Death By Coca-Cola…kinda
New Zealand’s 30 year old Natasha Harris died of a heart attack back in February of 2010. In that country investigations are organized to explain odd deaths in an attempt to consider future health regulations. In the case of Harris, it seems pretty obvious what killed her.
The headline of the story is that Harris was a well known Coke addict, not the drug cocaine, but regular Coca-Cola – the soft drink. She consumed as much as two gallons a day, (equal to 20+ cans) and had been doing so for as long as anyone can remember. The pathologist in the investigation testified that the autopsy revealed that she suffered from hypokalemia, or low potassium, probably a result of drinking so much cola. But that’s not the only reason.
Harris also smoked 30 cigarettes a day and when she did eat, she ate very little.
While two gallons of cola is really bad for anyone, excessive amounts of water or milk, or any liquid for that matter, can also be deadly. So while the idea that someone drank Coca-cola to their death is a pretty good headline, the fact that Harris simply took really overall crappy care of herself is the reality.
Related articles
- Kiwi’s Coca-Cola Addiction Likely Killed Her [Coca Cola] (gawker.com)
- World News: New Zealand women drink to gallons of Coca-Cola per day (walesonline.co.uk)
- Woman Dies From Coca-Cola Overdose? Sort Of (inquisitr.com)
