How Much Will It Take To Kill You?

I am NOT a fan of black licorice. It’s an acquired taste. But I had no idea it could kill you.

Let this be a warning for us all. A guy in Boston died last week when he ate a bag-and-a-half of black licorice every day for a few weeks.

Apparently, black licorice is filled with an ingredient that can cause your heart to stop. Death by licorice. Not the best exit strategy.

Since black licorice is something that your kids can receive for Halloween, that got us to thinking here at The JimShow, “What in copious amounts, can kill you?” Turns out, it’s more of a thing than you may realize.

There are a lot of things you consume on a daily basis that could kill you.

“Here are 5 Things Foods/Drinks That Can Kill You”, along with the amount that would do the trick. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME. Or anywhere else for that matter. Don’t be “That Guy”.

1. 14 Bottles of Water

6 gallons of water in a day will kill you. So this one hits home for a couple of reasons.

First off, the very idea that too much water outside a drowning can kill you? Water?

Yep, you may remember in 2007, a radio contest was held where the Wii Console  was the Grand Prize. Wii's were so in demand, the back order was months behind. In Sacramento, a radio station held a contest called  “Hold Your Wee for a Wii”. The contest was to drink as much water as you can and hold it. A nurse named Jennifer Strange won the contest and died the next day from “water intoxication”. That means too much water in your blood system. Sad that we had to learn it that way.

The second reason this hits home, I worked with one of the supervisors of that fatal radio contest a few years after the contest. He was riddled with guilt to his culpability even to this day. I would be too.

2. 113 Cups of Coffee

Since we live in Coffee country, this one has to be fully understood. You would probably die not from the caffeine overdose, but as mentioned above, the water intoxication would do it. 113 cups equals 7 gallons of water. The human stomach holds about a half-gallon at best. Best to just drink water in moderation.

3. 85 Chocolate Bars

Hi. My name is Jim, and I am a choco-holic. I especially LOVE Dark Chocolate.

Getty Images / Cadbury, not as good as Ghirardelli. But will suffice

Chocolate contains a small amount of theobromine that stimulates your central nervous system. If you ate 22 lbs. of chocolate in one sitting (which is impossible for most), it could lead first to nausea and diarrhea, an epileptic fit, internal bleeding, cardiac infarction, and finally death. Death by Chocolate? Not the best way to go.

4. 18 Apples

Since we live in apple country, you need to be in the know on this one.

You won't die from eating 18 apples. But if you take out the seeds from those 18 apples, smash them to pieces, chew them thoroughly, and swallow them, then there is a possibility that you will die. The reason? Apple seeds contain cyanide. The lesson here - don’t smash the apple seeds and eat them!

5. 27 Shots of Alcohol

1.25 liters of 40% alcohol (approximately 27 shots of 45 ml each). Don’t test this one or push the limits.

Bonus:  1,500 lbs. Ganja

The fatal dose is 1,500 lb, smoked within 15 minutes or 48 lbs. eaten at one time. I am sure we all know someone who we think can beat this. This is NOT a challenge NOR a badge of honor. DO NOT DO THIS. Plus, you know, the munchies. 

In life I have learned, everything in moderation. It’s good advice to live by.

All My Best,

The JimShow