Reasons for Stomach Ache After Drinking Soda: How Do You Stop It

Soda, seltzer, pop all are names of carbonated drinks. Commonly these beverages are known as soft drinks. In today’s life drinking soft drinks is the latest trend. People drink sodas and other carbonated beverage thinking it quenches thirst, beside some of them known to give a boost. But little do they realize that overconsumption of these beverages subtly destroys their health.

Often you may come across people complaining of stomach ache, nausea and other gastric problems after drinking too much of soda. Carbonated beverage contains CO2 gas, additives, sugar and distilled water. Actually some amount of gas is always present in the stomach, but this does not produce any symptom. When excess of gas gets accumulated it may cause pain and distension of abdomen.  Medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and allergy to food additives can also lead to gastrointestinal discomfort that includes stomach ache as one of its symptom.

What is the reason for stomach ache after drinking Soda?

There are several factors that may cause stomach ache after drinking soda. Let us understand the reasons:

• Gas in stomach: One of the main reasons for stomach pain, intestinal cramps and fullness in the abdomen is increased amount of gas in the GI tract.
  Gas in GI tract forms in small amount as the intestinal bacteria act upon undigested carbohydrates. However, this gas usually does not cause any trouble. Carbonated beverages such as soda contain air bubbles. Drinking excess of soda hence can lead to increased amount of gas in stomach which if not passed out through mouth and rectum can cause severe cramps, bloating, and discomfort in the abdomen.
• Aspartame: If you are thinking of drinking diet soda as the solution, it is not a good option. The fact is diet sodas contain aspartame. It is artificial sweetener. If you have intolerance or allergy to aspartame, you are likely to experience stomach pain after drinking diet soda. Food intolerance is quiet common. Besides pain in abdomen, it can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and even diarrhea.
• Irritable bowel syndrome: A person suffering from irritable bowel syndrome is more prone to suffer from stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation after drinking soda. IBS is a gastrointestinal tract disease that is characterized by abdominal cramps, alternate constipation and diarrhea. The exact reason underlying it is still not understood, but in some cases even drinking carbonated beverages can also trigger the symptoms. The best thing is to avoid sodas and other carbonated beverages if you are suffering from IBS.
• Acids: Sodas contain acids in its diluted form. Most of the carbonated soft drink beverages contain phosphoric acid and carbonic acid in very small amount. It is added to give that peculiar sourness to the soda. Too much of these acids can eliminate certain minerals such as magnesium from the body. Lack of magnesium is known to cause cramps in muscles. These may also include abdominal muscle cramps.

How to stop stomach cramps after drinking soda:

Once you realize that after drinking soda, you experience stomach pain and discomfort, the best way to stop this suffering is to avoid drinking soda. You must find some other alternative way to quench your thirst. The best option is to drink freshly prepared fruit juice. It does not contain artificial sweetener. Fresh lime water and juices are more refreshing, healthy and loaded with nutrients that will make your body healthier. On the other hand, aerated drinks which do not contain any healthy nutrients can do more harm than good for the body. So always the choice must be in favor of fresh juice instead of sodas and aerated soft drinks.