NewsNew ZealandcaffeineNatasha Harris

Natasha Harris Dead, ‘Drinking 10 Litres Of Coca-Cola A Day Linked To New Zealander's Death'

Drinking 10 Litres Of Coca-Cola A Day 'Linked To Mother-Of-Eight's Death'
Sara C Nelson
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A mother-of-eight died had a fatal heart attack after drinking up to 10 litres of Coca-Cola a day, an inquest has heard.

The large quantities of the drink were a “substantial factor” in Natasha Harris’s death, a coroner said.

The 30-year-old New Zealand native, who had a history of ill health, died three years ago.

She was known to have smoked around 30 cigarettes a day, suffered from blood pressure problems and had had her teeth removed because of decay. One or more of her children had been born without tooth enamel, it emerged during the inquest.

On Tuesday, coroner David Crerar said Harris’s addiction to Coca-Cola had given rise to cardiac arrhythmia.

In a statement reported by the BBC, he said: "I find that when all the available evidence is considered, were it not for the consumption of very large quantities of Coke by Natasha Harris, it is unlikely that she would have died when she died and how she died.”

Mr Crerar calculated the amount of Coca-Cola Harris was drinking was equivalent to 970mg of caffeine and more than 1kg of sugar a day.

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He stressed the company could not be held responsible for the health of those who drank excessive amounts of its product, but called on soft drinks companies to display clearer warnings about the effects of sugar and caffeine.

Coca-Cola released a statement to ONE News saying it was “disappointed” by the coroner’s decision.

It said: "We are disappointed that the coroner has chosen to focus on the combination of Ms Harris' excessive consumption of Coca Cola, together with other health and lifestyle factors, as the probable cause of her death.

"This is contrary to the evidence that showed the experts could not agree on the most likely cause."

In 2012 Fairfax Media reported the testimony of pathologist Dr Dan Mornin, who said Harris probably suffered from hypokalemia or low potassium, which he believed was caused by her excessive consumption of the drink and overall poor nutrition.

Symptoms of hypokalemia can include abnormal heart rhythms, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Harris’s family told New Zealand’s Stuff website they wanted warning labels put on Coca Cola bottles to prevent a similar tragedy.

Her mother Lynette said: “It was her choice to drink Coke. She didn’t like water or tea or coffee and she didn’t eat much either and that had a lot to do with it.”

Her partner, Chris Hodgkinson, added: “I am glad the coroner has come to a conclusion, finally, after three years. I always knew Coke played a big part in her death.”

Soda Health Risks
Heart Attacks(01 of05)
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This week, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that drinking just one sugar-sweetened beverage a day was associated with a 20 percent bump in a man's risk of having a heart attack over a 22-year period. What's more, that risk increased along with the amount of sugary drinks consumed -- even after researchers controlled for other factors like family history, tobacco use and BMI. Reported NBC:
And while link doesn't absolutely prove that sugary drinks increase the risk of heart disease, there is evidence from other studies showing that these beverages have an impact on risk factors, [lead author Lawrence] de Koning said. In one study, for example, volunteers who decreased sugary soda consumption experienced a reduction in blood pressure levels, he added.
The researchers used data from the longitudinal Health Professionals Follow-up study -- a long-term research project that tracked the health behaviors of 42,883 men over 22 years. Of the entire cohort, a total 3,683 had either fatal or non-fatal heart attacks.Previous analysis of long-term research, such as data from the Nurses' Health Study, show that sugary soda consumption has been individually linked to overall heart disease rates for women as well. But before you consider switching to diet soda, research has shown that it, too, has a negative effect on heart attack and stroke: a separate study of 2,600 adults found that those who drank diet soda regularly were 40 percent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. (credit:Alamy)
Metabolic Syndrome And Fatty Liver Disease(02 of05)
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Even if it doesn't cause weight gain, sugary soda may be damaging your cardiovascular health -- especially if you're a woman. That's because women who drink sugar sweetened beverages are more likely to develop high levels of triglycerides -- a fat found in the blood stream that can indicate metabolic syndrome at high levels. In a review of data from a large, long-term study of the heart health of both men and women, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, researchers found that women who drank at least two sugary drinks per week were four times as likely to have dangerously high trigylceride levels as those who drank only one sugary drink. How does it work? The excess sugar from soda and other drinks is converted in the body to fat. But unlike the subcutaneous fat that's visible under the skin, much of this sugar transforms into either triglycerides or fatty tissue that surrounds organs, like the liver. And both metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease can contribute to higher risk of coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. (credit:Alamy)
Weight Gain (03 of05)
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Naturally, consuming extra calories from added sugar will lead to weight gain. But even diet soda may lead to unhealthy pounds. While the research is not yet conclusive, recent data demonstrated an association between regularly drinking diet soda and larger waist lines. Wrote HuffPost Healthy Living's own Amanda L. Chan:
A study presented at an American Diabetes Association meeting this week shows that drinking diet soda is associated with a wider waist in humans. And a second study shows that aspartame -- an artificial sweetener in diet soda -- actually raises blood sugar in mice prone to diabetes."Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised," study researcher Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., a professor and chief of clinical epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio's School of Medicine, said in a statement. "They may be free of calories but not of consequences."
An observational study and an experiment in rodents does not make for a lock-tight association, but it's enough to raise cause for concern. (credit:Alamy)
Osteoporosis(04 of05)
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An ingredient in cola could be leaching calcium from your bones. One study from Tufts University researchers found that women who reported drinking just three colas a week had an average 4 percent more bone loss at important sites in the hips than women who drank any other beverage -- including non-cola, sugary drinks and sodas. But why?Both diet and full-sugar cola contain the flavoring phosphoric acid. According to the study's lead author, Kathleen Tucker, that causes greater acidity in the blood. "At that point, your body's first priority is to restore a balance, so it leaches some calcium out of your bones to neutralize the acid," she told The Daily Beast. (credit:Alamy)
Type 2 Diabetes(05 of05)
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Diabetes goes hand-in-hand with obesity and heightened sugar consumption, so it's no surprise that drinking full-sugar soda is associated with the disease.The Nurse Health Study data on 90,000 adult women revealed that those who drank one or more sugary soft drinks (such as soda or juice) were also twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. And a separate study reveals why: sugary drinks increase the level of fasting glucose and insulin resistance -- two signs of pre-diabetes. Initial studies in mice even find that heightened consumption of the aspartame in diet soda can have an ill effect on fasting glucose levels, though that research is not yet conclusive. (credit:Alamy)
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