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Coke: Health Supplement For Anemia?

Researchers are looking into the "healthy properties" of Coca-cola.

A new randomized cross-over trial is underway in the UK to see whether drinking Coke can assist with iron absorption

The study, [...] will compare the absorption of iron from a pizza meal consumed with Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or mineral water. (via Independent)

Yes. Pizza and Coke. For anemia.

Professor Susan Fairweather-Tait is leading the study:

[...] we need to find easy ways to help people absorb more iron. Drinking the right sorts of drinks with your meal is one way of doing that. If you have a fruit or acid drink with your meal we know you get more iron that if you have a cup of tea.

Fairweather-Tait is the programme leader of the Institute of Food Research and is no stranger to researching micro-nutrients.

The research seems astonishing. Rather than looking to change diet, we are looking at existing junk food diets and desperately searching for any positive aspects.

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20 Comments

Lose Weight With Me

Hey, Professor -- how about an iron supplement?

:-)

Brian

Reply
Purple_Pup

Fruit or an acid drink with your meal? Hmm, how about a whole orange with a iron tablet once a day since vitamin C helps absorption. I have to wonder if Coke isn't providing the funding for this study.

Reply
Jan

Orange juice with a steak would work better than pizza and coke, no?

And this is coming from the world's biggest diet cola addict.

Reply
Debbie

I agree with Jan on this one. Not to mention, if they start promoting Coke as a health food, the dental community will be happy.

Reply
Former Fat Guy

Good Lord! I dont think that the extra iron uptake is worth having Coke in our bodies. If you're going to have the Coke and Pizza, why not just suck on a nail?

Reply
Ponytail

But for lazy arses like myself who love Coke, and are slightly anaemic, this is good news ! Well, it would be if it wasn't for that report that says drinking Coca-Cola leeches calcium from your bones. Ooh, the dilemma - 'healthy' blood or strong bones ?

Really, as much as I love Coke, I think it's stupid to even suggest that there's anything healthy about Coke. The only way Coca Cola improves your health is a) gets your hangover on the road to the exit and b) brings a diabetic out of a hypo, in extreme conditions.

But I still WISH it were true...

Reply
Kate

Who, ermmm.... funded this "study"?

Statistics don't lie but liars use stats.

Reply
Cheri

statistics cn say anything the researcher wants, it's a matter of setting the right perameters while conducting the research

Reply
Jim

It's important to note here that the research is currently underway. No conclusions yet. Coca-cola (obviously) have funded the research - however the professor that is leading the study has published many papers on micro-nutrient absorption (including iron).

This will be an interesting one to watch.

Reply
Dr.J

I'm not sure about iron absorbtion, but I think it will desolve a nail tossed into a glass of it!

Reply
Jan
Dr.J said:
I'm not sure about iron absorbtion, but I think it will desolve a nail tossed into a glass of it![...]


Maybe that is the key: Coke is the only substance known to men that can dissolve pepperoni, that is why it increases iron absorption from pizza.

Reply
Never teh Bride

How about we just eat the dang fruit? Or has the nutritional community decided that people just aren't going to do that, so they had better find some junky alternatives?

Reply
Her Grace

Craziness. I'm with Kate -- is Coke the money behind this study?

Reply
Brandy

LOL. This is funny, in a rediculous painfull sort of way.

Reply
Kery

The research seems astonishing. Rather than looking to change diet, we are looking at existing junk food diets and desperately searching for any positive aspects.

You've put what I wanted to write before finishing reading out of my mouth. :)

That's just so far-fetched and ridiculous that it's almost funny. Almost. In an abnormal and deranged kind of way.

Reply
Kailash

Maybe Coca Cola does help in iron absorption, over water. Maybe any acidic food would do the same.

And eating radium kills cancerous cells. But so does eating apple seeds and kernels of stone fruit (peach, plum, apricot, etc.)

Maybe we can just eat the steak and some apples or apricots (including seeds)? And then after that, maybe we can eat some other food, haha.

Poison is not healthy. Only foods are meant to be eaten!

Reply
Charles

Are you kidding me?

In my opinion this borders on unethical and just plain stupid.

I'll also say that drugs have massive side effects so while they may help one symptom they cause 10 others.

Even if coke improves iron absorption, we already know from research that coke rots your teeth, causes osteoporosis, negatively affect ph balance, and wrecks your metabolism.

This study just doesn't make any sense.

It's like saying let's see if cutting someone with a knife helps to lower blood pressure.

The cure would be worse than the disease.

Reply
Kristen

THIS IS TRUE! I have been anemic forever. To fight the fatigue I was swallowing mass amounts of Diet Coke. I now have iron overload and they are considering Hemachromatosis. Be careful if you generally test with high iron. It IS good new for those that are anemic but dangerous for those that have liver issues (where iron is stored when built up)

Reply
migraine

hello good comment I learned so much.

Reply

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