Coke. That sweet, dark, fizzy nectar, synonymous with chiseled topless men, women swooning in appreciation, sports advertising and… hangovers.
The world’s most iconic drink is many things to many people, but before you reach for a can on your next break, you may want to read this infographic first. Then make a cup of tea instead…
10 minutes post-Coke
Your system is sucker-punched by 10 spoons of sugar (100% of your recommended daily intake). Phosphoric acid prevents you from being sick. Nice.
20 minutes post-Coke
Pow! Time for the insulin burst. Your liver reacts to this spike by turning any sugar it can hold onto into fat. Well, that’s just swell.
30 minutes post-Coke
Caffeine absorption complete: pupils dilate, blood pressure rises… You are PUMPED! You can achieve ANYTHING! Let’s do this! YEAH!
45 minutes post-Coke
Your dopamine production is firing on all cylinders. You are feeling serious pleasure right now. FYI, this is how heroin works. Not feeling so good now, are we?
60 minutes post-Coke
Uh-oh. Sugar crash incoming. God, you feel grumpy, tired, irritable. [Sample internal monologue] ‘Get away from me, humans. Why do my teeth feel fuzzy? Man, I need a wee [that’ll be the caffeine’s diuretic properties]. Maybe I should have another Coke? That’ll make me feel better. Yeah. I’ll do that…
