Bitter Kas is a non-alcoholic soft drink that revolutionized the aperitif from the 60’s. Its reddish color stood out above the rest of the drinks, being a striking option when going out of glasses.
However, despite the fact that it was very established to take as a starter or as a snack, only the nostalgic demanded its acceptance in bars again. Currently it is easy to order a Bitter Kas without being over 40 years old, but we should know what it is made of. Is it a good idea to order a non-alcoholic soda without looking at the nutrition labeling? Could we take it if we want to control caloric intake?
Ingredients and nutritional value
The formula is secret, like that of Coca-Cola, but it is known to contain twenty-one botanical ingredients, including cinnamon, sandalwood, nutmeg, and orange. What’s really striking is that this seemingly harmless non-alcoholic soda is packed with preservative, color and sweetener chemicals. Many of them negatively affect the body, increasing cases of hyperactivity.
Its list of ingredients is composed of: ” carbonated water, glucose and fructose syrup, acidulant: E-330, aromas (including plant extracts), colorants: E-150d, E-122 and E-124, preservative: E- 202, sweeteners: E-950 and E-955 “.
Regarding the nutritional value, for each 330 milliliter container we find:
- Energy value: 64 kcal
- Fat: 0 grams
- Of which saturated: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 15.7 grams
- Of which sugars: 15.5 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Salt: 0.1 grams
That is, it is a drink that does not provide any interesting nutrients. We will only be drinking water with sugar and chemicals that recreate the taste and smell of citrus fruits. Logically, it provides fewer calories than a distilled alcohol and we avoid the effects of this substance in the body. However, it is not the best drink to have while eating or going out with friends.
Is Bitter Kas a healthy soda?
On the soda’s own label, they advertise that they contain E-122 and E-124, two chemicals that can have negative effects on activity and attention in children . These preservatives are not only present in Bitter Kas, but are also consumed in candy, chips and other soft drinks such as Fanta.
But taking into account that this drink is not suitable for minors, despite not containing alcohol, it is not intended for people who want to take care of their diet. A single can provides 64 calories , exclusively from glucose and fructose (sugar) syrup. It does not provide any other healthy nutrient for the body, so it is considered that we will be ingesting empty calories.
As we said, we are mainly drinking sparkling water and sugar. Specifically 15.5 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to almost 4 cubes . It is a bomb if we take into account that daily it is recommended not to exceed 5 grams of added sugar. Therefore, it is not a healthy soda or a good alternative to alcohol when we are on a diet or want to take care of our diet. In addition, special care must be taken with repeating a drink, since sugar consumption shoots up easily, reaching more than 30 grams in just two Bitter Kas. In the case of having a specific craving, it is recommended to take only one and drink water to hydrate ourselves.
