I rarely drink soda these days, but it turns out that habit of slurping it up by the gallon back then may have done a lot more harm to my body than previously thought.
The BBC reports that drinking excessive amounts of cola can lead to muscle weakness and possibly even muscle paralysis. This information is from a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, and shows that the ingredients within soda can cause blood potassium levels to plummet.
The study finds that when the three main ingredients commonly found in soda -- glucose, fructose, and caffeine -- are consumed in large quantities, it can lead to "caffeine intoxication" and "dangerously low" blood potassium levels. Even caffeine-free cola can be dangerous, researchers noted, because it still contains fructose.
One case the study cites is a farmer who suffered lung paralysis and required emergency treatment. What caused it? Drinking 4 to 10 liters of soda a day. Thankfully, the farmer recovered after being advised to cut back on soft drinks. Don't even get me started on the pregnant woman who downed 3 liters a day over the course of six years before her medical complications from all that cola made her so sick she had to wean herself from her habit. Her symptoms were less severe than the farmer's -- fatigue, vomiting, and loss of appetite -- and all cleared up once she reduced her soft drink intake.
Reading that made me think, "LITERS?! A DAY?! Cut back? Ummm...YES!" But apparently, that kind of cola consumption is "not atypical", according to researchers.
To be fair, I guess we should note that the researchers are calling for more studies on how much is too much when it comes to drinking soda. And, the British Soft Drinks Association did counter by saying, "[M]oderate consumption of cola drinks is completely safe and people can continue to enjoy such drinks as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle."
Clearly, we are talking about major soft drinkers here. Still, isn't it unsettling to know soda can have that impact on your health?
Maybe it's just me, but the more research I read on soda, the less I want it in my own body. Definitely not by the liter, probably not in those stackable cups I loved so much in college, and maybe not even by the can.
Does information like this impact whether or not you will drink soda? Do you think you've ever over-cola-ed to the point of caffeine intoxication?
More buzz on the fizz:
- How Diet Coke impacts your fertility
- Is soda bad for your bones?
- The evil: More reasons not to drink Diet Coke
- 3 bad food habits I'm kicking (plus, the solutions to the cravings)
[photo credit: Getty Images]
