Irony, now available in cans and bottles

When I first saw this new ad for Coca-Cola on obesity, I thought it must be a joke.



But the new Coke ad, titled "Coming Together," is the real thing, baby. And it is a joke.

Coke's claim: by adding artificial sweeteners and offering consumers smaller serving sizes, it is fighting obesity, which, by the way, the American Medical Association just recognized as a disease (albeit an easily preventable one, if you don't drink sodas like Coke and Sprite and Fanta).

The problem: artificial sweeteners have been closely tied to obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and are worse for you than sugar. Instead of satisfying your sweet craving, artificial sweeteners make you crave sweets and rewire your taste receptors to dislike healthier, not sweet foods. Which is why so many folks who guzzle Diet Coke and other diet beverages wind up gaining rather than losing weight.

I know. When I met the spouse over 20 years ago, I was a Diet Coke addict -- and weighed almost 30 pounds more than I do now, even though I exercised every other day. When I gave up diet soda (and other "diet" processed foods), I immediately lost 10 pounds. (And when I kicked out sugar and pasta and white bread, I lost another 10 pounds.)

So if you really want to fight obesity, folks, avoid Coca-Cola and other artificially or otherwise sweetened beverages (such as Crystal Light, which is almost as addictive and as bad for you as crystal meth) and stick to water.

And remember, Coke doesn't add life. It just adds pounds.

Get a free Slurpee just for reading this post!

For those of you who did not know, today is National Slurpee Day (aka 7-Eleven Day). (Don't get it? Look at a calendar.) And in honor of Slurpee Day, 7-Eleven is giving away 5 million free 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks to celebrate its 82nd birthday. (Btw, click the"7-Eleven Day" link to find out where you can get a free Slurpee and other fabulous prizes! But act now! Supplies are limited and this is a one-day only event!)

For those of you unfamiliar with the Slurpee, the slushy frozen carbonated drink introduced by 7-Eleven in 1967, here are some fun Slurpee facts:

* Slurpee drinks are all served at 28 degrees.

* Half of all Slurpee drinks are purchased between the hours of 4 and 11 p.m.

* Every day more than 11.6 million Slurpee drinks are consumed around the world.

* More than 40% of all Slurpee drinks are sold during the months of June, July and August.

* Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth is a known cure for brain freeze.

* Every year enough Slurpee drinks are sold to fill up 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

* Drinking a Slurpee can make you an awesome dancer.


You can learn more about the Slurpee over at Slurpee Nation.