There's a good reason why cola is such a popular beverage: it is delicious. A cold glass of cola on a hot summer's day, mixed with your spirit of choice in an easy cocktail, or fresh from a soda fountain at a fast food chain - it's a versatile drink that tickles the taste buds.
That said, as a sugary, carbonated beverage, it's no secret that cola isn't particularly good for our health. With that in mind, many people reach for diet cola and sugar-free versions believing them to be better for them, and going on to indulge with abandon.
One such diet cola lover is tech baron, Tesla, SpaceX and X leader, and Senior Advisor to the President of the United States Elon Musk. The 53-year-old has described how he likes to drink 'tons of Diet Coke', which experts say might not be the healthiest decision.
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While opting for diet soda means drinkers avoid the spoonfuls of sugar in regular drinks, the sweetness is instead created by aspartame, a chemical sweetener - which also isn't good for you.
"As soon as you taste the sweetness of [diet cola], your body prepares for the sugar load and causes your pancreas to release insulin," Ella Allred, technical nutritionist at NutriCentre, told MailOnline.
"The insulin surge decreases the pancreases sensitivity to insulin, putting you at risk of developing diabetes type 2. The insulin triggers your body to store fat around your middle, and increases your risk of developing heart disease."
Allred also warns that when aspartame reaches the brain it can act as 'a neurotoxin, which in some people may trigger migraines and other neurological problems'.
As such, people are encouraged to avoid these diet sodas, enjoying them in moderation if not giving them up altogether.
So, what happened when Elon Musk decided to give up his beloved Diet Coke?
"I used to drink tons of Diet Coke but it's been one month since I've had a drop," Musk posted on X to his 219.9 million followers on January 24, 2025.
"I want to share some of the changes I've observed in myself over that time," he continued.
In a list of the effects he felt, Musk wrote: "My health is unchanged. I'm less happy. My one source of joy is gone."
"Thanks for encouraging me on this journey!" he quipped.
While this is just one (very, very rich) man's experience, plenty of experts say that giving up fizzy drinks - diet or otherwise - could have a great impact on one's health. But as they say, everything in moderation - just maybe don't feel free to guzzle loads of the stuff based on one X post by Elon Musk.
FOODBible has contacted Coca-Cola for comment.
Rachael Davis