The Coca-Cola Company declares that the drink it produces is 'the flavor of life.' Well, really. But for a 42-year-old British woman, mother of five, the somewhat pretentious slogan is the daily routine.
The British newspaper Daily Mail tells the story of Jackie Belen, who became addicted to the fizzy drink about 28 years ago and has been drinking no less than ten liters a day ever since. To put that into perspective, ten liters is the equivalent of 30 cans.
Belen's addiction evokes an association of drunks and wine-drinkers, which Belen does not deny: "I panic if there is no bottle of Diet Coke at hand.".
She also says that excessive drinking makes her tired on the one hand, but the large amount of caffeine on the other hand causes severe sleep disturbances.
And what do you do when you can't fall asleep? You drink another Diet Coke. Belen also doesn't leave the house, not even for short trips, without at least a bottle or two in her bag.
The increased consumption of the drink, it turns out, also costs quite a bit of money. Every month, Belen invests about £500 in purchasing cans and bottles of Diet Coke. Now, after experiencing hallucinations and headaches - "I sometimes see oranges spinning around me around the room" - Belen is trying to quit, having been offered, among other things, cognitive behavioral therapy or hypnosis.
It should be noted that Coca-Cola indicates on the drink's labels the recommended daily amount for the various ingredients. Excessive caffeine may prevent proper iron absorption, and for pregnant women, according to some experts (although this is still controversial), it may cause premature birth, and even cancer.
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