Woman dies from coca-cola 'overdose'

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   jennzieposted 12 years ago

   I can't imagine how anyone can drink 2 gallons of Coke per DAY!
   
   But this woman also had a very poor diet nutrition-wise and was a heavy smoker, so it probably just wasn't the soda alone that caused her death. I just don't understand how she didn't see all of this as a formula for disaster, or if she just didn't care.
   
   The case is sad, though, particularly since she left 8 kids behind.   
   
   http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/wo … AM-;_ylv=3

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      Mohammed Khalilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      2 gallons per day? what a crazy habit. she destroyed herself and her children future because of that poison. I hope Allah forgive her and help her children in that ordeal

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      BlissfulWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There had been previous reports of people dying due to drinking too much water in too short of a time in a water drinking contest in which they were not allow to empty their bladder.   A woman died after drinking two gallons in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest...
      
      http://funandeducational.com/possible-t … much-water

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      Shanna11posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Oh gosh--- I just met a guy today who was just hired at the museum I work at-- He had a HUGE (I swear it was a gallon) water bottle type jug thing that he said was filled with diet coke. He said he drank TWO every day. And then he shrugged and said "Yeah, I already have diabetes" like it didn't matter now. We all just stared and one girl said "You are going to die".
      
      It was a bit blunt, but it was true. The guy was just beginning to get a belly and put on weight and I think he was pretty young, but I just can't even imagine drinking that much pop every day with so many chemicals and sweeteners....no wonder obesity is a problem-- with an attitude like that to boot!

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         Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I'm sure a warning label would stop him.

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         BlissfulWriterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         There is a book with the title "Suicide by Sugar" (you can find it on Amazon).  When I first saw the title, I though it was overblown.  But sadly, it may not be.

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         jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Diet coke is just as bad as regular with those artificial sweeteners and chemicals.
         
         I can't imagine how people can drink so much of this stuff without a second thought.

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      Dave Mathewsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's a good thing she wasn't drinking the original Coca Cola  from back when it was first created,cuz Coca Cola was originally created from the Coca Cocaine plant. The amount of Cocaine was monitored by the FDA but that's where it originated from. 2 Gallons would give you one heck of a buzz, if it didn't kill you first.

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         jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I would have liked to try some of that!
         
         (I'm joking.. I don't do drugs).

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      mega1posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      heavy!  death wish + eight kids = good reason to consume Coca Cola (in excess) and smoke.  Probably more like here out there.  Thanks for bringing me down today!
      
      So yeah, I'm saying she probably died from having too many kids, basically.  That'll get you quicker than poison!

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      Jesus was a hippyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That's over a kilo of sugar a day from that much coke. No wonder she died.

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      caleb89posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is a perfect example showing how addictive they make products that are bad for our health. This is truly a sad story and I hope that it will open people's eyes to what poor nutrition can do to a person.

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   wildernessposted 12 years ago

   I saw that earlier.  I'm sure that we will now have to ban coke without a prescription or something to prevent anyone else from doing this.  Just think of those millions of people that drink 2 gallons per day and might die as a result.

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      jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I know!! It's not like it's common sense or anything that it is probably harmful to drink 2 gallons of soda each day.

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      Shadesbreathposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      God, this is so true.
      
      We are so stupid as a culture. Us in our stupid bike helmets and seat belts and every other legislative assault on personal freedom that has its roots in perfectly statistical "fact."
      
      You can't quantify freedom, but you can add up random death, and, since nobody wants to lose a loved one, it's so easy to keep legislating. All you need is a good marketing campaign, a sad song, and pictures of the dead and the bereaved.
      
      Everyone looks at the commies or the terrorists as the enemy of freedom. It's really grieving Americans and their lawyers.

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   larakernposted 12 years ago

   Wow, I didn't hear about this! I can't believe that anyone could consume two gallons of Coke per day. That reminds me of the girl that got sick because she ate nothing except for McDonalds chicken nuggets.
   
   http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes … ns-nuggets

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      jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I heard about that story as well. I can't believe that people can have such poor diets and not expect that it's going to eventually 'bite them in the butt'.

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   MPG Narrativesposted 12 years ago

   I'm sure this woman had many problems and didn't care for herself at all. And with 8 kids she probably didn't have time to care for herself either. I wouldn't blame her death on the soda alone.

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      jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. It seems like it was definitely a mixture of a poor diet, heavy smoking, and stress from having to raise all those kids. The soda was just part of the equation.

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   ngurecoposted 12 years ago

   She smoked 30 cigarettes per day and drunk 20 cans of coke per day. A healthy person is expected to drink the equivalent of about 10 cans of water per day.
   
   Sorry, but many people dies every day from different reasons. For the next two to three decade, we are going to deal with soft drink companies until they shrink to 'manageable' sizes.

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      jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      And they will also probably be expected to put warning labels on their cans and bottles about what is a 'safe' amount to drink and that drinking too much soda can lead to illness and death.

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   rahul0324posted 12 years ago

   This is sad...

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   couturepopcafeposted 12 years ago

   IMO, it's about damn time the carbonated beverage companies should have to put warning labels on their cans. Carbonation rots the gut. Cola products eat the paint off cars. Hello!!! Is anyone paying attention? Even you folks who defend the companies' rights are ignorant and blind to the facts that they've insidiously corrupted people systemically the same way Monsanto does with its pesticides and cigarette companies with their chemicals in the paper and tobacco to keep the cigarette lit.
   
   Wake up America.
   
   You think drinking 3-4 cans a day is ok and the woman who drank a gallon is an addict. You're right about the addict part and wrong about 3-4 cans being ok.. Sugar is addicting as is caffiene. The more she drank, the more her body needed. It trumped all desire for real food. Her kids likely suffered as well.
   
   IMO, any food product which is not in its natural state should have a warning label stating as such. It does not contain complete nutrition as the original food intended. This should be part of full disclosure.
   
   I also believe that a product labeled 'pineapple smoothie' for example should have, as its first ingredient, pineapple and should be at least 80% pineapple, not fillers of apple juice, pear juice, corn syrup, or whatever. The label should read "Artificially Flavored Pineapple Smoothie" instead of putting 'artificially flavored' in small print somewhere not easily spotted.
   
   As long as the title flavor/ingredient is in the first 5 listed in 'ingredients', they are within their legal rights but this is wrong and misleading, IMO.
   
   Boxed products 'made' from a combination of ingredients should be labeled as such.  "This box contains a combination of ingredients formed in the shape of a stringbean" (or whatever) "and should not be mistaken for a garden grown stringbean".

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   drspanielposted 12 years ago

   Apparently, new studies suggest that there is a chemical in Coke which encourages cancer. Hover, it seem to me that is just another "Boogey man" story to get more people not to drink it... Yet there are cases of people who drink Coke everyday, alas they have never suffered from tooth-decay.

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      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Why do you think this is a boogey man story? Have you not seen what coke does to car paint?

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         psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Nothing.  This is a myth.

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            melporposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Psycheskinner, thanks for the correction on the potassium. I had it backwards. Thanks.

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         Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp
         
         "Coca-Cola does contain small amounts of citric acid and phosphoric acid; however, all the insinuations about the dangers these acids might pose to people who drink Coca-Cola ignore a simple concept familiar to any first-year chemistry student: concentration. Coca-Cola contains less citric acid than does orange juice, and the concentration of phosphoric acid in Coke is far too small (a mere 11 to 13 grams per gallon of syrup, or about 0.20 to 0.30 per cent of the total formula) to dissolve a steak, a tooth, or a nail overnight. (Much of the item will dissolve eventually, but after a day or two you'll still have most of the tooth, a whole nail, and one very soggy T-bone.)
         
         Besides, the gastric acid in your stomach is much stronger than any of the acids in Coca-Cola, so the Coca-Cola is harmless."

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            jennzieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks for the info. I think there should be much more concern about the sugar and caffeine, not the acid. But then again, Coke is not the only drink that contains high amounts of these ingredients so all the focus shouldn't be on it alone. Other soft drinks and the so-called fruit juices that are loaded much more with sugar than actual fruit should be in the spotlight as well.

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            couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Reasons to avoid consumption of soft drinks (essentially pure carbonic acid):
            
            Caffeine does increase stomach acid levels
            
            Predatory marketing campaigns [especially] aimed at children and adolescents.
            
            High Fructose Corn Syrup, now used in preference to sugar, is associated with poor development of collagen in growing animals, especially in the context of copper deficiency. All fructose must be metabolized by the liver. Animals on high-fructose diets develop liver problems similar to those of alcoholics.
            
            Aspartame, used in diet sodas, is a potent neurotoxin and endocrine disrupter.
            
            Caffeine stimulates the adrenal gland without providing nourishment. In large amounts, caffeine can lead to adrenal exhaustion, especially in children.
            
            Phosphoric acid, added to give soft drinks "bite," is associated with calcium loss.
            
            Citric acid often contains traces of MSG, a neurotoxin.
            
            Artificial Flavors may also contain traces of MSG.
            
            Water may contain high amounts of fluoride and other contaminants.
            
            Chemical acids as additives, such as acetic, fumaric, gluconic and phosphoric acids, all of them synthetically produced. That is why certain sodas work so well when used to clean car engines
            
            On an empty stomach, can upset the fragile acid-alkaline balance of the stomach and other gastric lining, creating a continuous acid environment. This prolonged acid environment can lead to inflammation of the stomach and duodenal lining and can lead to gastric lining erosion.
            
            They act as dehydrating diuretics
            
            So-called stimulant soft drinks (like Red Bull) consist of higher-than-usual levels of caffeine, along with other compound stimulants
            
            Over the last 30 years a virtual tome of information has been published linking soft drink consumption to a rise in bone fractures in young girls due to an alarming rise in deficiencies of calcium and other minerals.
            
            Excessive phosphoric acid and tooth rot.
            
            I have more if you still want to feign denial.
            
            Please don't argue that fruit juice does the same thing. Manufactured juice has its own problems.
            
            Please don't argue that it should be up to the individual to choose. In the case of this type of product, ignorance is not bliss and consumers should be warned on labels. Then they can make an educated judgment.
            
            Please don't argue that the same amount of water can kill you. People don't get addicted to water.

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   psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

   She had an eating disorder.  Two gallons of pretty much anything would eventually have killed her.
   
   And it was a 'story' because it is interesting to people that this could happen.

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      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      She had an eating disorder because she drank 2 gallons of coke a day, not the other way around. Two gallons of water? Not so bad, depending on one's size and activity level of course.

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         psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         She had an eating disorder *and* she drank two gallon of coke a day.  We have no way of knowing if there was an addictive element or how it all fit together.  But a person who does not eat solid food should be getting urgent medical help regardless.
         
         Due to reverse osmosis and zero nutritive value water might have killed her even quicker.
         
         And she died from a *lack* of potassium because she wasn't eating food.

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            couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Ok, I'll agree to disagree. It seems I'll argue anything for pure food and you'll argue anything to defend big agribusiness and manufactured garbage.

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               Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I don't think anyone is trying to uphold the health benefits of soda. We're merely pointing out that the panic hype is mostly bunk.
               
               You shouldn't avoid Coke because it dissolves a tooth; as the link I posted earlier points out, pure, organic orange juice straight from Mother Nature's bosom is far more acidic and thus would dissolve a tooth much faster than Coke, which is mostly a strong argument for not holding a mouthful of most any beverage in your mouth for days at a time.
               
               You should avoid Coke (or at least consume it in moderation and yes, the less the better) because it's junk food. That's it. You don't need a warning label for that. A consumer would have to be willfully ignorant not to realize that.
               
               And really, just how much do people pay attention to warning labels? Has the tobacco industry been devastated by the due diligence of the Surgeon General?

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                  couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Eric - You posted this at the same time I posted the above list so I'll let that stand as a rebuttal. Some people think diet sodas are not junk food because the sugar has been taken out. Go figure.
                  
                  Maybe cigarettes and soft drinks should be modified to behave more compatibly with the human body.
                  
                  Maybe food education should be part of the grade and high school curriculum. Oh never mind. They'll just screw it up further.
                  
                  (On a small point, IMO, no amount is ok except as a rare treat and then maybe 6-oz. max.)

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               psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I am anti-agribusiness.
               
               I just like psychology and biology to be represented accurately. She died of a mineral deficiency due to not eating food.  The extent to which there was an addictive element (caffeine? sugar?) was not established.
               
               The death was not linked to any actively toxic elements in coke but because it is non-nutritive. Eating something non-nutritive in place of food will kill you.  She basically urinated herself to death.

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                  couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I guess we just see it from different ends. You see it as a result of not eating and I agree with that. I see not eating as a result of too much soft drink. It's also important, when looking for accuracy, to look at root. I would question the type of accuracy that only looks at the last steps to a result.

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    melporposted 12 years ago

    Drinking too much of anything will kill you and it will become a poison to your body. Even drinking too much water can do the same thing.  She died from caffeine and potassium overload since she was drinking about 10 liters of soda daily.

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    By His Wayposted 12 years ago

    Drinking that much of any fluid can cause the problems she had. It wasn't the coke IMO. It was the amount of fluid. When you drink that much fluid, you deplete your electrolytes. Add caffeine to mix which dehydrates you even more, then it's a double whammy. When your electrolytes become depleted (or concentrated) it causes heart rhythm problems. The electrolytes are needed for the "electric pathways" to work correctly. Being too low or too high on your potassium (hypokalemia/hyperkalemia) is dangerous cardiac wise. She had low potassium levels and probably stayed low constantly which can lead to heart problems long term or suddenly.
    
    That and the smoking and ...it happens unfortunately. But I don't see anything coming of this in regards to sodas being banned.

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    Greek Oneposted 12 years ago

    I think that Pepsi's new ad campaign is totally out of line...
    
    

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       Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       of course, the marketing gurus at Coke see this as an opportunity to promote Coca Cola's new line of coffins and funeral services...
       
       

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          Eric Newlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          May he Always rest in peace.

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    FatFreddysCatposted 12 years ago

    "Coke adds life...have a Coke and a GAAAAAAAAACK"

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    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    I see it as both. 
    
    We don't know the motivational cause of the eating disorder (not eating food) and we don't know the role of the actual ingredients of coke.
    
    All we actually know is the ultimate cause of death, K-depletion and cardiac arrest.  The rest is speculation.
    
    So I can't say what the root cause was, and don't think anyone else with access to the news reports alone can either.  All we know is that her eating was disordered and it killed her.

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       couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Well argued from an academic view. But we're not in court where the only admissable evidence is fact. I'll concede she may have had 2 gallons of coke because she was mentally diminished to begin with. A lot of my information is first hand and anecdotal. I believe in grass roots knowledge. Drink coke - feel lousy. Drink water - feel hydrated.
       
       This will probably turn out to be the same scenario the cigarette companies went through.

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    libby1970posted 12 years ago

    Drinking anything in excess can kill you. Your body can get too much water and it literally drown you! Your cells cannot function with that much excess of fluids!
    
    
    That yahoo story is almost 2 years old... It's crazy they just now come out with it!
    
    Coke, water, pepsi, kool-aid, lemonaide...anything you drink over 2 gallons of can harm you if you aren't working it off in sweat!
    
    That article also said she had high-blood pressure, smoked quite a bit, and had other health issues. So it's probably a contributing factor that she drank a lot of coke, but my thought is it was several things of which high-blood pressure being the leading cause. I'd like to see the autopsy report on this one.

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    noenhulkposted 12 years ago

    There are some people who ignore what will the outcome of what they do in their lives. They are hard headed. It is more like ... "enjoy enjoy what you like to eat and do in life and don't get old by dying young" tsk! tsk! She knows that I bet.

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    Disturbiaposted 12 years ago

    This may sound harsh, but this story isn't sad, it's just plain stupid.  When people make really poor choices and end up paying the ultimate price for those choices it's nobody's fault but their own.

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    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    I think family and friends have a role to, but ultimately an adult is responsible for their own starvation/poisoning.

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    shoaibgmailposted 12 years ago

    Rest in Peace coca cola lover.

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