Drink Soda, Lose Weight? Stick to Real Food

November 28, 2001

There are so many fantastically unhealthy “health” products out there. Granola, fat-free salad dressings, yogurt that comes loaded with corn syrup. Japan just came out with the latest diet illusion: fat-blocking Pepsi Special. Yes, you read that right. The new product includes wheat dextrin, a soluble fiber that moves food through your system so quickly you can’t absorb as much fat as you usually would. (One of the side effects is extra trips to the bathroom.) Pepsi Special follows in the footsteps of Japan’s Mets Cola, which also contains dextrin and was released a few months ago to strong sales. Although it may be smart marketing to a culture obsessed with losing weight, this is bad nutrition. Dextrin does have a few health benefits, but adding it to soda only encourages more soda consumption, which negates any nutritional advantages. C’mon people, just eat some real food! Loading up your plate with whole grains, fruits and veggies will give you all the fiber you need without having to gorge on chemicals.