Orbit, Coca-Cola, Diet, and Pepsi Max: Poison or not?

Samuel Morgan40 said:It’s not about medicinal properties; if it were, the price would be three times higher. It’s just the carbonation—you could drink sparkling water or anything else with CO2. It all comes down to which flavor you prefer. You could even drink walnut liqueur for all I care.

I don't think the price would actually triple. We're really talking about marketing positioning here. From a business standpoint, Coca-Cola is far more profitable when positioned in the carbonated soft drink category than it would be if they marketed it as a remedy for nausea and stomach aches.

Since a single product can really only occupy one niche in the market at a time, Coca-Cola stays right where it is.

That being said, my point still stands: if it was specifically Coca-Cola—and not just any sparkling water or walnut liqueur—that helped me when I was dealing with nausea and vomiting, then it's a valid observation.

Honestly, I can't stand the taste of small-batch Coca-Cola. If I’ve had five glasses of Cola in my entire life, that’s about it for me.

Samuel Morgan40 said:I often wonder about their liver health... given they're still breathing.

It's true. An acquaintance of mine, who consumed liters of Coca-Cola daily, ended up hospitalized with liver damage. He was subsequently banned from all carbonated drinks for life.

And he was only 23 at the time.

Kyle Lee7 said:I don't think the price would actually triple. We're really talking about marketing positioning here. From a business standpoint, Coca-Cola is far more profitable when positioned in the carbonated soft drink category than it would be if they marketed it as a remedy for nausea and stomach aches.

Since a single product can really only occupy one niche in the market at a time, Coca-Cola stays right where it is.

That being said, my point still stands: if it was specifically Coca-Cola—and not just any sparkling water or walnut liqueur—that helped me when I was dealing with nausea and vomiting, then it's a valid observation.

I suspect you might have missed the point of my previous post entirely. That bit about the price was just something I threw out there—it wasn't meant to imply its primary marketing purpose; rather, it was my sarcastic response to your claim that it has medicinal properties, which simply isn't true. "Medicinal" implies something specific, and we certainly can't define it based on whether it happens to make you feel better, especially when it might actually make someone else feel worse. We could argue that it helps settle your stomach after you've felt nauseous, perhaps, but calling it medicinal is a stretch since it doesn't actually treat any underlying disease or syndrome. You get what I'm saying? 😉

Cola works for your stomach just like any other carbonated drink.
There’s nothing magical or medicinal about it; it’s just the CO2 doing the heavy lifting by helping you burp out that trapped air, which is what actually settles the nausea and stomach aches.

Rachel Garcia said:It's true. An acquaintance of mine, who consumed liters of Coca-Cola daily, ended up hospitalized with liver damage. He was subsequently banned from all carbonated drinks for life.

And he was only 23 at the time.

Nothing is ever truly good for you if you overdo it, really. I remember seeing this woman at some contest—one of those things where people compete to see who can chug the most water in a short period for a PlayStation prize—and she just collapsed right there... but yeah, moderation is the best way to go. Then again, you have to die from something eventually, so I suppose it’s a bit silly to obsess over how much "poison" is in a damn Coca-Cola; if it were actually as toxic as everyone claims, they wouldn't be able to sell it in the first place.

Samuel Morgan40 said:I suspect you might have missed the point of my previous post entirely. That bit about the price was just something I threw out there—it wasn't meant to imply its primary marketing purpose; rather, it was my sarcastic response to your claim that it has medicinal properties, which simply isn't true. "Medicinal" implies something specific, and we certainly can't define it based on whether it happens to make you feel better, especially when it might actually make someone else feel worse. We could argue that it helps settle your stomach after you've felt nauseous, perhaps, but calling it medicinal is a stretch since it doesn't actually treat any underlying disease or syndrome. You get what I'm saying? 😉

Oh, I definitely realize how much you enjoy playing teacher.
But since you’ve decided to take me under your wing with such unearned confidence, why don't you take a look at the rest of my thoughts here:

Kyle Lee7 said:It's not like I'd suggest it as a prescription, but hey—it can be helpful. At least for me.

I'm not suggesting Coca-Cola is actually a medicine, nor would anyone ever write it on a prescription pad, but strictly off the record? Yes, it helps a lot of people deal with stomach discomfort.
And no, it wasn't about needing to burp; I was dealing with heatstroke accompanied by vomiting so intense I could barely function (which, if I recall, was mentioned in the original post).

I'll hold off on debating the technical definition of "medicinal"—this is just a casual chat, and there's really no need to nitpick every single word.

You really don't seem to know how to take a bit of criticism, do you?👎 I’m not even going to address the personal jabs or the implication that I’m somehow "uneducated"—I simply have no comment on those.
Look, if you’re out here claiming that something has medicinal properties—even if you aren't speaking specifically for yourself—then I think I’m entitled to react to that statement just like anyone else.
You say this is a casual topic, but we aren't exactly posting in a casual subforum, are we?
If you have some personal philosophy regarding healing or a specific definition you'd like to share, I’d certainly be interested in hearing it, but there’s really no reason to get defensive. 🤷

Here is your original post:

Kyle Lee7 said:Coca-Cola actually has medicinal properties, and it helped me twice when I was dealing with nausea and stomach issues (like after overeating, for instance).
Once, I had heatstroke accompanied by vomiting—it was absolutely terrifying—and in the end, I drank a little Cola; I just felt a sudden need for it, and I felt better.

It’s not that I’m suggesting it as a prescription, but... well, it helps. At least for me.
I don't drink it regularly, just occasionally.

Just because it happened to help you twice doesn't mean we can label this drink as having medicinal qualities.

Samuel Morgan40 said:You really don't seem to know how to take a bit of criticism, do you?👎 I’m not even going to address the personal jabs or the implication that I’m somehow "uneducated"—I simply have no comment on those.
Look, if you’re out here claiming that something has medicinal properties—even if you aren't speaking specifically for yourself—then I think I’m entitled to react to that statement just like anyone else.
You say this is a casual topic, but we aren't exactly posting in a casual subforum, are we?
If you have some personal philosophy regarding healing or a specific definition you'd like to share, I’d certainly be interested in hearing it, but there’s really no reason to get defensive. 🤷

Here is your original post:

Just because it happened to help you twice doesn't mean we can label this drink as having medicinal qualities.

Yeah, I don't know. ☕
The issue isn't about me reacting; it's about that condescending tone you're using—as if those little winking emojis are supposed to mask the attitude?
All that irony, the "get it?" vibes, the "I didn't realize" comments, etc.

Since we're being so serious about semantics, let's just take back the word "healing" entirely. It's not that I wasn't clear, and it's certainly not that my intention was vague when you look at the WHOLE post instead of just dissecting every single sentence.

I should point out—this isn't just based on my own experience; there are plenty of other cases, and I've even heard doctors suggest having a Cola in certain situations.
I'm not advocating for drinking Cola; in fact, I avoid it because I don't think it's healthy for daily consumption. But I do believe that in small amounts, it can help in certain scenarios.

Kyle Lee7 said:Yeah, I don't know. ☕
The issue isn't about me reacting; it's about that condescending tone you're using—as if those little winking emojis are supposed to mask the attitude?
All that irony, the "get it?" vibes, the "I didn't realize" comments, etc.

Since we're being so serious about semantics, let's just take back the word "healing" entirely. It's not that I wasn't clear, and it's certainly not that my intention was vague when you look at the WHOLE post instead of just dissecting every single sentence.

I should point out—this isn't just based on my own experience; there are plenty of other cases, and I've even heard doctors suggest having a Cola in certain situations.
I'm not advocating for drinking Cola; in fact, I avoid it because I don't think it's healthy for daily consumption. But I do believe that in small amounts, it can help in certain scenarios.

My own doctors have actually recommended it several times for specific digestive issues (I won't go into detail 😬). Specifically, some Cola and salty pretzels.
(And I’m not trying to start a debate about whether pretzels are healthy or not. 😁 I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea.)

Otherwise, I only have it a few times a year, if that, as I don't consider it healthy. Just like any other store-bought soda, sparkling or still...

It’s honestly pretty fascinating to me, watching some people go on these endless tangents about how Coca-Cola isn't "healthy." As if their personal opinion somehow changes the reality of the situation...🤣
I mean, you’re the ones living in your own skin, so you’re the real experts on what Coca-Cola actually does to your body...

Nathan Howard75 said:It’s honestly pretty fascinating to me, watching some people go on these endless tangents about how Coca-Cola isn't "healthy." As if their personal opinion somehow changes the reality of the situation...🤣
I mean, you’re the ones living in your own skin, so you’re the real experts on what Coca-Cola actually does to your body...

If this comment is directed at me—you're right. I don't claim to know exactly how Cola interacts with my biology, nor can I list every single ingredient and its specific impact on my system. All I know is it's loaded with sugar, which I try to avoid for certain reasons. So, let me rephrase—in that sense, I don't just think it isn't healthy, I KNOW it isn't (for me). As for everyone else, that's their business...

Kyle Lee7 said:Yeah, I don't know. ☕
The issue isn't about me reacting; it's about that condescending tone you're using—as if those little winking emojis are supposed to mask the attitude?
All that irony, the "get it?" vibes, the "I didn't realize" comments, etc.

Since we're being so serious about semantics, let's just take back the word "healing" entirely. It's not that I wasn't clear, and it's certainly not that my intention was vague when you look at the WHOLE post instead of just dissecting every single sentence.

I should point out—this isn't just based on my own experience; there are plenty of other cases, and I've even heard doctors suggest having a Cola in certain situations.
I'm not advocating for drinking Cola; in fact, I avoid it because I don't think it's healthy for daily consumption. But I do believe that in small amounts, it can help in certain scenarios.

What tone is being talked about here? I simply stated that it wasn't a cure-all and clarified my point. Apparently, now when I talk to you, I have to carefully curate which emojis I select just to cushion my "condescending tones." Fine then, whatever. My bad if you felt personally attacked by a bit of criticism.

loneowl45 said:Now, I should probably clarify that even though I tend to be a bit of an anti-consumerist at heart, this isn't meant to be some kind of political manifesto. It’s actually more about health, because my mother just gave me quite a lecture earlier. She mentioned that dentists have been noticing that almost all carbonated drinks—aside from sparkling mineral water, though even they aren't entirely sure about that yet—can really damage your enamel and contribute to gum disease.

So, I suppose if you want to avoid ending up with a smile like 😬, it might be a good idea to steer clear of sodas.

Don't let them break your spirit. Next thing you know, my wife will decide staring at a monitor ruins your eyesight, and she'll try to toss my computer and the TV out the window (though, okay, maybe not the TV—you still need something to watch when you're stuck staring at the wall).

Nathan Howard75 said:It’s honestly pretty fascinating to me, watching some people go on these endless tangents about how Coca-Cola isn't "healthy." As if their personal opinion somehow changes the reality of the situation...🤣
I mean, you’re the ones living in your own skin, so you’re the real experts on what Coca-Cola actually does to your body...

And look, if someone wants to chug one every single day, that’s their business. I don't care.

I’ll have one every once in a while, and I don't think I'm going to drop dead if I have a glass of Cola once a month, but I have zero intention of drinking it more often than that.

loneowl45 said:Now, I should probably clarify that even though I tend to be a bit of an anti-consumerist at heart, this isn't meant to be some kind of political manifesto. It’s actually more about health, because my mother just gave me quite a lecture earlier. She mentioned that dentists have been noticing that almost all carbonated drinks—aside from sparkling mineral water, though even they aren't entirely sure about that yet—can really damage your enamel and contribute to gum disease.

So, I suppose if you want to avoid ending up with a smile like 😬, it might be a good idea to steer clear of sodas.

The absolute truth.

That goes for everything except Coca-Cola, and especially Tangerine.

If you’ve got cavities, you can feel the pain just 15 minutes after drinking one. It's proof enough. You don't get that reaction from eating solid food.

I realize that Coca-Cola isn't exactly great for one's health, but I seem to have developed quite a dependency on it; if I don't manage to have at least one glass a day, I feel completely off balance. I suppose it sounds a bit ridiculous, but I really am struggling with it—yesterday, I think I ended up drinking about three and a half liters...🙂