The afternoon cigarette break is getting a makeover among Gen Z—but instead of lighting up, young adults are cracking open a chilled can of Diet Coke.

This summer, TikTok has exploded with videos celebrating what users are calling the “fridge cigarette.” The term doesn’t involve tobacco or nicotine, but a cold can of diet soda—most often Diet Coke—that serves as a ritualistic pick-me-up for 20-somethings navigating workdays and stress.

The videos are everywhere. One TikTok simply says, “Just a little something to take the edge off,” with a Diet Coke in hand. Another reads, “Time for my afternoon fridge cigarette.” A third sums up the vibe perfectly: “Fridge cigarette after a long day.”

So what’s behind the obsession?

A Ritual That Feels Good

Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, based in New York City, says the appeal is less about the drink and more about the ritual. He told Fox News Digital that Diet Coke is acting as an “emotional stand-in”—a way for young adults to pause, reset, and reward themselves in the middle of a hectic day.

“It’s a small ritual that offers structure or comfort,” Alpert said. “Opening the fridge, hearing the can crack open, feeling the chill—it’s sensory. Much like smoking, it gives people a quick burst of stimulation or relief.”

In stressful or in-between moments, this small act becomes a grounding habit. And in many ways, choosing soda over cigarettes is a healthier swap. But experts caution that it’s not entirely harmless.

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Trading One Crutch for Another?

Alpert warns that turning to Diet Coke daily for emotional regulation could reinforce dependency—especially if it’s being used to manage anxiety, suppress appetite, or avoid stress.

Wisconsin-based naturopathic doctor Debra Muth echoed his concerns. “This is really just trading one bad habit for another,” she said.

Muth explained that the appeal isn’t the soda or even the sweetness—it’s dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical. “Your brain isn’t asking for aspartame or nicotine. It’s asking for dopamine,” she said. “Artificial sweeteners like aspartame cross the blood-brain barrier and can actually make neurotransmitter depletion worse. You’re borrowing from tomorrow’s brain chemistry.”

Diet Coke: A False Sense of Reward

What worries Muth most is that both nicotine and Diet Coke hijack the brain’s reward pathways. “You get the same temporary ‘hit’ of satisfaction, but it’s false. It doesn’t actually solve the emotional or mental need,” she explained.

And while the Diet Coke break might offer a moment of calm, it’s not something Muth would recommend for smokers trying to quit either. “You’re still reinforcing the same pattern—reaching for a quick fix instead of addressing what your brain and body truly need.”

Instead, she recommends more sustainable ways to support the brain’s natural dopamine system: “Amino acids like L-tyrosine, balanced blood sugar, and proper stress management can go a long way in restoring your brain’s reward circuit.”

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The “fridge cigarette” may be fizzy, fun, and TikTok-famous—but experts say it's best to be mindful of why you’re reaching for that cold can. Rituals are comforting, but when they become emotional crutches, they can quietly build unhealthy habits over time.

A chilled Diet Coke now and then isn’t the enemy—but relying on it to “take the edge off” every day might be something worth pausing to think about.

Healthy eating is more than just a trend; it holds a lot of significance for our health. Not just improving the quality of our digestive and gut health, but also the indirect effects of it on things like our mental health, neuro health as well as our sleep health.

As kids we may have avoided vegetables and fruits like the plague, as we grow up, it is important to recognize the significance of it in our diet. A recent study, published in Sleep Health, found that participants who increased their daily fruit and vegetable intake from none to five cups saw a 16% improvement in their sleep quality. Although one would expect the changes to be minimal and slow, the study found that these improvements appeared quite quickly, with better fruit and vegetable consumption leading to less restless sleep the very next night. This means simple dietary changes could help you sleep better, shifting the focus from what to avoid to what to include for a good night's rest.

Connecting Your Diet to Better Sleep

To understand how daily eating habits affect sleep, researchers studied 34 healthy adults, mostly men, who had no prior sleep issues. The study involved two six-week periods, during which participants recorded all their food and drink intake. Their sleep was tracked using special wrist monitors, similar to smartwatches.

At the end of the study, the researchers looked for connections between their diet and sleep quality, specifically focusing on how often participants woke up during the night. The findings showed a clear link:

• More fruits and vegetables during the day were associated with fewer sleep disruptions.
• Higher intake of carbohydrates and fiber was linked to better sleep quality.
• Eating more red and processed meats was connected to worse sleep.

Importantly, the study found that increasing fruit and vegetable intake from zero to five cups daily led to a 16% improvement in sleep quality. Surprisingly, added sugar didn't seem to affect sleep quality, suggesting that the benefits came specifically from the carbohydrates and fiber in fruits and vegetables. This research highlights a meaningful connection between our daily eating habits and how well we sleep.

What Other Research Tells Us

This isn't the first time scientists have looked at the link between diet and sleep. Previous studies have shown that people who follow healthy eating plans, like the Mediterranean diet, tend to have a lower risk of insomnia and other sleep problems. Earlier research also found that eating more fiber was linked to deeper sleep, while more carbohydrates and added sugars were tied to more disturbed sleep. Additionally, a 2021 study revealed that women who increased their servings of fruits and vegetables experienced better insomnia symptoms, improved sleep quality, and fell asleep faster.

New Insights on Diet and Sleep

This recent study adds an important piece to the puzzle: it suggests that what you eat during the day can have a direct impact on your sleep the very next night. This immediate connection is a key finding, different from most studies that look at typical eating habits over a longer period.

Of course, there are always other factors to consider. For example, being tired can make you crave less healthy foods, so sleep might influence diet as well. It's also true that people who eat healthy often have a healthier lifestyle overall, including more exercise, which also improves sleep. However, the researchers took these factors into account and still found that a healthy diet was linked to better sleep.

While many questions remain, such as the exact biological reasons for food's impact on sleep, one leading theory is that carbohydrates help the brain absorb tryptophan. This amino acid is then converted into serotonin and eventually melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Also, fruits and vegetables are packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, which support overall brain, hormone, and gut health—all of which can contribute to better sleep.

Coffee is an essential part of our day, whether we begin our day with it or have it at small intervals other times. However, have you ever wondered how long does it take for coffee to get absorbed into our body? And how long does it take to get absorbed into our bodies?

Caffeine gets into your system quite fast, usually within 45 minutes of drinking it. The highest levels of caffeine are typically seen between 15 minutes and up to two hours later, depending on the individual and if you drink it with food.

For most healthy people, about half of the caffeine you consume is cleared from your body in roughly five hours. This is known as its "half-life."

Many things can affect how quickly your body processes caffeine, including your age, sex, whether you're pregnant, your weight, and if you smoke. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine because of differences in the enzymes in their liver that break it down.

What Happens When You Have Caffeine In Your System?

The Cleveland Clinic explains that caffeine can make you feel more awake, alert, and focused, and it can even improve your mood. However, too much caffeine can cause negative effects like higher blood pressure, an upset stomach, and jitters. In very rare situations, a caffeine overdose can even be life-threatening.

Caffeine's Impact on Your Brain

As a stimulant, caffeine makes your central nervous system more active, which controls everything from thinking to moving. It boosts wakefulness by blocking a brain chemical that causes tiredness, making you feel more alert. It can also improve focus and mood by activating other brain chemicals. However, too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, jitters, and trouble sleeping, as it over-excites your nervous system.

Caffeine and Your Heart

While moderate coffee drinking may benefit heart health by potentially lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, caffeine can also have negative effects. It can cause mild increases in blood pressure and heart rate, which might be problematic for those with existing heart conditions. Higher doses of caffeine can lead to heart palpitations, making your heart feel like it's racing or fluttering, though these are usually not dangerous.

Caffeine and Your Digestive System

Too much caffeine can cause digestive issues. It has a laxative effect by stimulating the gut and speeding up food movement, which can lead to diarrhea in sensitive individuals. Caffeine can also increase stomach acid production and relax a muscle that prevents acid reflux, resulting in uncomfortable heartburn. Coffee's natural acids can intensify these digestive problems.

Caffeine's Effects on Other Body Systems

Caffeine acts as a diuretic, meaning it helps your body eliminate excess fluid, which might lead to more frequent urination. While unlikely to cause dehydration on its own, it's crucial to also drink plenty of water. Furthermore, caffeine can reduce your body's ability to absorb calcium, potentially affecting bone strength, especially with high consumption or insufficient dietary calcium.

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?

Drinking too much caffeine can cause unwanted effects like feeling anxious, having a fast heartbeat, feeling restless, and having trouble sleeping.

The US Federation and Drug Administration generally recommended that adults keep their caffeine intake under 400 milligrams per day to avoid taking too much. People who are sensitive to caffeine might want to limit themselves to just one or two cups of caffeinated coffee or tea per day to prevent side effects like jitters and sleep problems.

Because caffeine stays in your system for a while, it's a good idea to avoid caffeinated drinks, like coffee, before going to bed.

How Long Before Sleeping Can You Have Caffeine?

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggested that one should avoid drinking coffee at least 6 hours before sleeping. Researchers found this by giving participants 400 mg of caffeine at 0, 3, or 6 hours before their usual bedtime, comparing it to a placebo.

The findings showed that caffeine significantly disturbed sleep at all three time points, reducing total sleep time. This suggests that even caffeine consumed six hours before bed can negatively impact sleep, supporting the recommendation to avoid significant caffeine use for at least six hours before bedtime.

In a discovery that may make some rethink their morning ritual, new research has found a potential link between drinking instant coffee and a significantly higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness among older adults.

The findings, published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition, are based on data from more than 500,000 individuals in the UK Biobank.

Researchers observed that participants who regularly consumed instant coffee and carried a specific genetic predisposition were up to seven times more likely to develop dry AMD—the more common and currently untreatable form of the disease.

What is Dry AMD?

Dry AMD gradually damages the macula, the central portion of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Over time, it can lead to blurred sight, difficulty in reading, and eventually, irreversible vision loss. While age and genetics are the most recognized risk factors, researchers have long suspected that lifestyle and dietary choices also play a role in the progression of this disease.

Coffee and Its Complicated Role in Health

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages globally and is often touted for its health benefits. Rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, it has been associated with a lower risk of conditions like Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers. However, not all coffee is created equal.

This new study adds a surprising twist—instant coffee may not offer the same protective benefits as brewed coffee and may, in fact, be linked with negative outcomes for eye health, especially in people with certain genetic backgrounds.

Genetic Factors and Coffee Preference

The researchers behind the study believe that the preference for instant coffee might itself be influenced by genetic factors. Their analysis suggests there could be a shared biological mechanism between genes that influence coffee consumption habits and those that increase the risk of AMD.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that instant coffee directly causes AMD. However, the correlation hints at a complex interaction between genetics, dietary choices, and disease risk that warrants further investigation.

Dry AMD is a growing public health concern, especially in industrialized nations where people are living longer. It affects millions of people globally and can severely reduce quality of life. Given its slow but progressive nature, early detection and lifestyle management are key to preserving vision.

The new findings could pave the way for more personalized lifestyle advice based on genetic risk.

For example, individuals identified with a higher genetic susceptibility to AMD might benefit from moderating their intake of instant coffee or switching to brewed varieties.

More Research Is Required

While the study’s findings are compelling, researchers caution that more work is needed to establish a causal link. Future studies are expected to examine whether instant coffee itself contributes to retinal degeneration, or whether other factors—such as additives, processing methods, or associated lifestyle habits—may be at play.

Long-term population studies and deeper exploration into the metabolic pathways involved will be critical to understanding the full picture. Until then, the study offers a timely reminder that even seemingly minor lifestyle choices, like the type of coffee you drink, could have long-term implications for health—especially when genetics are involved.

For now, experts recommend a balanced approach that includes regular eye check-ups, a nutrient-rich diet, and avoiding smoking—alongside being mindful of what’s in your coffee cup.