Nutritionist Reveals the Truth About Viral Protein Diet Coke—Is It Healthy or Hype?

It’s no secret that people across the country love a good soda (especially Diet Coke). Between its crispy bubbles and delightful flavor, it makes sense why it’s sold everywhere. Now, soda lovers are taking it further and adding protein to their fizzy drinks, specifically Diet Coke. We explore why they’re doing it, if it’s actually healthy for you and how to make it below.

What is protein Diet Coke?

Protein Diet Coke is the internet’s latest take on the dirty soda trend—which is especially popular in Utah, where it originated at the soda chain Swig. The phrase refers to a soft drink with added flavored syrups, creams and sweeteners.

Now, instead of adding vanilla syrup to their Diet Cokes, people have taken it one step further and are mixing in flavored protein drinks. This mixture has since gone viral on Tiktok, with people posting their personal recipes and reactions.

Dirty soda, soda and cream alcohol free mocktail. Iced sweet soda drink with non-dairy creamer, trendy cold summer cocktail, copy space — Rimma_Bondarenko/Getty

“I was expecting to like it, but I love it,” creator Wishbonekitchen said. “I think I’m going to start doing this every day.”

Others, like SmallerSam_PCOS, said that she didn’t like it but thought it might be because she added “too much protein shake.”

Is protein Diet Coke good for you?

People are adding protein to their Diet Coke in a bid to make the zero-calorie drink healthier, as many shakes contain at least 10 grams of protein.

However, Scott Keatley, RD and co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition has said “while adding protein [to a drink] can be beneficial, it’s not always necessary for everyone”—only those “who are active, trying to build muscle or have increased protein needs—such as during recovery.”

Would you try a protein Diet Coke?

But while the protein may be a boost, its mix-in may not.

“The carbonation and artificial sweeteners in Diet Coke may cause bloating or digestive discomfort, and Diet Coke itself offers no nutritional benefits to aid in protein absorption,” Keatley warns. “Not only does it lack any real nutritional value. But it can also be hard to digest due to the carbonation and sweeteners.”

It is also important to note that while there has been no concrete evidence that aspartame—a key ingredient in Diet Coke—causes cancer, the American Cancer Society warns that drinking nine cans or more a day of Diet Coke may put you at higher risk of consuming unsafe levels of the artificial sweetener.