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Maybe Bloomberg's soda ban idea was a blunder after all. A new Japanese super-soda from Pepsi claims to be responsible for weight loss, and is currently being sold on the market in Asia. The drink, called "Pepsi Special" contains dextrin, a water-soluble fiber that has been linked to decreased appetite. The secret ingredient is not to be confused with Dexatrim, a weight loss supplement known for its speedy side effects.
Says Pop Sci:
"A 2006 Japanese study indicated that rats fed dextrin and fat at the same time absorbed less fat than rats that weren’t fed dextrin. The Japanese government certifies Pepsi Special and another dextrin-containing soda, Kirin Mets Cola, as “foods for specific health use.” But what works for rats may not work for people, and anyway, “There’s no study that shows that putting dextrin in a beverage is going to cause weight loss. After all, soda has a fair amount of calories,” says Joan Salge Blake, a nutrition expert for Boston University and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics."
It is still undetermined whether Pepsi will release this special solution here in the U.S., but Coca Cola is hot on the trails of also adding some healthful benefits to their line of products. They recently announced a partnership with French company Sanofi to launch four drinks claiming to do everything from improving your skin to fighting aging.
Maybe soon we'll be asking for those soda machines to be put back in schools. As for us, we're sticking to the fresh juice.
