Ginger ale may be a household go-to for an upset stomach, but for some people, drinking the soda could actually make things worse.
When you get a stomachache, you may reach for a glass of ginger ale to help feel better. It is a common home remedy for nausea or other gastrointestinal issues. However, some people online are wondering if their mom’s go-to cure actually works.
THE QUESTION
Does ginger ale help with stomachaches?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
While ginger root can help stomachaches, many popular brands of ginger ale do not contain any real ginger. The sugar and high carbonation may also worsen digestive problems.
WHAT WE FOUND
Ginger ale could help relieve stomachaches for some people, but only if it contains real ginger. A scientific review of more than 100 studies on the effects of ginger show moderate effectiveness in relieving nausea.
Emma Slattery, a registered dietician at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explains in a blog post that “eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn’t linger as long in the gut.” This can help you cut down on bloating and constipation as ginger improves “the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process.”
But while “ginger” may be in the name of the fizzy drinks you find in stores, many brands of ginger ale do not actually contain any real ginger.
VERIFY looked at the ingredients list of Seagram’s ginger ale and found that the soda contains “ginger extract with other natural flavors.” Schweppes, Canada Dry and Great Value ginger ale do not include ginger in their ingredient list and instead only say “natural flavors.” According to the FDA, “natural flavors” can refer to a wide variety of ingredients whose “significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
Ginger ale often contains large amounts of sugar, which may create further issues for your stomachache. In a blog post for the Cleveland Clinic, Matthew Goldman, M.D., says, “If a person has bloating, gas or indigestion, the carbonation and sugar may make it worse. Even diet ginger ale can be harmful because our bodies may not digest artificial sugars as well.”
Another aspect of ginger ale believed to assist with stomachaches is carbonation. But that might not be helpful for everyone.
Baptist Health explains, “Some people find that the bubbles in carbonated drinks help soothe an upset stomach, in part, by making it easier for them to burp and release stomach pressure. For others, gas and acidity can make matters worse.” Baptist Health recommends that you drink heavily carbonated drinks with caution if you are not sure how they affect you.
So how can you best take advantage of ginger’s soothing effects when you’re feeling sick? Cleveland Clinic recommends getting ginger root from the grocery store and mixing it with decaf tea or warm water.
Some ginger sodas do have real ginger in the ingredient list. Reed’s sells a ginger ale with 2 grams of ginger in a 12 oz bottle and ginger beerthat contains 17 grams of ginger per bottle.
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FAQs
It could be an artificial flavoring. And if it does have real ginger, it may not have enough to offer significant relief. Even then, most ginger ale won't help. It could even make matters worse.
Does ginger ale actually help with stomach issues? ›
Experts are warning that ginger ale — long touted as the cure for an upset stomach — not only lacks any significant health benefits, it could even make your gastrointestinal distress more distressful.
Does ginger stop stomach pain? ›
Fortunately, ginger can be a helpful and natural remedy to ease that upset stomach. How? Ginger is believed to speed up the movement of food through the GI tract, while also protecting the gut. It may also ease bloating, cramping, and gas.
Why doesn't ginger ale have ginger? ›
If there's no ginger, what's in ginger ale? In order to infuse soda with ginger flavor, ginger ale brands may swap out ginger and use ginger extract or flavoring in its place. Some, like Canada Dry, list the extract on their ingredient label.
Is there a difference between ginger beer and ginger ale? ›
While these two drinks were once identical, ginger ale is typically sweeter, non-alcoholic, and made using artificial carbonation. Ginger beer tends to be spicier and is carbonated via fermentation. As a result, it may contain alcohol, though sometimes in amounts as low as 0.5% ABV.
Which ginger ale has real ginger? ›
Drink Reed's - Real Ginger Ale & Real Ginger Beer.
Does Vernors have real ginger? ›
The official ingredients do not mention ginger. Instead, the label denotes the pop is comprised of carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caramel color and “natural and artificial flavors.”
Does Canada Dry contain real ginger? ›
Research by the New York complainant's lawyer estimated the actual ginger compound content of Canada Dry at two parts per million, which is below the threshold for human taste, and far lower than any amount that could have health benefits.
Who cannot take ginger? ›
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions, and people with diabetes should not take ginger without talking to their doctors. DO NOT take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.
Is drinking ginger ale every day bad for you? ›
In either case, ginger ale is still soda, and numerous studies have linked drinking soda with an increased risk of obesity. "Ginger ale is not classified as a health food and should be consumed in moderation," advises Jamie Bering, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Zevia Zero Calorie Ginger Ale
Based on the nutrition label, this ginger ale is the healthiest with 0 of everything. It's made with carbonated water, stevia, natural flavors, citric acid and ginger extract.
Does Schweppes ginger beer have ginger in it? ›
Schweppes Ginger Beer offers a true flavour hit with real ginger and the perfect amount of bubbles, giving it a lively bite and refreshing edge.
Does Schweppes ginger ale not taste like ginger? ›
Schweppes is very light in color and highly carbonated. But it tastes similar to Sprite (or, said another way, like mass-produced syrupy soda). It's not very gingery. You do get a white grape flavor on the finish.
Which is better for upset stomach, ginger beer or ginger ale? ›
This is because it's traditionally brewed and fermented, which can give it a more robust ginger flavor. Ginger beer sometimes contains even higher levels of ginger than ginger ale, which means it may be even more helpful at alleviating nausea than ginger ale, Trinh said.
Can you drink straight ginger beer? ›
Packed with flavor, it's good enough to be enjoyed on its own, or mixed to make a variety of different co*cktails.
Is ginger beer good for your stomach? ›
Did you know that ginger beer is an effective remedy against nausea and morning sickness? According to studies conducted by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, ginger beer enhances digestion and helps food move smoothly through the stomach.
Does ginger ale help with IBS symptoms? ›
Certain foods may contribute to constipation or diarrhea, so you might make different diet choices depending on your type of IBS. In general, foods that may be easier for people with IBS include: Water, Ginger Ale, Sprite, and Gatorade. Soy milk or rice milk.
What drink is best for an upset stomach? ›
Treatment
- Sports drinks.
- Clear, non-caffeinated sodas such as 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale.
- Diluted juices such as apple, grape, cherry or cranberry (avoid citrus juices)
- Clear soup broth or bouillon.
- Popsicles.
- Decaffeinated tea.
Ginger ale.
While ginger in its natural form may have some cold and flu benefits, this carbonated, sugary version won't offer much relief. Soft drinks of any kind have very little of the nutrients and electrolytes you need to fight off sickness. Get your ginger in a mug of hot tea instead.
Is ginger good for stomach inflammation? ›
Plus, ginger's anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce the production of stomach acid. This may help relieve symptoms of mild acid reflux. Small doses of ginger may also relieve gastrointestinal irritation and inflammation in the esophagus. Ginger may also support faster gastric emptying.
