Soft Drinks

[GFreeMO]

I know that they are bad for me but a few times a week with a big bowl of salty popcorn, I like to have a soda. I have been sticking with Dr. Pepper b/c their website says that it is gluten free. I don't care for Pepsi but was wondering if Coke is gluten free as well. I did do a search on here and found mixed reviews. Can we safey drink regular Coke Classic? Thanks!

[sa1937]

Coke Classic is my drink of choice!

ETA: Well, actually I drink a lot of water...but will occasionally have a coke in the afternoon (like right now)

[psawyer]

Last I knew, the entire Coca-Cola line of cola beverages was gluten-free. Some people have issues with the sweeteners used, but that has nothing to do with gluten.

[GlutenGladi8or]

Drink AS MUCH water as you can per day -- rather than soda. Preferably 7-8 glasses actually.

Since you asked about soda, I am going to keep this thread on topic. With that said, the first ingredient (after water) in soda is HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup).

Do a bit of a google search on this ingredient and then you decide if you want to drink it daily.

[Emilushka]

I have an unrelated stomach issue with Diet Coke. It's not glutening, it's something to do with the cola. I miss my Diet Coke sometimes, but I just can't drink it. I don't have a problem with other artificial sweeteners or sweetened products, either.

[GFreeMO]

I did not say that I drink soft drinks every day GlutenGlaidi8or, I said that I have them a couple of times a week if I have popcorn in the evenings. I appreciate your thoughts on HFCS. I personally don't see anything wrong with it. As a celiac, we give up so much that I feel there is no reason not to enjoy a soda with friends on occasion.

[GlutenGladi8or]

As a celiac, we give up so much that I feel there is no reason not to enjoy a soda with friends on occasion.

Or a Rum & Coke on occasion as well!

Both are gluten free, but not for every day. (Noted)

[jerseyangel]

Coke and Pepsi products are gluten-free. I stay away from HFCS personally, but do like a soda now and then. I love Boylan's Cane Cola and Pepsi Throwback (sweetened with sugar) when I can find it.

[CarolinaKip]

I was a hardcore pepsi max drinker! I left all that behind to be bloat free! It was difficult to do so, but I've gone free on many things to be pain and bloat free! It's gluten-free and if you can drink, enjoy!

[GlutenFreeManna]

Just curious, I don't think Ihave seen any soda with gluten in it, do they exist? Can anyone share which ones need to be scrutinized/avoided because of gluten? I only drink soda when I'm at a party and there's nothing safe for me to eat. I try to go with something caffeine free like Sprite. It had not occurred to me to check for gluten in soda.

[kareng]

I think the only issue with a soda would be barley. I have not found any mainstream US ones with gluten. I have heard that small manufactured root beers or sodas might not be gluten-free. Our local specialty root beer/ soda maker is gluten-free. Barley malt sugar could be an issue with a small specialty soda maker but not likely.

[jerseyangel]

Just curious, I don't think Ihave seen any soda with gluten in it, do they exist? Can anyone share which ones need to be scrutinized/avoided because of gluten? I only drink soda when I'm at a party and there's nothing safe for me to eat. I try to go with something caffeine free like Sprite. It had not occurred to me to check for gluten in soda.

I've been gluten-free since 2005 and I've never come across or heard of any soda that contains gluten. Doesn't mean that there's not one out there but I doubt it.

[Emilushka]

For those of us with pop-related issues, I think gluten is not the culprit. Sometimes it's the carbonation, the particular acid in pop (I think that's my problem with brown colas), or the artificial sweetener. But with standard pops, it's not a gluten thing.

But as with any good Celiac, even when it's not gluten, it can totally be something else making you feel icky!

[MelindaLee]

I have an unrelated stomach issue with Diet Coke. It's not glutening, it's something to do with the cola. I miss my Diet Coke sometimes, but I just can't drink it. I don't have a problem with other artificial sweeteners or sweetened products, either.

I'm not sure what your issues with Diet Coke has been, but I found that I get heartburn like issues from Diet Coke. I have switched to Diet Coke Plus, or Coke One, which are differnt sweetners. That has eliminated the issue I was having. I would miss my diet coke, too!

[lucky97]

Well just FYI Diet Sunkist does list "modified food starch" in the ingredients, and I know I'm supposed to not have any modified food starch as it contains gluten.

[modiddly16]

False. Modified Food Starch does not have gluten in it in the United States.

[Bloated]

What about diet mtn dew?

[heatherjane]

What about diet mtn dew?

It's a pepsi product and therefore gluten free.

[rewham]

I was a hardcore pepsi max drinker! I left all that behind to be bloat free! It was difficult to do so, but I've gone free on many things to be pain and bloat free! It's gluten-free and if you can drink, enjoy!

So did the Pepsi Max actually cause pain or just bloating? I live on Coke One and/or Pepsi Max (depending on which is on sale). After being diagnosed with Celiac about 6 weeks ago, I went gluten (but NOT soft drink) free and the pain and most of the bloating I had been experiencing disappeared. Recently it has come back. I've made no change to my diet and can't figure out why. The only thing that I have had that it could possibly be is Pepsi Max. But would I just now be reacting to it? And would it mimic a gluten reaction? Perhaps my body has just reached a saturation point- and is too weak to tolerate it anymore?

[psawyer]

rewham, once you go gluten-free, the healing process begins. It takes time. Depending on the length of time your body was being damaged, the degree of damage sustained, and your age, it can take as much as three years. During that time, your damaged digestive system may react to almost anything, whether it has gluten or not. I reacted more than once to plain white rice, with extreme digestive symptoms (you don't really want to know the details).

Most dark soft drinks contain phosphoric acid, which can be a challenge to even a healthy system. Caffeine is another potential irritant. Neither have anything to do with gluten.

[kareng]

I have found that the artificial sweetener aspartame bothers me. I tried a diet soda with agave ? And was OK. I can drink the diet sodas with Splenda ( sucralose). The artificial sweeteners they put in candy malitol (?) also give me a stomach ache & bloating.

Just one more joyous thing to think about!

[Lisa]

Well just FYI Diet Sunkist does list "modified food starch" in the ingredients, and I know I'm supposed to not have any modified food starch as it contains gluten.

Lucky, if you live in the US Modified Food Starch is not a concern. Enjoy a Sunkist.

[plumbago]

Drink AS MUCH water as you can per day -- rather than soda. Preferably 7-8 glasses actually.

Since you asked about soda, I am going to keep this thread on topic. With that said, the first ingredient (after water) in soda is HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup).

Do a bit of a google search on this ingredient and then you decide if you want to drink it daily.

There are places, however, that sell Coca-Cola with sugar. In many stores, this is known as "Mexican Coke." I can buy it in DC and a couple other places. During Jewish holidays it is sometimes possible to buy kosher Coke, in some stores. It can be hard to find though. And of course, since it is imported it is more expensive. Coke made with sugar is, as far as I know, the old Coke.

I've read a lot of Gary Taubes. He thinks - or someone he wrote an article about thinks - that sugar is sugar. Doesn't matter if it's HFCS or not. I'm not sure the jury is in on HFCS. I'd like to get more facts before deciding.

I buy Mexican Coke or sugar Coke for the taste. It's way crisper.

But I buy it as a special treat - maybe 3-4 bottles a month.

Plumbago

[rewham]

rewham, once you go gluten-free, the healing process begins. It takes time. Depending on the length of time your body was being damaged, the degree of damage sustained, and your age, it can take as much as three years. During that time, your damaged digestive system may react to almost anything, whether it has gluten or not. I reacted more than once to plain white rice, with extreme digestive symptoms (you don't really want to know the details).

Most dark soft drinks contain phosphoric acid, which can be a challenge to even a healthy system. Caffeine is another potential irritant. Neither have anything to do with gluten.

Thank you- that is so good to know. I thought that I was going crazy. I'm going to give up soft drinks for awhile and see how it goes. I'm going to have to also learn to be a little more patient. ~sigh~