Can Sparkling Water Cause Diarrhea? (Finally Answered!)

Do you know if sparkling water causes diarrhea? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

If you often experience an upset stomach after drinking sparkling water, you may be wondering if the refreshing beverage is actually to blame for your gastrointestinal issues.

Does sparkling water cause diarrhea? Actually, the answer is a little bit complicated. Generally, the carbonation in sparkling water does not cause diarrhea, though it can be responsible for some gas, bloating, and other IBS symptoms. However, some brands of sparkling water do contain ingredients which may trigger diarrhea.

The rest of this article will go on to discuss how sparkling water can cause symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, which ingredients may be responsible for diarrhea, and how you can cut back on symptoms like gas and bloating.

Can sparkling water cause diarrhea?

So, can sparkling water cause diarrhea? The answer is a little bit complicated. If you are drinking pure sparkling water with few or no other ingredients, then the water itself is unlikely to cause you to have diarrhea. However, it can still cause other symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, like gas and bloating.

Sometimes, however, certain brands of sparkling water may indeed cause diarrhea. Although this is rarer, it does still happen.

When can sparkling water cause diarrhea?

Sparkling water is likely to cause diarrhea when it contains other ingredients, such as artificial flavorings or sweeteners such as sucralose.

These ingredients can interact with your stomach acid and create an upset stomach, leading to diarrhea. Doctors also warn that these ingredients can alter the microbiome in your gut.

If you experience IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and your symptoms of irritation often include diarrhea, then it is very possible that sparkling water could be a trigger for you.

If this is the case, then yes, sparkling water may cause diarrhea more often than for others who do not experience IBS.  In this case, avoiding sparkling water may be the only way for you to avoid this symptom.

Read also: 5 Most Common Disadvantages of Sparkling Water (You´ll Be Surprised!)

How does sparkling water cause gas?

Sparkling water is more likely to cause gas than diarrhea. There are a couple of ways that this is the case.

Firstly, sparkling water contains CO2. The carbonation in the drink releases carbon dioxide gas, and when this gas ends up in your stomach—as it does when you drink it!—it can build up, leading to flatulence or belching.

Secondly, if you drink a lot of carbonated drinks like sparkling water, you may be swallowing an excess of air when drinking, particularly if you tend to drink quickly.

If you do swallow excess air, this can also end up in your stomach, where it must come out somehow! So, this can again lead to a buildup of gas and flatulence or belching.

Read also: Does Carbonated Water Bloat You?

What is bloating?

Bloating is simply when you have a buildup of excess gas in your stomach. If you feel bloated, it may be because you have gas trapped somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract.

For the reasons mentioned above, sparkling water may be responsible for this bloating.

Do sugars and flavorings also cause gas and bloating?

Yes, sugars and added flavorings can be responsible for your gas and bloating just as they can be responsible for your diarrhea.

This is, again, because these added ingredients may interact with your stomach acid in various ways and create gas or upset.

Artificial sweeteners in particular have been linked to creating an excess of gas.

If you are not sure if a particular ingredient is causing your stomach to become upset, you should carry out a process of elimination.

Start by looking at the ingredients list on your sparkling water, and cut out one ingredient at a time until you figure out which one is causing your upset stomach, gas, etc. Then, you can find a brand of sparkling water without that ingredient.

How can I get rid of gas, bloating, and diarrhea?

The process of elimination we outlined above is a great place to start when it comes to figuring out which ingredient is causing your gastrointestinal upset.

If you are drinking sparkling water with little to no added ingredients, however, you may simply be experiencing an upset stomach due to the carbonation in sparkling water.

If the carbonation is responsible, you can always reduce the amount of sparkling water that you drink. This will surely help reduce the symptoms you are seeing.

Another good way to get rid of gas and bloating especially is exercise. Moving helps stimulate your gastrointestinal tract, which can get rid of some of the gas and ease any discomfort you may be experiencing.

How much sparkling water can I drink

You can drink about 300ml of a carbonated drink before gastrointestinal symptoms have been recorded to begin appearing.

However, depending on you and your individual body and self, this may vary. You may be able to drink more or less before experiencing symptoms, and it may also depend on the particular drink.

Can all carbonated beverages cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea?

Yes, any drinks with carbonation can cause gas and bloating. As for the diarrhea, like we outlined above, the risk of this will increase depending on how many added ingredients like sugars and flavorings are included.

So, some drinks, like sodas, juices, or teas, will be more likely to cause diarrhea than pure sparkling water, for example.

If you drink a lot of sweetened carbonated beverages and are experiencing a lot of gastrointestinal symptoms, it may be a good idea to cut back on them and practice the process of elimination we outlined earlier.

This way, you can figure out just what is causing your symptoms.

Conclusion

So, can sparkling water cause diarrhea? The answer is yes and no. While the carbonation alone in sparkling water is unlikely to cause diarrhea, any added sweeteners or flavorings can be responsible for doing so.

If you suffer from IBS, sparkling water may also indeed be a trigger for symptoms including diarrhea.

If you are not sure whether your favorite sparkling water is causing you to have diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms of upset, it is a good idea to cut back on the drinks and practice a process of elimination on the ingredients list to figure out just what is causing you to suffer these symptoms.

References

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a34524298/is-carbonated-water-good-or-bad-for-you/