Jones first started using the term in her early June 2022 videos. In one viral clip, Jones can be seen creating an interesting concoction that she described as a better alternative for your body as opposed to a regular can of Coke. To make the drink, she started off with a handful of ice in a tall glass and then added a “splash of balsamic vinegar.”
Next, Jones poured in a sparkling beverage, specifically Guava Sao Paulo La Croix. She explained to her followers that “any sparkling beverage” can be used and then stirred her mix. “It honestly already looks like a Coke,” she said while stirring. “I swear to God, it tastes like a Coke, and it’s healthy, and it’s good for you.”
@pepperonimuffinThis was definitely something hashtag healthy coke♬ original sound – Kirsten Titus
So, Is This Drink Actually ‘Healthy?’
Regarding the plethora of health trends and recipes on the social media app, Richards tells us, “TikTok’s wide variety of ‘health’ trends give both helpful and (at times) dangerous ideas.” In the case of ‘healthy Coke,’ Richards dubs it as “not necessarily healthy, but also not dangerous. She adds that there are “no ingredients” in this recipe that would make it healthy, but she does think it is an “interesting alternative to traditional Coke,” as it’s made with seltzer water and balsamic vinegar.
Holden says that the ‘healthy Coke’ trend is “just that, a trend.” It’s a way of “flavoring carbonated water with vinegar and if you enjoy it as a beverage, have at it,” she says. “I will add if it helps you stay better hydrated because plain water can get boring, then yes it can aid in that.”
Holden notes that “finding a healthier relationship with food that doesn’t include restriction, diets, tracking, etc” is vital in order for something to be truly healthy. “I believe that if people want to enjoy soda but are saying things like, ‘I shouldn’t drink this soda’ then they have some food or beverage guilt problems they may want to work on,” she continues. “You can balance anything into a healthy and well-balanced day of intake.”
@healthylittlepeach A healthy version of a coke. Saw from @Amanda Jones #healthycoke #balsamicvinegar ♬ original sound – Ashley McCrary- Mac
Are There Any Weight Loss Benefits From ‘Healthy Coke?’
While some users may say on TikTok that this drink can inspire one to lose weight or make healthier choices, Best explains that real healthy weight loss won’t come from any of the ingredients within ‘healthy Coke.’ “If individuals are replacing their sugar and calorie-filled sodas with this mixture, it can result in some weight loss,” she says, although this weight loss “isn’t due to anything that healthy coke has to offer, but what it is lacking.” It is low to zero calories and no sugar, which when used in place of regular Coke can help with weight loss, she says.
