If you’re pregnant, you probably don’t want to start drinking Coke. Although it contains aspartame, the amounts are small enough to be harmless. But what if you can’t give it up completely? Then you can try lowering your intake.
So can you drink coke when you’re pregnant? If you take the Food Standards Agency’s 200mg caffeine rule and apply it to a single can of coke, then technically no, you shouldn’t drink coke while pregnant. But if you drink one can of coke every day, that would be taking 4 x 200mgs of caffeine, which means in total you’re taking 800mgs of caffeine. So how much caffeine is that?
Sprite
It may be tempting to drink a Coke while you’re pregnant, but it may not be the best idea. The sugar in soda can be harmful to the fetus. It has been linked to problems like gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. It also increases the risk of obesity in the baby.
Drinking moderate amounts of coke is not harmful for the fetus. However, it is still important to limit caffeine intake. Experts recommend that pregnant women consume no more than 300mg of caffeine daily. Drinking more than this may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery. So, instead of drinking coke, try to replace it with healthier alternatives to keep your pregnancy safe and healthy.
Some women love drinking soda and can’t live without it. In fact, a Gallup poll showed that about 48 percent of American adults consume at least one can of soda daily. But some pregnant women wonder if soda will affect the baby’s development. Others think that it may cause hyperactivity in the unborn child. It’s important to remember that a can of soda contains 39 grams of sugar.
Diet Coke
Although drinking Diet Coke while pregnant may be tempting, it’s not recommended. It has high sugar content and can be harmful to a developing baby. Excess sugar intake is linked to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and preterm labor. It can also cause problems with taste perception and metabolism. Furthermore, it increases the risk of obesity in the baby.
The FDA categorizes artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose as generally safe for pregnant women, but they can cause health risks for the unborn baby. Soda is not a healthy beverage, but it is a common choice for many pregnant women. The caffeine and sugar in soda is difficult to digest for the fetus. Drinking too much of it can also cause side effects and harm to the unborn baby.
Studies have suggested that drinking Diet Coke while pregnant may affect the brain development of the child. Animal studies have pointed to changes in neurotransmitters in the brain. Pregnant women who consumed even one diet drink per day were twice as likely to give birth to a child who was overweight. However, this study was not able to prove cause and effect.
Regular Coke
There are many reasons why a woman should avoid drinking Regular Coke while pregnant. This type of soda contains a high amount of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients that can be dangerous for a pregnant woman. They may increase a woman’s risk of pregnancy complications and contribute to her weight gain. These additives may also affect her hormone levels and cause mood swings.
The Apta Club website suggests that pregnant women should limit their sugar intake to 30 grams a day, the equivalent of seven sugar cubes. A single 350ml can of Coke contains 39 grams of sugar, which is higher than the daily requirement. Consuming too much sugar during pregnancy has several health risks, including diabetes and pre -eclampsia. It can also increase the risk of child obesity.
While moderate amounts of Coke are perfectly safe during pregnancy, the consumption of Coca-Cola should not be substituted for nutritious food. Besides, drinking soda supplies empty calories, which are not essential to your baby. For instance, soda contains 35 to 55 mg of caffeine, which is more than enough to make a pregnant woman feel jittery and irritable.
If you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean that you can’t drink Coca-Cola at all. It’s just a case of keeping it within the recommended limit, and being aware that any additional caffeine will only make your pregnancy more stressful. But a little caffeine every now and again should be okay, so long as you try to stick to the lower caffeine options like Coke Zero and Diet Coke.