Can Sparkling Water Cause Diarrhea?

  • By: Jan Helge
  • Date: July 18, 2023
  • Time to read: 5 min.

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We’ve all been there. You’re out at a restaurant, enjoying a delicious meal when suddenly you have to dash to the restroom. Or, you’re in the middle of a big presentation at work, and you can feel your stomach grumbling. Or, you’re just enjoying a can of sparkling water at home, and suddenly you have to make a dash for the toilet.

In all of these cases, there’s been a lot of talks about sparkling water and its potential effects on your health. Some people swear by its health benefits, while others claim it can cause problems like diarrhea.

So, what’s the truth? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the evidence to see if sparkling water can really cause diarrhea.

Can Sparkling Water Cause Diarrhea?

So, does drinking sparkling water make you sick and cause diarrhea? This question has a somewhat intricate response.

It is unlikely that the water itself will give you diarrhea if it is pure sparkling water with little or no additional chemicals. Even so, it may still result in additional gastrointestinal distress symptoms including gas and bloating.

However, occasionally, certain sparkling water brands can in fact cause an upset stomach and, as a result, diarrhea. Even while it happens less frequently, it still does. Sparkling water that contains additional components, such as artificial flavorings or dyes and sugar substitutes like sucralose, is more likely to cause this.

These components may combine with the acid in your stomach to cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. Doctors also caution against these chemicals since they may change your gut’s microbiome.

Drinking sparkling water may be a trigger for you if you have irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea is one of your frequent irritability symptoms. If this is the case, then drinking sparkling water may result in diarrhea more frequently than it does for those who do not have irritable bowel syndrome. In this situation, refraining from drinking sparkling water might be your sole option for preventing this symptom.

How Drinking Sparkling Water Result In Gas

Gas is more likely to result from sparkling water than diarrhea. This can be the case in a few different ways. When you drink the beverage, the carbonation in it causes the release of carbon dioxide gas, which settles in your stomach—it may accumulate and cause flatulence or belching.

Second, if you frequently consume carbonated beverages like sparkling water, especially if you have a tendency to drink quickly, you may be ingesting too much air. If you do ingest too much air, it may also wind up in your stomach and must be expelled there.

Therefore, this may result in a buildup of gas, flatulence, or burping once more.

Bloating: What is it?

Bloating is just an accumulation of extra gas in the stomach. It’s possible that you have gas stuck in your digestive system if you feel bloated. Sparkling water may be to blame for this bloating for the reasons described above.

Do flavors and sweeteners also contribute to bloating and gas? Yes, just as they can be to blame for your diarrhea, sweets and flavorings added to foods can cause gas and even bloating.

This is due to the additional substances’ potential to interact in a variety of ways with your stomach acid and induce gas or distress. Particularly artificial sweeteners have been connected to an increase in gas production.

You should use the process of elimination if you are unsure whether a certain substance is upsetting your stomach. Take a look at the ingredients list on your sparkling water to start, then eliminate one item at a time until you identify which one is to blame for your gastrointestinal distress, gas, etc. After that, you can locate a brand of sparkling water devoid of that component.

How Can I Get Rid Of These Unwanted Effects?

Bloating and gas can result from drinking any carbonated beverage. Regarding the danger of diarrhea, as we discussed before, it will depend on how many additional substances, such as sweets and flavorings, are used.

As a result, some beverages, such as sodas, juices, or teas, have a higher risk of causing diarrhea than others, such as clean sparkling water. It may be a good idea to reduce your intake of sweetened carbonated beverages and use the process of elimination we previously discussed if you frequently have stomach issues. In this manner, you can pinpoint the exact cause of your problems.

Finding the component that is causing your digestive distress can be determined utilizing the process of elimination we described above. However, if you are consuming sparkling water with little to no additional ingredients, you might only be feeling bloated because of the carbonation in sparkling water.

You can always drink less sparkling water if the carbonation is to blame. This would undoubtedly aid in easing the discomfort you are experiencing.

Exercise is also a great way to reduce gas and bloating in particular. Moving around stimulates your digestive system, which can help you get rid of some gas and reduce any discomfort you might be feeling.

How Much Sparkling Water Can I Drink?

You can consume roughly 300 ml of a carbonated beverage before any recorded gastrointestinal effects start to manifest. However, this may differ based on you, your particular physique, and your sense of self. Depending on the drink, you might be able to consume more or less before developing symptoms.

Conclusion

With that being said, there is no absolute answer to whether or not sparkling water causes diarrhea. This is because these unwanted effects depend from person to person. While the carbonation in sparkling water on its own is unlikely to cause diarrhea, any additional sweets or flavors may be the culprit.

What is true, though, is that sparkling water may indeed cause irritable bowel syndrome symptoms like diarrhea if you have the condition. If you are unsure of whether your preferred sparkling water is causing your diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms of disturbance, it is a good idea to reduce your intake and use a process of elimination to identify the exact factor that is to blame.

Related Topics:
What Is Sparkling Water And What Does it Do?
What Does Sparkling Water Taste Like?
Can You Drink Sparkling Water with Invisalign?

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