How bad is Dr Pepper for you? (7 beverage options)

By TheWholePortion
Page last updated: 20/11/2021 | Next review date: 20/11/2023
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In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “How bad is Dr Pepper for you?”, discuss answers to other related questions like what flavor is Dr Pepper, and what beverage option does Dr Pepper has.

How bad is Dr Pepper for you?

Dr Pepper, which originated in Waco, Texas back in 1885, is loaded with ingredients that have been linked to several serious health complications. Apart from giving some people a jolt of energy from the caffeine, Dr Pepper is an extremely unhealthy beverage. 

The first ingredient that may cause alarm even to the casual observer is high fructose corn syrup. This syrup has been linked to tooth decay, diabetes, kidney problems, and even colon cancer. Another ingredient found in Dr Pepper that is commonly found in other soda brands is caramel color. Carmel color is an additive that has been linked to stomach and liver problems, hyperactivity, cancer, and most telling of all – reduced white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. So, the list of possible side effects is too long, let’s just have a brief overview of it:

Short-term side effects

The possible short term side effects of Dr Pepper include:

  • Increased blood sugar
  • Hyperactivity in children
  • Nausea 
  • Chest pain with excessive amounts

Long-term side effects

The possible long term side effects of Dr Pepper include:

  • Dental decay
  • Osteoporosis
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Lowered white blood cell (WBC) count
  • Lower lymphocyte count
  • Damage to the central nervous system (CNS)
  • Damage to kidneys
  • Weight gain
  • Addiction

What flavor is Dr Pepper?

The real formulation of Dr Pepper is proprietary information, however, some companies have disclosed certain secrets about your favorite soda brands. The soda markets itself as a unique blend of 23 flavors. Superfans speculate that the flavors added are amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, caramel, carrot, clove, cherry, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla. 

Do not forget that these are the only assumptions that consumers made. There is no evidence in support of this speculation that the flavors listed above really are present in the formulation of Dr Pepper and until now no one knows for sure what those particular 23 flavors are. So we can say that Dr Pepper too has a secret formula of its own.

What is Dr Pepper made of?

So the company claims that 23 different flavors are used in the formulation of this beverage. However, the company particularly gave its verdict about the absence of prune juice in their beverage.

But when it comes to “What these 23 flavors are in actual?” The answer is “No one knows for sure” as the company has kept this secret and as their proprietary information.

Does Dr Pepper have prune juice in it?

According to the company itself, no prune juice is present in the Dr Pepper beverages. There are about 23 different flavors that the company uses. All of these are a blend of natural and artificial flavors that are enjoyed by all and sundry but prune juice is not one of them.

8 beverage options that dr pepper have

Dr Pepper has introduced a vast variety of beverages that have different caffeine content. Following is the list of different beverages offered by dr pepper along with the caffeine content:

  1. Regular Dr Pepper contains 28 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  2. Diet Dr Pepper contains 28 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  3. Diet Cherry Vanilla contains 26 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  4. Regular Cherry Vanilla contains 26 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  5. Caffeine Free Regular contains 0 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  6. Caffeine Free Diet contains 0 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  7. Dr Pepper Cherry contains 26 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
  8. Diet Dr Pepper Cherry contains 26 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces

What is the shelf life of Dr Pepper?

Different variants of Dr pepper have different shelf lives depending upon the sweeteners that are used in their formulation as well as the particular storage vessel in which the carbonated beverages are stored.

The beverages, diet sodas, having aspartame or acesulfame-K have a shelf life of about 3 months or 13 weeks and you can enjoy these beverages at their peak flavor and quality within this time. 

The regular canned or glass bottled beverages made with high fructose corn syrup have a shelf life of about 9 months or 39 weeks. Thus the regular sodas have a relatively more shelf life as compared to the diet sodas offered by Dr Pepper.

Last but not least, the plastic bottled regular and diet sodas have a shelf life of about 3 months or 13 weeks.

Conclusion:

In this brief guide, we answered the question “How bad is dr pepper for you?”, discussed answers to other related questions like what flavor is dr pepper, and what beverage option does dr pepper have.

References: 

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