Whats in ginger ale that helps upset stomachs

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Many people turn to the classic combination of chicken soup, saltines, and ginger ale when sick. It's easy, comforting, and almost universally understood to make you feel better. Drinking ginger ale seems like a no-brainer, since ginger has been proven to alleviate nausea (via Healthline) and the soda water replaces fluids lost during *ahem* gastrointestinal distress. 

But according to Dr. Gina Sam when speaking to Marie Claire, ginger ale might actually make your stomach ache worse. The issue, she says, lies in the sugar or artificial sugars contained in the soda, which "feed the bad bacteria in your GI tract, causing more bloating, gas, and indigestion." The Atlantic agrees, reporting that ginger might not even help if you have a stomach bug, and is more beneficial if your nausea is caused by pregnancy, motion sickness, the effects of anesthesia, or chemotherapy. 

Taste of Home takes an issue with popular soda brand Canada Dry specifically, pointing out that ginger isn't even listed in the ingredients, although we can likely assume it is one of the "natural flavors." Apparently there was even a lawsuit filed against parent company Keurig Dr. Pepper in 2019 for false advertising, leading them to change the label language claiming their ginger ale is made from "real ginger" and offer up to $40 in the United States for anyone with proof of purchase going back to 2013, according to the National Post.

Alternatives to drinking ginger ale

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As an alternative to ginger ale, Dr. Sam suggests that you add fresh ginger to hot water or decaf tea when feeling under the weather. PopSugar similarly recommends ginger tea, stating that even ginger beer, which is made from fermented ginger, still contains the sugar and carbonation which lead to bloating and discomfort. Taste of Home offers the alternative of ginger chews if you're not interested in making tea, claiming they can produce near instant relief. Over at Health Essentials for the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center based out of Ohio, Dr. Matthew Goldman suggests taking ginger in its powdered form, or even eating low-calorie ginger snaps. Who says cookies can't be healthy?

And in case you're wondering, 7Up doesn't get the job done when it comes to an upset stomach, either. 

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Here’s a piece of widely accepted knowledge that no one ever questioned, at least when I was a kid: Ginger ale will soothe nausea or an upset stomach. But as one viral tweet recently pointed out, this fizzy drink is not the miracle cure for all of your digestive ailments. My world has officially been turned upside down.

According to one doctor named Gina Sam, who spoke with local news station WBAL, the mythology of ginger ale’s healing powers stems from its name: People simply assume that because it has “ginger” in the name, it also the same, very real and proven, anti-nausea effects of ginger in its herbal form.

There is, in fact, mostly sugar and carbonated water in ginger ale, and very little actual ginger. That should seem obvious, and yet instead of reaching for say, ginger lozenges during a bout of nausea, most people go straight for the soda. And thus, this old wives tale has persisted through the ages.

In fact, not only will ginger ale not help, but it also may actively hurt you even more. According to Dr. Sam, all that sugar feeds that bacteria causing your stomach pain, making it multiply. If you’re really looking for relief, try a cup of herbal ginger tea instead. Yeah, the soda probably tastes better, but the higher concentration of ginger is what will actually settle your stomach. In fact, Dr. Sam recommends grabbing a stalk of fresh ginger root from the store, peeling it, and adding a couple slices directly to hot water for maximum effect.

Now personally, I can truthfully say that ginger ale has helped soothe nausea in the past, but should I chock that up to the placebo effect — or the power of suggestion — now that I’m armed with this new information? Maybe, but next time I’m feeling sick I will probably still reach for good ol’ reliable ginger ale. You know, just in case.