You probably already know this - but if you don’t; many grocery stores carry Coca Cola in glass bottles from Mexico. It has real sugar. About $1.19 each at WM. I think they are 16oz.
Also, I read recently that Coke is going to bring out a version in the US with real sugar. I’m sure it will cost more. The artificially-high sugar prices in the US are the reason that all the soft drink makers switched to high-fructose corn-syrup. HFCS is cheaper.
I do know about Coke & other drinks made w/ sugar. Getting easier to find.
For me, my own health maladies all revolve around processed & highly refined foods (took me 10 years to figure out on my own. Doctors? can all go eff themselves). I’m lucky my ‘cure’ was so easy, if that’s an accurate word for it.
The other part of ‘quitting’ (daily consumption of) soda was due to the severe enamel erosion of my formerly-perfect teeth.
I figure I just might get away with not having falsies if I actually live to be 70 by doing so. What many don’t realize is that the pills they take are causing their teeth to rot out due to side effects that cause dry-mouth. Oh, I think they have a pill for that (/s).
The severity of the withdrawals from diet soda was unexpected; I don’t think many are either prepared for nor ready to admit how hard it is. I could care less admitting it, so there it is: Be advised.
Oh, and one more thing: The whole ‘carb’ thing is a bunch of BS. Been there, done that. It’s all about balance & calories. Anyone not fully managing their caloric intake and simultaneously working out daily to burn off the ‘extra’ calories is bailing a leaky boat; good luck with that (again, been there/done that). There is NO NEED for artificial sweeteners, IMHO, save for those with intolerance (diabetes, hypoglycemic, etc.). That last statement from someone that bought into all that hook/line/sinker for 15+ years.
I woke up. I’m ‘pill-free’, reversed my weight gain, reversed my Type II diabetes and shrunk my enlarged prostate, reducing my BP at the same time, all while making drastic lifestyle changes which include no longer eating 3 meals/day (bye-bye dinner)...all with no workout regimen, gimmick or ‘diet’. I maintain my weight, lost the fatigue, eat all my favorite foods (made at home) and have dessert every night...Good luck to the rest of y’all (it wasn’t easy, but I feel 10 years younger for it and only regret not figuring it out 10 years prior).
It can happen to you, too. I simply can’t be that unique. If I am, I have yet to realize my true value (haven’t seen a dime for it).