Fizzy drinks, like sparkling water and soda, can be fun to drink, but a lot of people claim that carbonated beverages cause them to feel gassy and bloated. Is it the carbonation itself in these drinks that’s creating less-than-stellar side effects — or something else?
Do Carbonated Drinks Cause Gas?
The short answer to this question is “yes,” but the longer answer is a bit more complicated.
While a 2009 report put out by the Departmental of Clinical and Experimental Medicine at the University of Naples claims that “Most of the CO2 in a carbonated beverage does not actually reach the stomach,” both the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine say that carbonated beverages can increase gas in the digestive system.
The answer gets more intricate when you add sugar and artificial sweeteners into the mix.
If you find that you’re increasingly bloated after drinking diet soda, it may be because some artificial sweeteners can also cause excess gas. An overabundance of high-fructose corn syrup — which is found in many “regular” sodas — may also lead to gas and bloating.
The Bottom Line?
If you’re drinking a lot of soda, diet or otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for bloating and gas. If you occasionally sip sparkling water (that doesn’t have artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup as ingredients), you’re probably fine.
Keeping Gas-X by your side to treat any occasional gas and bloating that may arise after drinking carbonated beverages is a simple way to find fast relief. Gas-X contains simethicone, the number-one doctor recommended ingredient for fast gas relief among OTC brands, which means you can trust Gas-X to ease your bloating before it has time to ruin an otherwise enjoyable experience!
