FOOD NEWS
Why You Should Avoid Soda If You Have An Upset Stomach
By Cynthia Anaya
Losing food and water via vomiting or diarrhea means losing nutrients and electrolytes, which in turn leads to dehydration. Although some beverages provide the much-needed rehydration after experiencing an upset stomach, one particular beverage you must avoid is soda.
Soda’s carbonation comes from carbon dioxide, so when you drink soda, you're essentially drinking gas — and when enough gas accumulates in the stomach, it usually escapes from the mouth in the form of a belch. However, if the gas doesn't escape, that extra pressure building up in your stomach could lead to indigestion.
Caffeine can also cause an upset stomach or worsen it by increasing the amount of acid in the stomach, but that doesn’t mean caffeine-free sodas are a good way to rehydrate on an upset stomach, as they contain a lot of sugar. Flat soda — or soda that's lost most of the carbon dioxide — eliminates the stomach pressure buildup risk, but drinking it to regain fluids and electrolytes will leave your body wanting more.