# Coke vs Water **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265 "2004-03-19T19:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/1 "2004-03-19T19:20:38Z")
I got this email forward. Can anyone attest to it’s validity? And do the supposedly corrosive qualities of Coke apply to Diet Coke as well? > [@](#): > > This! Is really an eye opener… Water or Coke? We all know that water is important but I’ve never seen it written down like this before. > > WATER > > 1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. > > 2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. > > 3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%. > > 4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study. > > 5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. > > 6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. > > 7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy hort-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. > > 8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. > > And now for the properties of COKE: > > 1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident. > > 2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days. > > 3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous China. > > 4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola. > > 5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. > > 6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes. > > 7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. > > 8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. > > 9. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. > > For Your Info: > > 1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis. > > 2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials. > > 3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years! Now the question is, would you like a coke or a glass of water? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/2 "2004-03-19T19:22:04Z")
I’ve seen this before. Apparently a lot of it is bogus. That said. I do feel better during my sick-of-coke phases. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/3 "2004-03-19T19:22:52Z")
I did an experiment in middle school where we put a tooth into a glass of coke for a week. The tooth was almost gone by the end of the week. It was nasty. Not sure if it’s the same for Diet Coke, though I imagine it’d be similar results. Hmmm, maybe I should try the same thing this afternoon. Now where do I get a tooth? ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/4 "2004-03-19T19:25:36Z")
I should mention, though, that I haven’t really done any research on the e-mail you were forwarded. I would side with Losbang in saying that I wouldn’t trust all the information in it. But, as I’m sure you know, any kind of soda is probably going to be somewhat bad for you. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/5 "2004-03-19T19:29:46Z")
Yep, bogus: [http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/coke.html](http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/coke.html) And Coke is less acidic than grape or cranberry juices, and only slightly more so than red wine. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/6 "2004-03-19T19:34:27Z")
…and on the dissolving tooth - the experiment does not replicate the environment of the mouth, where saliva almost immediately neutralises any residue of coke on the teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/7 "2004-03-19T19:35:31Z")
Always remember that [Snopes is your friend](http://snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp). The stuff on Coke is all bogus Except about the ham. There are plenty of [coke’n’ham](http://www.stylenetwork.com/Shows/Nigella/Recipes/hamincoke.html) recipies out there ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/8 "2004-03-19T19:45:27Z")
Off **GorillaMan** ’s link, there’s a page where [someone tried to see which ones worked.](http://www.breakthechain.org/awards/0307.html) ---
**Author:** ![kimmie\_kay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ce73a5/32.png) [@kimmie\_kay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimmie_kay)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/9 "2004-03-19T19:46:22Z")
MythBusters did an episode with these myths in it.The only one they found true was that Coke really does clean chrome good using coke and foil. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/10 "2004-03-19T19:50:13Z")
Vinegar’s also an excellent cleaner of chrome. And glass. And just about anything else. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/11 "2004-03-19T20:21:11Z")
[Snopes debunks the part of that email dealing with water.](http://www.snopes.com/toxins/water.htm) Actually it looks to me like somebody took the “Every American is dehydrated!” email that’s been going around forever, and stuck a bunch of Coke myths on the end of it for good measure. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/12 "2004-03-19T20:42:07Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > …and on the dissolving tooth - the experiment does not replicate the environment of the mouth, where saliva almost immediately neutralises any residue of coke on the teeth. D’oh! Forgot about actually replicating the environment of the mouth. Oh, well. Fighting ignorance (and un-thought-out statements) and all that… On a side note, coke & ham recipes are damn good. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/13 "2004-03-19T20:46:30Z")
They also forgot to add that Coke is well over 90% water anyway. So what’s up with this reynolds wrap? The guy in **dylan\_73** ’s said he tried rubbing the rust of without the coke and just the foil. This works? Does it work well? If not, why not just use sandpaper? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/14 "2004-03-20T05:41:56Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I did an experiment in middle school where we put a tooth into a glass of coke for a week. The tooth was almost gone by the end of the week. It was nasty. Not sure if it’s the same for Diet Coke, though I imagine it’d be similar results. Hmmm, maybe I should try the same thing this afternoon. Now where do I get a tooth? That is totally a false analogy. How many people take a swig of Coke and keep it in their mouth for entire week. About 5 to 10 seconds if even that is all the contact Coke would have with any tooth. Out of curiosity did you try sticking a tooth in vinegar or lemon juice or kool-ade as well to see what happens? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/15 "2004-03-20T06:21:03Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I did an experiment in middle school where we put a tooth into a glass of coke for a week. The tooth was almost gone by the end of the week. It was nasty. Not sure if it’s the same for Diet Coke, though I imagine it’d be similar results. Hmmm, maybe I should try the same thing this afternoon. Now where do I get a tooth? That contradicts other experiements I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![vasyachkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c5a1d2/32.png) [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/16 "2004-03-20T12:41:35Z")
i dont know if any of that is true, but i drink about 1.5 gallons of water per day and feel very good. Ronnie Coleman ( six-time Mr. Olympia ) drinks 3 gallons per day. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/17 "2004-03-20T13:20:44Z")
> [@](#): > > i dont know if any of that is true, but i drink about 1.5 gallons of water per day and feel very good. Same here, really. Coffee counts as water, right? If not, make that .13 gallons. Still feel good. And jittery. What? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/18 "2004-03-20T14:09:48Z")
I drink a 12 oz. cup of water right after I pee. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/19 "2004-03-20T14:37:40Z")
If you put a worm into a glass of water, the worm will live. If you put a worm into a glass of Coke, the worm will die. Logically, if you drink Coke, you will never have worms. The above also applies to whiskey. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265/20 "2004-03-21T17:41:49Z")
> [@Dogface](#): > > That contradicts other experiements I’ve seen. > [@Markxxx](#): > > That is totally a false analogy. How many people take a swig of Coke and keep it in their mouth for entire week. About 5 to 10 seconds if even that is all the contact Coke would have with any tooth. **Dogface** and **Markxxx** , did you actually read my other post where I agreed that the experiment I suggested did not replicate the environment of the mouth and I was therefore incorrect? On the on the one hand, I’m very glad for you that you seem to feel superior. On the other, it would be nice if you had read all of my posts prior to attacking the first statement. For your edification, here is what I said later: > [@overlyverbose](#): > > D’oh! Forgot about actually replicating the environment of the mouth. Oh, well. Fighting ignorance (and un-thought-out statements) and all that… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-vs-water/235265.md?page=2)