Friday, May 22, 2009

Another good reason to stop drinking Cola

I stopped drinking carbonated stuff about five years ago. I'd suffered, for the previous six years or so, from intermittent bouts of terrible stomach problems that were diagnosed as either "irritable bowel syndrome" or "colitis." Either way, waking up at 3am with cramps bad enough to keep you on the floor isn't fun. When I stopped drinking pop, the episodes lessened in both frequency and severity to the point that they really don't bother me at all anymore. Once in awhile, a little tummy-ache, as opposed to 6-12 hours of incredible pain.

I'm pretty sure it was the pop. Maybe not as a single cause, but certainly as an exacerbating factor. I've never had such direct, fast results from one diet change. At first I only stopped drinking Cola, and kept on with stuff like Ginger Ale from time-to-time... but any of it tended to ramp up the digestive discomfort.

Now word comes from the International Journal of Clinical Practice that Cola can cause muscle problems:

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.



I like the taste of many sodas. And I like the tingly feeling. It just ain't worth the trouble, though.

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