Artificial Sweeteners
Sugar is not added to elicit a 'sweet' flavor. The sweet taste of Diet Coke comes from aspartame, an artificial sweetener. Aspartame is so sweet (200 times sweeter than sugar) that infinitesimally tiny amounts is added to emulate the sweetness of sugar. However, it is this addition of aspartame that has courted lot of criticism among health experts. Although approved by the FDA, studies have linked long-term use of aspartame to increased risk of a wide range of medical conditions, including seizures, birth defects, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems.
Caffeine
A 330 ml serving of Diet Coke provides around 42 mg of caffeine. The increased alertness after drinking Diet Coke is due to the presence of this caffeine. This is slightly higher when compared to other beverage brands that are available in the same size. For instance, 354 ml Diet Pepsi contains around 32 mg of caffeine. However, in case you are sensitive to caffeine intake, you can always choose the caffeine-free formulation of Diet Coke.
Preservatives
Preservatives are added to protect the beverages from deterioration caused by micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi. In the case of Diet Coke, the preservatives that keep the beverage safe from microbial effects are phosphoric acid, citric acid, and potassium benzoate. However, this phosphoric acid can be damaging to bone health, as it draws out calcium from the bones, eventually making them weak and brittle.
Caramel Color
Upon closely observing the beverage, you would notice that it appears darker and visually appealing. This is due to the addition of caramel color that enhances the color of naturally occurring ingredients as well as the flavor and taste. It is this caramel color that makes the beverage more desirable.
Sodium
One doesn't have to really worry about the amount of salt added in Diet Coke, as it is negligible. A half-liter can of Diet Coke contains around 20 mg of salt. As most people normally prefer the 330 ml can, the salt intake is further reduced to around 10 mg. Considering the daily recommended intake of sodium, which is around 2,000 mg, the sodium in Diet Coke is far from being a cause for concern.
Nutrition
Nutrition depends on which formulation of Diet Coke you are consuming. The regular Diet Coke is a nutritional failure, as it does not contain any vitamins or minerals. So, having a can of regular Diet Coke is like filling your stomach with empty calories. However, in case you opt for the new formulation, known as 'Diet Coca-Cola Plus' or Coca-Cola Light Plus, you won't be disappointed. This new formulation of Diet Coke launched in 2007 is added with vitamins B3, B12, and C. Another variant of Diet Coke Plus is fortified with different ingredients, namely antioxidants, green tea, and vitamin C.
Calories
The calories in Diet Coke are substantially less as compared to regular Coke. For instance, a 150 ml can contains around 0.5 calories (2.092 kilojoules). Whereas, the same amount of regular Coke contains a whopping 63 calories (263.592 kilojoules). This is the reason why it has become so popular among weight watchers.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/diet-coke-ingredients-and-nutrition-facts.html