
Diet Coke is often thought of as a calorie-free drink, but this is not strictly true. While the number of calories in a can of Diet Coke is very small, it is not zero. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 125 mg of aspartame, an artificial sweetener, which has the same caloric count as a normal protein in the diet – 4 calories per gram. This means that a can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories, compared to 150 calories in a can of regular Coke.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories | Diet Coke does contain a very small number of calories, but it is not calorie-free. |
| Calories per can | A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories. |
| Calories per gram | Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, has 4 calories per gram. |
| Comparison to regular Coke | Diet Coke has 335 times fewer calories than a 12-ounce can of regular Coke. |
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What You'll Learn
- Diet Coke does contain calories, but only a very small amount
- Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, has a chemical structure that contains calories
- A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories
- Diet Coke has 335 times fewer calories than a regular Coke
- The average American consumes the equivalent of 8,035 cans of Diet Coke per day

Diet Coke does contain calories, but only a very small amount
The average American consumes 3,600 calories per day, which is the equivalent of 8,035 cans of Diet Coke. This is because carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram, and fats have 9 calories per gram. Methanol makes up 10% of the weight of aspartame, so the total weight of what remains once the methanol is removed is 113 mg. This means that there are 0.452 calories in a 12-ounce can of Diet Coke.
While Diet Coke does contain a very small number of calories, it is still a much lower-calorie option than regular Coke.
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Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, has a chemical structure that contains calories
Diet Coke is marketed as a calorie-free alternative to regular Coke. However, it does contain a very small number of calories. This is because of the chemical structure of aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in Diet Coke. Aspartame is counted as a tiny protein, and one would expect it to have the same caloric count as a normal protein in the diet – 4 calories per gram. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 125 mg of aspartame, 113 mg of which is the "protein aspartylphenylalanine. This means that a can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories. This is a very small number, but it is not zero. By comparison, a 12-ounce can of Coke contains 150 calories – 335 times that found in a Diet Coke.
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A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories
Diet Coke is often believed to be a calorie-free drink. However, this is not strictly true. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories. This is because the artificial sweetener aspartame has a chemical structure that contains calories.
Aspartame is counted as a tiny protein, and one gram of protein contains four calories. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 125 mg of aspartame, 113 mg of which is the "protein aspartylphenylalanine. This means that the can contains 0.452 calories. This is a very small number, but it is not zero.
By comparison, a 12-ounce can of regular Coke contains 150 calories, which is 335 times more than the number of calories in Diet Coke. The average American consumes 3,600 calories per day, which is the equivalent of 8,035 cans of Diet Coke.
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Diet Coke has 335 times fewer calories than a regular Coke
Diet Coke does not contain zero calories, but it does have far fewer calories than a regular Coke. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 125 mg of aspartame, 113 mg of which is the "protein aspartylphenylalanine. This equates to 0.452 calories, which is 335 times fewer calories than a regular Coke.
By comparison, a 12-ounce can of Coke contains 150 calories. This means that the average American would need to consume 8,035 cans of Diet Coke to equal their daily calorie intake of 3,600 calories.
The chemical structure of aspartame, the cola's artificial sweetener, explains why there are any calories at all. Since aspartame is counted as a tiny protein, it has the same caloric count as a normal protein in the diet – 4 calories per gram.
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The average American consumes the equivalent of 8,035 cans of Diet Coke per day
Diet Coke does not contain zero calories, despite popular belief. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 125 mg of aspartame, 113 mg of which is the "protein aspartylphenylalanine. This means that a can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories. This is a very small number, but it is not zero. By comparison, a 12-ounce can of Coke contains 150 calories, 335 times that found in a Diet Coke.
The average American consumes 3,600 calories per day, the equivalent of 8,035 cans of Diet Coke. This is a huge number and shows how many calories Americans are consuming. While Diet Coke is marketed as having no calories, this is not strictly true, and it is important to be aware of this when considering your daily calorie intake.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Diet Coke does contain calories. A 12-ounce can of Diet Coke contains 0.452 calories. This is a very small number, but it is not zero.
There are 0.452 calories in a 12-ounce can of Diet Coke. This is the same number of calories as 0.9% of an M&M.
The average American consumes 3,600 calories per day, which is the equivalent of 8,035 cans of Diet Coke.











































