Is Dr. Pepper Good For You? Yes Or No.
On September 23, 2022 by Lucky WongDue to its high fructose corn syrup content, Dr. Pepper has 39g of sugar per can (12 fl oz), which is not very healthy. Additionally, it contains sodium benzoate and caramel color, both of which have been connected to potential carcinogens. There is also phosphoric acid in it, which can cause tooth decay and osteoporosis.
I’ll go over each of these ingredients and the science surrounding their nutritional value below. I’ll also talk about how Dr Pepper stacks up to Coke and other sodas, whether it’s okay to drink it every day, and whether it makes you fat.
Long Answer
It should be noted that some musicians have cited recreational drugs as sources of inspiration, despite one person interviewed at the age of 104 attributing her longevity to decades of daily Dr Pepper consumption. Dr. Pepper, which was first produced in Waco, Texas, in 1885, contains a lot of ingredients that have been connected to a number of serious health issues.
High fructose corn syrup is the first component that could raise concerns even among casual observers. HFCS has been connected to colon cancer, diabetes, kidney issues, and tooth decay. Caramel color, which is frequently used in other soda brands, is another component of Dr. Pepper. The additive caramel color has been linked to gastrointestinal and liver issues, hyperactivity, cancer, and, most alarmingly, lower white blood cell and lymphocyte counts (white blood cells are essential for disease defense). It’s unfortunate that the only function of caramel color is aesthetic. Similar to HFCS, phosphoric acid has been demonstrated to potentially harm the kidneys. Additionally, it might result in bone calcium loss and osteoporosis. We also have flavors that are artificial. To put it mildly, artificial flavors are chemically produced in a lab and have been connected to a wide range of side effects, including kidney damage, damage to the central nervous system, chest pain, and nausea.
While the majority of the ingredients in Dr Pepper are also present in other soda brands, there is one aspect that makes it unique: the 23 flavors (more of a fun fact than anything else). On the Internet, a list of the flavors that are deemed trade secrets is provided, including: amaretto, blackberry, almond, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla. However, it is noteworthy that at least one ingredient – prune – has been flatly disclaimed as an ingredient by the company, so this list should be treated with caution.
Analyzing Dr Pepper: What Can We Find In The Ingredient List?
The tangy flavor of Dr Pepper is what sets it apart and makes it so intriguing to consumers.
The business attributes this phenomenon to the “unique blend of 23 flavors” that are not available to the general public. Some consumers tried to get to the truth, comprising a list that circulates the internet: amaretto, blackberry, almond, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla. However, since the precise recipe and the combination are kept a business secret, this is still just a hunch.
Apart from the brisk flavour blend, most of the listed ingredients in Dr Pepper drinks are more or less common in sodas:
- carbonated water
- high-fructose corn syrup (sugar)
- caramel colour
- phosphoric acid
- natural and artificial flavors (not fully known)
- sodium benzoate (preservative)
- caffeine
Dr Pepper also released low-calorie options like the Diet Dr Pepper and Zero Sugar Dr Pepper, (Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper, Caffeine Free Diet Dr Pepper, Dr Pepper Diet, and Dr Pepper Cherry) that advertise having zero calories. The unique flavour and sweet taste are achieved with artificial sweeteners with Aspartame being the dominant one.
How Contaminating Is The High Fructose Corn Syrup In Dr Pepper?
The sweetener used in Dr. Pepper is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Furthermore, HFCS has a pretty bad reputation; many people think it’s even worse than regular table sugar. But is it really?
According to some studies, HFCS may increase appetite and promote obesity more so than regular sugar. Other research, though, refutes this. Overall, it’s still up for debate as to whether high fructose corn syrup is actually worse than regular sugar. (source)
But the real bottom line is this: Any high-sugar diet, whether it’s In addition to raising blood sugar, triglycerides, and blood pressure, HFCS and regular sugar both increase the risk of heart disease and obesity. (source)
So, when it comes to Dr Pepper, the real problem isn’t specifically the high fructose corn syrup… It’s just the amount of added sugar overall. Thirty-nine grams per can is a lot of sugar. And that’s not good for your health in the long run.
How Much Sodium Is In Dr Pepper?
Each 12 oz. can of Dr. Pepper contains about 55 mg of sodium. This only amounts to about 2% of the 2,300 mg of sodium per day recommended daily limit. Because of this, Dr. Pepper has a low sodium content.
Of course, if you consume Dr Pepper throughout the day, you could end up getting at least a few hundred milligrams of sodium from it. Therefore, if you’re trying to limit your sodium intake, you should still exercise caution.
Is Dr Pepper’s Sodium Benzoate Harmful?
Dr. Pepper uses the preservative sodium benzoate. There are very little traces of it. The FDA only permits the addition of sodium benzoate to foods in amounts that total 0.1% or less of their weight. However, some people are still worried.
The biggest concern is that sodium benzoate is able to convert to benzene, a known carcinogen, in certain conditions. This has drawn particular attention because soft drinks often contain sodium benzoate in addition to ascorbic acid. (source)
(Side note: Dr Pepper does not have ascorbic acid as an ingredient. Therefore, benzene should not be present in Dr. Pepper, theoretically.)
A study conducted between 2005 and 2007 revealed that 10 of the 200 soft drinks tested had benzene concentrations that were higher than the permitted levels (5 parts per billion).
After that, the offending soft drinks were reformulated to adhere to the permitted levels. But the study also showed ~60% of soft drinks had some measurable level of benzene.
Does Dr Pepper Cause Weight Gain?
Due to its high calorie content—150 calories per 12 oz. can—Dr. Pepper may cause weight gain. However, alterations in bodyweight depend on the overall calorie balance. So, if Dr. Pepper is consumed in moderation, weight gain is not a given.
Many people are unaware of the true factors that contribute to weight gain. In most cases, it is not brought on by consuming a particular unhealthy food. More calories consumed than you burn off overall leads to weight gain. The overall quantity of calories is what’s important.
For instance, eating unhealthy foods in large portions while neglecting to exercise can result in weight gain. In the same way, it’s been proven that you can lose weight by eating McDonald’s, if you only eat a little.
So, there’s a sense in which no specific food is “fattening.” Only overall diets can be fattening… However, there’s another sense in which Dr Pepper may indeed lead to weight gain: Simply put, it contains a large number of pointless calories that don’t actually fill you up.
This means that while drinking Dr. Pepper, you consume a lot of calories but little satisfaction. And you might easily end up eating more calories than you need for the day as a result. And in turn, that can cause weight gain.
Therefore, Dr. Pepper can indeed contribute to weight gain in some circumstances. But the actual key is your overall diet and calorie balance. Your diet doesn’t necessarily depend on one particular food.
If losing weight is your goal, you might want to keep track of your calories or try some of these 18 non-calorie counting weight loss tips. Your weight loss journey won’t be successful or unsuccessful solely based on whether you drink Dr. Pepper.
The Amount Of Sugar In Dr Pepper?
High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is essentially synthetic sugar made from corn syrup, adds sweetness to traditional Dr. Pepper soft drinks.
This drink comes in 12 fl oz cans with 40 g of sugar and 20 fl oz bottles with 64 g.
Coca Cola and Pepsi, two rival beverages, have nearly identical sugar contents, but that doesn’t rule out any potential problems.
Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for daily sugar intake recommendations, 5 to 10 teaspoons of refined sugar should be the daily maximum for maintaining a healthy diet. Given that a typical teaspoon can hold about 4g of sugar, one can of Dr. Pepper appears to be nearly sufficient to meet your daily sugar requirements.
Despite the fact that its stronger sweetness has made it one of the most popular sweetening options for beverages and other products, HFCS is much more frequently linked to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases than sucrose.
At some point, the company introduced a substitute, Dr Pepper “made with real sugar,” perhaps in response to the numerous new worries about HFCS consumption.
The Number Of Calories In Dr Pepper
A 12 oz. can of Dr. Pepper will increase your calorie intake by 150, excluding the “Diet” and “Zero Sugar” formulas, which isn’t much more than other carbonated drinks. (e.g. Fanta Orange has 160 calories per 12-ounce can, while Mountain Dew has 170 calories.
Flavoured options like Dr Pepper & Cream Soda, Dr Pepper Cherry, Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla remain in the calorie span of 150 – 170 kcal per 12 fl oz can.
Low-calorie does not always equate to healthy, though. When it comes to maintaining a healthy diet, the nature and quality of the ingredients are what matter.
How Much Caffeine Is In Dr Pepper?
According to the official Dr. Pepper website, an 8 fl oz can of classic and diet Dr. Pepper has 28 mg of caffeine, while other flavors have 26 mg.
Given that a typical cup of coffee contains between 100 and 140 mg of caffeine, a small can of Dr. Pepper is not particularly concerning, even for frequent coffee drinkers.
Nevertheless, a caffeine overdose can be dangerous, especially for people who consume a variety of caffeinated drinks and goods every day. Additionally, during pregnancy, caffeine consumption needs to be closely monitored.
Is Dr Pepper Better For You Than Coke?
Nutritionally, Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper are very similar. Each can (or 12 fl oz) of them contains 39g of sugar. Caramel color and phosphoric acid are potentially unhealthy ingredients in both of them. In addition, they both contain about the same amount of sodium (55 vs. Both Dr. Pepper and Coke are generally thought to be unhealthy.
Why not contrast Dr. Pepper with other sodas?
- Dr Pepper vs Sprite: Due to its lack of phosphoric acid and caramel color, Sprite may actually be slightly healthier than Dr. Pepper. (The amount of sugar is nearly equal.)
- Dr Pepper vs Pepsi: Comparing Pepsi and Dr. Pepper, Pepsi has about 2g more sugar per serving. Nearly the same ingredients are used. Nutritionally, these drinks are actually quite similar.
- Dr Pepper vs Mountain Dew: In comparison to Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper has about 7g less sugar per serving. Additionally, Mountain Dew contains the synthetic color Yellow 5, which some children may experience behavioral problems with. So it’s possible that Dr Pepper is a little healthier than Coke, but neither beverage is particularly healthy.
- Dr Pepper vs Root Beer: Barq’s Root Bear has about 6g more sugar per serving than Dr. Pepper. So it’s possible that Dr Pepper is slightly healthier, but again, neither drink is particularly healthy.
Really, any of these sugar-loaded sodas are not the healthiest choice. You can check out Zevia if you want a healthier soda option. Stevia is used to sweeten it rather than sugar.
Is Constant Dr Pepper Consumption Bad?
In general, drinking Dr. Pepper on a daily basis is bad. The American Heart Association’s suggested daily sugar limit is already exceeded after just one Dr. Pepper can.
Increased risk of obesity, heart disease, tooth decay, and other health issues are brought on by high-sugar diets. And if you drink even a can or two of Dr Pepper, you’ve already entered into the realm of “high sugar.”
Now, technically, you could drink one sip of You could still follow a low-sugar diet if you drink one Dr. Pepper per day. Therefore, that should be okay. But who is really stopping after one sip? Be realistic for a moment.
The most sensible guideline would be to only drink Dr Pepper and similar sodas on occasion. Avoid making it a daily ritual.
On the other hand, we’ll talk about a peculiar news story in the section after this that might go against this guidance.
Does Dr Pepper Lengthen Your Life?
A 104-year-old woman who attributes her longevity to Dr Pepper was featured in a news story a few years ago. She reportedly drank three Dr Peppers every day for the previous 40 years.
It was undoubtedly a humorous tale. Does the claim that Dr. Pepper extends your life, however, hold any water?
Well, probably not. There is no rational basis for anticipating that Dr. Pepper will lengthen your life. The majority of its ingredients are typically regarded as being harmful or neutral.
Some studies suggest there could be longevity benefits from long-term moderate caffeine intake. Therefore, it’s possible that the caffeine in Dr. Pepper will have a beneficial effect. Even so, there are probably much healthier options for caffeine than Dr. Pepper.
Is Dr Pepper Vegan?
Since there are no obvious animal ingredients, Dr. Pepper is typically regarded as vegan. However, there are several “gray area” ingredients for vegans: Natural flavor, caramel color, and sugar (in the “Real Sugar” flavor).
In essence, it is possible but unlikely that the ingredients used to create the caramel color or natural flavors are derived from animals. And the sugar in the “Real Sugar” flavor may have been filtered with animal bone char, although we don’t know that for sure.
Dr. Pepper can generally be consumed by vegans. For more on this topic, see my separate post: “Is Dr Pepper Vegan?”
Two More Recommendations For Your Plant-based Journey
1. The best free video training I’ve found on plant-based nutrition is this one. You’ll learn how to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity—all with plant-based food. Watch the free “Food for Health Masterclass” here.
2. In my 14 years as a vegan, I’ve found this to be the best vegan multivitamin. Only B12, D, and omega-3 vitamins are present. Translation: It only has the nutrients vegans are actually low in. Obtain a 10% discount by reading my complete Future Kind multivitamin review here.
Side Effects Of Drinking Too Much Dr Pepper
Due to their high concentrations of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine as well as their unlucky enormous popularity among teenagers and young children, sodas, including Dr. Pepper, have a well-known link to a number of short- and long-term health issues.
In fact, studies have shown that sugary soft drinks like Dr Pepper contribute to fast tooth decay in children and adolescents, due to the higher contents of sugary components (HFCS) and caffeine.
Another concern with high-fructose corn syrup overuse is potential obesity problems and its links to rapid weight gain in children, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Even the options that are sugar-free are a disguised devil, so the trouble doesn’t end here. Aspartame, the primary artificial sweetener in Diet and Zero Sugar Dr. Pepper, is also connected to a number of unsettling long-term health problems, including liver and kidney problems, oxidative stress in blood cells, immune system suppression, and even having cancerogenic properties.
Another dubious ingredient in Dr Pepper, phosphoric acid, has in recent studies been proved as a potential culprit for changes in urinary acidity, which can lead to kidney stone forming and thus chronic kidney disease.
Finally, when consumed in large amounts, carbonated sugary drinks are often linked to caffeine-induced short-term issues and discomforts, such as upset stomach, diarrhoea, increased blood sugar, nausea, hyperactivity (mostly in children), higher pulse rate, interrupted healthy sleep patterns, etc.
Faqs
Does Dr. Pepper On A Diet Make You Gain Weight?
Given that a large can (12 fl oz) of Dr Pepper has 150 calories, regular consumption shouldn’t have a significant impact on weight gain. Dr. Pepper can undoubtedly cause weight gain, though, if you consume large amounts of it every day.
Dr. Pepper Is Safe To Consume While Expecting.
Caffeine, which is present in Dr. Pepper in potentially dangerous amounts (more than 200 mg per day), poses a potential risk to future mothers and may even result in miscarriage.
Overall, a safe and controlled intake of Dr Pepper beverages shouldn’t cause any caffeine-related issues during pregnancy. Before self-dosing and using, it is highly advised that you speak with a professional to be on the safe side.
Does Dr. Pepper Harm Your Kidneys?
Yes, to an exaggerated extent. Diabetes, hypertension, and kidney stones are all risk factors for potential chronic kidney disease and are associated health issues when drinking excessive amounts of Dr. Pepper. Like most other soft drinks, drinking too much Dr Pepper could eventually lead to these long-term problems.
Does Dr. Pepper Have Any Positive Or Negative Health Effects?
As more studies and health reports on soft drinks are released, it appears that the only benefits we actually get from them are the quick (and transient) pick-me-ups and the flavor/sugar self-indulgence boosts.
You may also like
Tag
are sugar free energy drinks bad for you ashwagandha b12 baked beans beans beef belvita breakfast biscuits nutrition boost botox Caffeine can cbd gummies cause constipation can you drink matcha while pregnant can you workout after a facial chai tea coffee cycling does green tea dehydrate you drink dr pepper energy drink exercise exercise before blood test Getting A New Tattoo green tea health Healthy Living heinz baked beans how long do zero water filters last how to delay your period with lemon is argan oil comedogenic is decaf coffee diuretic is hydrogen peroxide bleach kidney stones magnesium and melatonin together Make You Poop matcha Microblading pregnant rosehip oil shampoo tea water water filter what is enzyme coffee Workout