they literally can’t taste anymore
Figuratively.
People are so accustomed to sugar overload they literally can’t taste anymore. I drink la croix if I want something a bit bubbly, but so many Americans make fun of la croix drinkers. “It’s like smelling a lemon from 10 feet away haw haw haw”.
Considering la croix is not sweet, you will have literally the same experience as someone with taste buds that are 100% burned out from sugar. The lemon flavor is recognized by the sense of smell, and to some degree the sour sensing tastebuds.
You used to drink 8 liters of regular coke?
8 liters of water per day already beggars belief. That’s going to the bathroom at least 16 times a day. You’d also need to take electrolyte supplements to avoid your nervous system shutting down.
But 8 liters of coke per day? That’s 880 grams of pure sugar. And 3200 calories, which is 150% of daily intake for average person.
If you consumed 880g of pure sugar daily, i think your liver would have failed after just a few weeks.