You Will Never Look at Soda the Same Way Again After Reading This
Hint: there's enough sugar to make huge lollipops.
After all the harrowing news you've heard about what soda can do to your body (think The Renegade Pharmacist's viral infographic), you've most likely trained yourself to opt for hydration over satisfying your sweet tooth by now.
Even though you're well aware that reaching for a a bottle of Fiji water will always be a better choice than guzzling down a can of Coke, have you ever really thought about the amount of sugar used to make your favorite fizzy drink?
Food photographer Henry Hargreaves has. While trying to capture what 77 grams of sugar (the average for a bottle of Mountain Dew) actually looks like, the New Zealand-born artist made a very interesting discovery.
"After recently hearing a health professional refer to soda as 'the cigarettes of our generation,' I decided to do an experiment to show what's in soft drinks after the water is boiled away — in other words, dehydrating the hydrator," Hargreaves told Mashable. "Once boiled, I took each remaining substance and poured it into a lollipop mold. After all, I figure that's what you're essentially getting: candy in costume as a soft drink."
Here, five visuals of the sugar (in the form of oversized lollipops) you unknowingly consume:
1. Mountain Dew, 77 grams of sugar
2. Coke, 39 grams of sugar
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
3. Jarritos, 29 grams of sugar
4. Snapple, 46 grams of sugar
5. Vitamin Water, 33 grams of sugar
-
Only Three Episodes of 'The Traitors' Season 3 Have Dropped, But the Traitors Are Already Headed for Betrayal
The producers truly chose chaos for this installment of Peacock's reality hit.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
This $4,900 Bag Is the Hero of Hailey Bieber's Mom Style
A case for the oversized staple.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Here's Where Textured Hair Education in America Stands in 2025
Meet the leaders behind the movement for more equitable hair care.
By Kayla Greaves Published
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
By Senator Amy Klobuchar Published
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
By Lauryn Chamberlain Published
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
By Kenny Thapoung Published
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
By Alice Oglethorpe Published
-
I Used to Imagine Murdering the Men I Dated
Falling in love helped me finally figure out why.
By Jessica Amento Published
-
60 Workout Apps for Women Who Want Results (Without a Gym Membership)
Easy fitness plans you can follow without fear of judgment.
By Bianca Rodriguez Published