Drinking too much cola may result in paralysis

Excessive cola consumption will give one more than tooth cavities and the risk of diabetes. In an article in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice, drinking too much cola is said to lead to a disease called hypokalaemia which can manifest as increased muscular weakness.

“We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralisation and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes,” says Dr Moses Elisaf from the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Ioannina, Greece. “Evidence is increasing to suggest that excessive cola consumption can also lead to hypokalaemia, in which the blood potassium levels fall, causing an adverse effect
on vital muscle functions.” In the research undertaken by Dr. Elisaf and his colleagues, ‘symptoms can range from mild weakness to profound paralysis.’

In the United States alone, the consumption of soft drinks has already reached the average level of 212 liters per person per year. Worldwide in 2007, cola consumption reached 552 billion liters, or an average of nearly 83 liters per person per year. According to doctors, hypokalaemia can be caused by high levels of glucose, fructose and caffeine, three of the standard ingredients in cola drinks. They urge that cola drinks be included in the doctor’s list of hypokalaemia-causing substances.