Doctors are warning that excessive cola consumption can lead to anything from mild weakness to profound muscle paralysis. This is because the drink can cause your blood potassium to drop dangerously low. One Australian ostrich farmer needed emergency care for lung paralysis after drinking large amounts of cola.



Researchers believe that many people risk problems due to their intake. Dr. Clifford Packer says that, “We have every reason to think that it is not rare. With aggressive mass marketing, super-sizing of soft drinks, and the effects of caffeine tolerance and dependence, there is very little doubt that tens of millions of people in industrialized countries drink at least 2-3 liters of cola per day.”

According to Packer, "It follows that the serum potassium levels of these heavy cola drinkers are dropping, in some cases, to dangerously low levels."

Excessive cola consumption has also been linked with obesity, diabetes and tooth and bone problems.


Sources:

BBC News May 19, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8056028.stm

The Telegraph May 19, 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/5350530/Drinking-large-amounts-of-cola-can-cause-paralysis-doctors-warn.html

The International Journal of Clinical Practice May 13, 2009; 63(6); 833-835
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122384352/HTMLSTART?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0