Exclusive:
Nutritionist Helen Bell has delved into Dua Lipa’s viral cocktail. Although she thinks it’s ‘more about the novelty’, there are some benefits to the ingredients included
If you’ve been on TikTok this past week, you’ve probably stumbled upon Dua Lipa’s divisive viral Diet Coke recipe. It’s a peculiar concoction of the fizzy drink, pickles, and jalapenos that has her fans split down the middle.
While the Mirror’s taste-testers suggest the mixture is ‘extremely bitter’ and far too ‘overpowering’, others at JustEat insist its vinegarish punch hits the spot. But what do the health experts think?
Helen Bell, a nutritionist at Help & Advice has now weighed in on the conversation. While she asserts it’s ‘more of a fad’ than anything, she did acknowledge that many components boast their own nutritional benefits.
In an exclusive conversation with the Mirror, she explained: “In my experience, I’d say that mixing ingredients such as Diet Coke, pickles, pickle juice, jalapenos, and jalapeno juice in a single beverage is more about the novelty than health benefits. While each component has its own nutritional properties, the combination as a whole, I’m not sure it does offer significant health benefits. Here is how I see the drink breaking down.”
First in Helen’s rundown was the Diet Coke, which she said is ‘generally fine’ in moderation but void of essential nutrients. Though, she noted an uptick in potential health merits when adding pickles and pickle juice to the mix.
Crucially, these low fat foods boast huge volumes of vitamin K, A, and magnesium, as well as 6% of the calcium adults need for strong bones and ‘healthy nerves’, according to WebMD. However, Helen does warn their high sodium content may be a concern for anyone monitoring their salt intake.
She explained: “Pickles are low in calories and can offer some vitamins and minerals, but they are high in sodium. Pickle juice is sometimes consumed for its electrolytes, but the high sodium content can be a concern, especially for those monitoring their salt intake.”
Moving on to the jalapenos and their juices, Helen highlighted their potential as an excellent source of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. This can play an important role in our bodies – from making wounds heal, to maintaining healthy skin, according to the NHS.
Nonetheless, she believes that including them in a mixed drink would largely diminish their main health benefits. She summarised: “Jalapenos are a good source of vitamin C and can add a bit of spiciness. They may boost metabolism slightly, but in a mixed drink like this, the health impact is minimal.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below
