New Zealand woman's Coca-Cola habit blamed for her death

by Jonathan Benson, staff writer

(NaturalNews) The Coca-Cola Company is currently embroiled in an investigation involving a New Zealand woman who allegedly died as a result of drinking too much of the company's sugary beverage. According to reports, Natasha Marie Harris had been consuming a steady diet of roughly two gallons a day of Coca-Cola in the years before her untimely death at the young age of 30.

Natasha's overall lifestyle was by no means healthy, as she reportedly ate very little actual food, and smoked about 30 cigarettes every day. But it was her ridiculous Coca-Cola habit that appears to have pushed her over the limit, robbing her body of potassium and eventually leading to liver and heart problems that culminated in a fatal heart attack.

"She drank at least ten liters a day," said Christopher Hodgkinson, Natasha's partner. "The first thing she would do in the morning was have a drink of Coke and the last thing she would do in the day was have a drink of Coke by her bed."

Because the cause of Natasha's death was unclear at the time, New Zealand's inquest court, which handles inexplicable deaths, began an investigation. And what the court uncovered is that Natasha died of cardiac arrhythmia, and had also likely been suffering from hypokalemia, or a severe lack of potassium in the blood.

According to Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, people who drink too much sugary soda are extremely prone to developing hypokalemia. Fructose induced osmotic diarrhea, for instance, which is a side effect of drinking sugary soda, causes the body to lose potassium, as does the massive release of insulin from the pancreas that results from drinking sugary soda.

Additionally, the caffeine in Coca-Cola drives potassium out of the bloodstream and into the cells which, combined with these other effects, is a perfect recipe for potassium deficiency. And in someone like Natasha who had been drinking outrageous amounts of Coca-Cola, the effects were even more potent and deadly.

Natasha was afflicted with all these symptoms and more, as she reportedly vomited several times a week from what appeared to be caffeine toxicity, and also had a severely diseased liver, which is a common side effect of consuming soft drinks. A 2009 study found that drinking just two cans of soda a day, in fact, is enough to cause long-term liver damage (http://www.dailymail.co.uk).

"[High fructose corn syrup] increases the chances of suffering from a fatty liver, which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer," said Dr. Nimer Assy, lead author of that earlier study.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

http://www.ktvq.com

Suzanne

Scientific proof that drinking soda makes brains hyperactive

by L.J. Devon, Staff Writer

(NaturalNews) Soda pop consumption is on the rise. Before 1950, the standard soft drink was 6.5 ounces. By 1960, the average serving size jumped to a 12 oz can, and today, 20 oz bottles have become the norm. It's easy to fill up a 44 oz foam cup of soda from any American gas station, and free refills are encouraged at almost every restaurant.

Soft drink industry ads market directly to children, spurring an ADHD epidemic

The soft drink industry, marketing directly to children, spends nearly a half billion dollars aiming ads directly toward youth between the ages of 2 and 17. The marketing is apparently working, as soda fills most family's Wal-Mart shopping carts and home refrigerators.

As soda consumption continues to climb in children, attention and hyperactivity disorders are being diagnosed at alarming rates. According to new statistics released this year by the Centers for Disease Control, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is affecting 11 percent of school aged children, including one in five high school-aged boys.

As diagnosed hyperactivity disorders increase in children, doctors quickly default to drugging them unnecessarily with prescriptions of Ritalin and Adderall. Not dealing with the root problem, these junk medicines lead children to further anxiety, addiction and psychosis as time goes on.

Australian study shows how soda causes hyperactivity in the brain

A new study from Australia shows how sugary beverages increase hyperactivity in the brain. What the researchers found was that soda consumption alters hundreds of proteins in the brain - proteins responsible for healthy cellular function and DNA communication.

In the study, the brains of 24 rats were examined. The study, led by researchers Jane Franklin and Jennifer Cornish from the Macquarie University in Sydney, looked at tissue samples taken from one area of the rats' brains. By the end of the experiment, drastic changes in the levels of nearly 300 different proteins were observed.

During the test, a 10 percent sugar solution was given to the rats for 26 days. This formula is equivalent to one can of soda per day for about a month. A control group was also established and was given water.

After the 26 days, the team examined the rats' orbital frontal cortex - the section of the brain sitting right behind the eyes. Using a specific enzyme, the researchers snipped proteins and peptides from the orbital frontal cortex of the rat brains. Using mass spectrometry, they were able to identify and list specific peptides and proteins.

After identifying 1,373 proteins, they found that 290 were significantly altered in the sugar-fed rats. The rats that were given water showed no signs of altered protein levels. Franklin even mentioned that the various protein changes in the sugar-fed rats were significantly greater than a previous study looking at caffeine's effect on brain protein levels.

Alerting the world about soda consumption and the hyperactivity link

The alarming part of the study is that about half of the altered proteins in the rat brains play an important role in cellular function of the brain, including cellular life span, DNA communication and DNA repair. Likewise, 30 percent of the proteins that were altered play a vital role in regulating conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.

Franklin says, "Our research suggests that the long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in place of water can cause long-lasting changes to behavior and a profound change in the chemistry of the brain."

"Hyperactivity is a physical sign that something unusual is happening in the brain. It is probably a reflection of changes being made to return the system back to its pre-sugar state, after it had adjusted to prolonged sugar consumption."

In conclusion, she stated that sugar exposure can alter many diverse biological processes and can even play a role in neurological disorders. "We can't say from this work that these changes are causing the associated diseases, but it's a warning that we need to look more closely at the link."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

http://www.nytimes.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu

Suzanne

I didn't see anything about what soda is sweetened with today. It is NOT sugar. It is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Can your body really use fructose?

What is your definition of sugar? White table sugar is sucrose. It is a disaccharide with molecule of glucose and one of fructose; it is 50% fructose. High Fructose corn syrup is 55% fructose. They have the same Fructose content. The body runs on glucose. Fructose on the other hand, metabolized by the liver. Its metabolites are like alcohol without the buzz. "Sugar" and HFCS are both bad.

Soda's popularity wanes amid health concerns

by Sandeep Godiyal

(NaturalNews) After decades of being the choice for people who were concerned about consuming too much sugar, diet sodas are seeing their popularity, and sales, diminish rapidly. While the decline started about a decade ago, it has gathered speed in the past few years as information about alarming health concerns becomes available. Instead of diet sodas, many people these days are reaching for water, or juices that they make themselves at home.

Dangerous chemicals abound

Within the past few years, it has come to the attention of consumers that many of their favorite citrus-flavored diet sodas, such as lemon and lemon-lime flavors, contain brominated vegetable oil. Also referred to as BVO, this chemical is used by drink manufacturers, such as PepsiCo, to add weight to their flavorings to keep them from separating to the top of the bottle. The primary use of this chemical, however, is as a flame retardant.

Other additives are added, too

BVO is not the only additive that has consumers concerned about drinking their favorite diet soda. Other additives include aspartame, acesulfame potassium, artificial caffeine, phosphoric acid and more. Many people turned to drinking these fizzy concoctions in order to avoid sugar-laden sodas. Such drinks often bath the teeth in a continuous sugar bath, leading to a tendency of dental problems. Other people turned to diet sodas as a way to enjoy a flavorful drink without adding calories from sugar.

Aspartame: Dangerous chemical

The most commonly used artificial sweetener on the market today, aspartame, is linked to a myriad of health issues that have experts in the field concerned over its long term use. This chemical has been linked to a variety of health issues in humans, ranging from cancer to brain disorders and more. In fact, a University of Washington researcher warned that tests on lab mice revealed that the sweetener left holes in their brains.

Alternatives are available

Consumers do not need to despair, though. There are other, healthy, flavorful options available, either commercially or right in their own homes. With the advent of high-quality blenders and food processors, for example, it is now possible for the amateur home chef to whip up a delicious juice using the freshest organic fruits and vegetables available. This convenient method also enables consumers to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, which health experts suggest is a key way to help lose weight while also meeting required nutritional needs.

Water is an old friend

Water is a tried and true beverage that refreshes on the hottest day. It does so without any added calories or sweeteners, making it the ideal drink for those people who are anxious to watch their weight. In addition, water is easy to customize to the liking of the individual by adding a splash of fresh lemon juice, for example.

While the news of the ingredients in soda is scary, consumers do have other, more healthful, alternatives that provide them with a wealth of benefits.

Additional sources:

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

Suzanne

Drinking Coca Cola is not a good idea.

But hey!

Coca Cola has a lot of good uses!
Just look at these:

1. Removes grease stains from clothing and fabric
2. Removes rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil. Also loosens rusty bolts
3. Removes blood stains from clothing and fabric.
4. Cleans oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.
5. Kills slugs and snails; the acids kills them.
6. Cleans burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.
7. Descales a kettle (same method as with burnt pans)
8. Cleans car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.
9. Cleans your engine; Coke distributors have been using this technique for decades.
10. Makes pennies shine; soaking old pennies in Coke will remove the tarnish.
11. Cleans tile grout; pour onto kitchen floor, leave for a few minutes, wipe up.
12. Dissolves a tooth; Use a sealed container…takes a while but it does work.
13. Removes gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.
14. Removes stains from vitreous china.
15. Got a dirty pool? Adding two 2-liter bottles of Coke clears up rust.
16. You can remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring diet Coke over it.
17. Remove marker stains from carpet. Applying Coke, scrubbing and then clean with soapy water will remove marker stains.
18. Cleans a toilet; pour around bowl, leave for a while, flush clean.
19. Coke and aluminum foil will bring Chrome to a high shine. 20. Strips paint off metal furniture. Soak a towel in Coke and lay it on the paint surface. -

Who needs a lot of cleaning supplies when they have Coke!

See more at: Source

Thanks for the tips!

2 Gallons of Coke per day? I don't even drink 1 gallon of anything. In fact, I don't drink much more than a half gallon a day. With anything, the key is to use moderation. I might have a soda every now and then, but I certainly don't consume it everyday and usually go weeks between having any. My main beverage is filtered water.

I'm a little confused if someone takes the caution of drinking filtered water why would they ever drink sodas. I'm just trying to understand here.

Are you saying sodas are made using unfiltered water?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.