Does Carbonated Water Cause Gas? (Yes, But Read This First)

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

If you often experience gas and bloating after drinking a nice, refreshing can of sparkling water, you may be wondering if the water is the culprit behind your excessive gas.

Does carbonated water cause gas? The answer is actually a little complicated. Yes, sparkling water can cause gas and bloating—but it is not always due to the carbonation in the water. Sometimes, added sugars and flavorings can actually be the culprit rather than the carbonation itself.

The rest of this article will talk about why carbonated water can cause gas and bloating, what different ingredients can add to more bloating, and how much of the carbonation in these beverages is actually reaching your stomach at a time.

Does carbonated water cause gas?

The answer is both yes and no. Carbonated water may cause gas, but it is not always due to the carbonation in the water. However, sometimes it can be! This is why the answer gets a little bit complicated.

While carbonated water can indeed cause gas due to only the carbonation itself, there are a few other ways that gas and bloating can be caused by these drinks.

Read on to discover just how carbonated water causes gas.

How does carbonated water cause gas?

Carbonated water can cause gas due to a number of different factors. Firstly, there is the obvious: yes, the carbonation itself can build up in your stomach and result in gas.

Since carbonation in drinks releases carbon dioxide gas, this gas can end up in your stomach, leading to belching or flatulence.

Secondly, other ingredients in carbonated water can actually cause gas as well. If your carbonated water includes flavorings or added sugars, then these additional ingredients may interact with your stomach acid in different ways, creating gas.

Artificial sweeteners have definitely been connected to causing excessive gas.

Lastly, drinking a lot of carbonated drinks can also lead to swallowing excess air while drinking. This especially occurs if you drink very quickly.

When you swallow excess air, it must come out one way or the other! So, again, this can lead to belching or flatulence.

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

What about bloating?

Bloating is simply a buildup of excess gas in the belly. If you feel bloated, you may have gas trapped in your gastrointestinal tract.

This can be caused by a number of things, but carbonated water is definitely one of them, for all of the reasons which we have discussed above.

How can I get rid of gas and bloating?

You can always reduce the amount of carbonated water that you are drinking, which will definitely help reduce gas and bloating.

However, if you do not want to do that, then one thing which is very good for getting rid of gas and bloating is exercise.

Getting moving is a great way to stimulate your gastrointestinal tract, which will help ease some of the discomfort you may experience from gas.

You may also try switching the type of carbonated water you are drinking. Look for one that does not have any added sugars or flavorings.

How do sugars and flavors cause gas?

Sugars and flavors can cause gas due to the way they interact in your stomach. With sugars, if you consume too much, there will be an excess that your body is not able to break down.

So, instead of being reabsorbed by your body, it will sit and ferment in the bowels. This fermented sugar then moves slowly through your gastrointestinal tract, leading to a buildup of gas.

Flavorings can interact in the same way, depending on what the ingredients include.

Different ingredients will interact in different ways, so it’s a good idea to find a carbonated water with as few ingredients as possible if you are suffering from gas.

What if there is no sugar or flavoring in my carbonated water?

If there is no sugar or flavoring in your carbonated water yet you are still experiencing gas, then it is possible that you are simply experiencing gas due to one of the other reasons we outlined above.

For example, the carbon dioxide created by the carbonation may be building up in your stomach, leading to gas.

Alternatively, you could be swallowing excess air while drinking, again leading to a buildup of gas in your stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

You can try cutting back on the amount of carbonated water you are drinking, adding in some regular, non-carbonated water to your diet, or slowing down in how you consume the beverage.

These may help reduce the amount of gas.

Read also: Does Sparkling Water Give You a Beer Belly?

How much carbonated water can I drink?

You can drink about 300ml of a carbonated drink before symptoms related to gas and bloating are recorded to start appearing.

This is about a 12 ounce can of sparkling water, maybe a little bit less. However, this may vary depending on your individual body and experience.

Can all carbonated beverages cause gas and bloating?

Yes, all carbonated beverages can cause gas and bloating. However, some, like sodas or sparkling juices, may be even more likely to cause gas and bloating than sparkling water.

This is because they are more likely to have additional added ingredients, especially sugars.

If you love carbonated drinks but are trying to reduce the amount of gas and bloating you experience, it may be a good idea to stick to sparkling water rather than soda, juice, or tea.

This will ensure that you are keeping the ingredients list to a minimum, reducing the chance of negative interactions in your stomach.

Conclusion

So, does carbonated water cause gas? The answer is yes and no. While carbonated water has indeed been known to cause gas buildups, it is not always due to the carbonation itself.

With that being said, it is sometimes due to the carbonation, so we are not ruling that out as a cause!

Added sugars and flavorings in sparkling water can also interact in various ways in your stomach, creating an excess buildup of gas.

Additionally, if you drink your carbonated beverage too quickly, it can lead to you swallowing air, which will come out in the form of belching or flatulence.

References

https://www.today.com/health/can-sparkling-water-lead-bloat-t227610

https://www.webmd.com/diet/sparkling-water-health-benefits