/oss/taxonomy/term/1497/all en /oss/article/did-you-know/why-diet-coke-so-fizzy <p>Whether you’re buying ingredients for an at home “Coke and Mentos” demonstration, asking a flight attendant for a beverage, or just trying to pour a can of soda into a glass before hockey comes back on, you may have noticed something: Diet sugar-free sodas fizz more than regular sugar-rich sodas when opened.</p> <p>The degree of carbonation or “fizziness” of a soda is partly a function of how easily carbon dioxide bubbles can form in the sugary flavour water we call pop. When it’s easier for bubbles to form, you get more of them and therefore an increased “fizziness”.</p> Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 9223 at /oss /oss/article/health-videos/right-chemistry-batteries-7-and-lithium <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-tkffenwy8kw" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Batteries, 7-UP and lithium" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/TkffEnwy8kw?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-tkffenwy8kw&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Batteries, 7-UP and lithium" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Batteries, 7-UP and lithium</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 08 Nov 2019 19:57:45 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7992 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition/lets-tax-sugary-drinks-discourage-consumption <hr /> <p>This article was first published in <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-lets-tax-sugary-drinks-to-discourage-consumption?fbclid=IwAR39yQHeK56tp4RdHuRnTtJvmHSiHB8EoHFyFI_dKUJxz5cXpdoDpFAVHj8">The Montreal Gazette.</a></p> <hr /> <p>One way to get people to reduce their consumption of sugary drinks is a soda tax. In fact, the World Health Organization has recommended just that. While New York tried to bring in such a tax and failed, cities like Berkeley and Philadelphia made it happen in 2015 and 2017.</p> Fri, 26 Jul 2019 15:57:12 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 7839 at /oss /oss/article/do-diet-drinks-help-weight-loss-its-unclear <p> </p> <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in</em><span> </span><a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-do-diet-drinks-help-with-weight-loss-its-unclear">The Montreal Gazette<span>.</span></a></p> Thu, 04 Apr 2019 19:05:43 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 7691 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition-videos/right-chemistry-sugar-numbers-matter-0 <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-tajc7d-6w-0" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on sugar: the numbers matter" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/TAJc7D-6W_0?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-tajc7d-6w-0&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on sugar: the numbers matter" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on sugar: the numbers matter</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:30:55 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7358 at /oss /oss/article/general-science-history/god-glycerine-flavouring-and-kosher-coca-cola <hr /> <p><em>​This article was first published in <a href="http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/the-right-chemistry-god-glycerine-flavouring-and-kosher-coca-cola">The Montreal Gazette</a>.</em></p> Tue, 27 Mar 2018 16:09:49 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6975 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-history/7-was-originally-antidepressant <p><span>When 7 Up was originally placed on the market (In 1929), it was named Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda- a much less catchy, though more descriptive name. The ‘lithiated’ in the name came from the soda’s ingredient lithium citrate, a compound used to treat patients with mental health problems like bipolar disorder, depression or mania. </span></p> Sat, 17 Jun 2017 16:08:49 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2550 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-quirky-science/letting-fizz-out-fizz-keeper <p>A little pump called the “Fizz Keeper” is available in kitchen supply stores to pressurize previously opened soft drink bottles and prevent loss of carbonation. The idea appears to make sense, but actually, the device does not work. Pumping the bottle can restore the pressure above the solution so the bottle feels hard, just like when it was purchased. But the manufacturers are unaware of Henry’s Law.</p> Sat, 04 Jan 2014 20:28:55 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2060 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/taxing-soft-drinks <p>A gulp of cola tastes just right with a slice of pizza and a smoked meat sandwich goes down nicely with a black cherry soda. I’ll admit to an occasional such indulgence. But for the majority of North Americans having a soft drink is not a rare treat, it’s a common daily habit. And it is not without consequence. The consumption of sugar sweetened beverages has been associated with not only with an increased risk of obesity, but also with an increased risk of cavities, diabetes and heart disease.</p> Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:31:20 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1591 at /oss /oss/article/food/natural-soft-drinks <p>The money that carbonated soft drink companies spend on advertising is astounding. Coca Cola dishes out about 235 million dollars a year to push its flagship product. But as far as producers are concerned, advertising dollars are well spent, the global soft drink market is worth about 75 billion dollars a year! Colas are the most popular drinks, with lemon-lime flavoured beverages ranking a distant second, accounting only for about 10% of sales. Of course that is still a hefty amount, but companies are concerned because sales of these drinks have been dropping.</p> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:24:35 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 1631 at /oss