Protein Diet Coke and other mashups go viral in the dirty soda trend

While health experts don’t advise against the trendy bevvy, it’s worth noting that Diet Coke doesn’t add any nutritional value — consuming the drink is essentially the same as drinking the protein shake alone.

Sports dietitian Jessica Isaacs told Self that she “could see some benefits” to trying the drink, such as the nutritional boost of protein, electrolytes, calcium, and carbohydrates.

“You take something like a Diet Coke that doesn’t really have any nutritional value, and you basically increase the nutritional value of it,” she explained.

In an article in Today, registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo noted that the “Protein Diet Coke” concoction has about as many calories as a sugary Coke, adding that it’s good to drink it “in moderation.”

“For people who love protein Diet Coke, I would suggest limiting it to a post-workout recovery drink to help with muscle building, or a snack to fill you up between meals,” she wrote.

“Think of it as a protein shake with a little sugar-free soda for added flavor. But again, you can just drink the protein milk alone.