Jun 21, 2001 01:31 AM
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Although this product has been reviewed many times, I am sure, I would like to inject another perspective of this soft drink. I have been a Coca-Cola connoisseur since I was drinking from a bottle. After all, my mother plied me with Coca-Cola as a baby and then wondered why I had sleeping problems. I was simply too wired to go to sleep. My mother knew nothing of the consequences of her actions at that time nor did she realize the future problems I would have due to my Coca-Cola addiction.
By the age of four years, I was totally addicted to this beverage and would drink little else. What many people may not know is that Coca-Cola is extremely hard on the kidneys. Thus I on my fifth birthday, I was suffering from a terrible kidney infection and was passing blood. Not only was Coke creating cavities I later had to have filled in my teeth, I was destroying my internal organs. I remember the terrible pain I was in every time I went to the bathroom. So, in my four year old mind, I decided I wouldn’t go anymore since it hurt so badly. I would hold my bladder until I could hold it no longer then scream in pain when I finally did go. Fortunately, my parents got me the necessary medical help to clear up this infection.
After recovering from my first major kidney infection (it ruined my fifth birthday, btw), I did not think much as to what caused my problem. I have always been plagued with bad allergies, and it seemed like I rarely felt well. I was just use to feeling badly and didn’t expect more out of life than what I was given.
Five years later, I ended up in the hospital due to a bad kidney infection based upon my Coca-Cola addiction. My brother had landed a wonderful job (at my age, it seemed like a perfect job!) at a local soda pop shipping company and received crates full of cokes. My brother was very generous with his stash, and he shared as much as I could drink. Yes, you guessed it, my kidneys were inflamed again, and I spent a few days in the hospital. I would probably be thrown back out within half a day with our hospitals of today, but back then, they did try to get you recovered before tossing you back out onto the streets.
I continued my bad Coke habit until a couple of weeks later when I began to have sharp pains in my abdomen again. I was almost immediately nauseous and soon could not hold down any food or water. My temperature soared, and I was out of school again. Within two days, I was admitted back into the hospital since I had a relapse, and believe me, a relapse is much worse than the first time around. The doctor was thinking I had appendicitis since the symptoms were so closely related, but something wasn’t quite right, and my doctor called in a specialist. I was ten years old and laid up in a sterile hospital wondering what my classmates where doing and if they were playing outside having fun while I was stuck flat on my back in a hospital. I knew I was getting behind in my schoolwork and feared I would not be able to catch up. I was also terrified knowing that the next morning I would be in surgery getting my appendix removed. I did not know what to expect since I had never had a surgery before. Sometimes the unknown can be a frightening place.
After having a troubled nights sleep in the hospital, I asked a nurse when I would be going to surgery. She informed me that a new doctor had been brought in that was a specialist and had found my appendix to be inflammation free and that he thought I had a bad kidney infection. I was relieved. I would not be having my side cut open, and finally there was hope.
This new doctor was a lot more aware of what was happening to my body than any of my family, and he informed us then that I was drinking too many Cokes and that Cokes were hard on the kidneys. If I were to drink any soft drinks continually, I needed to drink the clear sodas and not the dark ones. I never forgot this good advice from this doctor. He said if I were to drink any colas at all that I needed to drink plenty of water with it to help dilute its affects.
Using this advice, I have never had a major kidney infection again. Although I have forgotten at times and have had mild infections, I have beaten the Drink-Coke-Land-In-The-Hospital cycle.
Coca Cola is still my favorite soft drink although I can only drink it in limited amounts (along with cranberry juices and water). One can is only 140 calories and contains no fat; however, it is high in sugar content (39g) which turns to fat. They fail to mention that. Sodium is low at only 50mg, and Coke contains no protein. If you have any consumer question concerning Coca-Cola, the toll free number is 1-800-438-2653.
A steady diet of Coke promotes tooth decay, weight gain, and of course kidney problems. If you or a family member has a history of kidney problems, I would try to reduce if not eliminate the intake of this product. However, if you are like me and cannot go completely without, drink plenty of cranberry-type juices and water after drinking it. You could be the next candidate for a bad kidney infection like I was at one time.
