Is Ginger Ale Good for Acid Reflux?
Ginger ale is a carbonated beverage made of sweeteners and ginger root. It comes in various varieties and includes dry, diet, and regular ginger ale. Its usage is common for nausea treatment. It’s usually made with natural and artificial ginger flavoring, fructose corn syrup, sodium benzoate, citric acid, and caramels.
Returning to the main question, Is ginger ale good for acid reflux?
It’s a carbonated drink with an acidic pH; which makes it unsuitable for a person with acidic reflux. Carbonated and acidic drinks can aggravate acid reflux by boosting acid production and backflow to the esophagus. However, in case of mild acid reflux, it’s suitable to use it in a low amount as it has ginger components that can soothe esophageal inflammation.
This article contains many exciting facts about ginger ale; read on to discover them.
The origin of ginger ale
In England and Ireland in the 1840s, a homemade combination of the first ginger ale was manufactured. It was akin to a non-alcoholic soft drink, and the carbonation effect was created by adding carbon dioxide. The glass found its way to the US, which evolved into the sugary, bubbly ginger ale currently referred to as the “Golden style.”
In 1862, just before going to fight in the American Civil War, a pharmacist, James Vernors, left a barrel fermenting in his barn. When he returned four years later, he checked the barrel and found the matured beverage with a pronounced ginger flavor. Later, a different Toronto pharmacist named John McLaughlin improved the taste to create the contemporary Canada Dry form of ginger ale in 1907, which was later trademarked and commercialized.
Is Ginger Ale Alkaline or Acidic?
How acidic is ginger ale? Ginger ale has a strong sour flavor. Its pH values range from 2.0 to 4.0. Due to its high carbonic acid content, Canada Dry Ginger Ale has a pH range of 2.82. Other brands also have varying pH ranges.
Because bacteria cannot thrive below pH 4.6, it’s very acidic nature makes it suitable for preservation.
Ginger Ale types
There are many kinds of ginger ale, but the following are the most popular:
1. Regular
It includes classic ginger ales and sodas from genuine, fermented ginger root. Depending on the brand, they may also contain sugar, high fructose corn syrup, carbonated water, or other components in addition to ginger.
2. Dry
This brand of ginger ale has more complex carbonation and a more pungent taste. It can be consumed straight up or used as an alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage mixer.
3. Diet
Artificial sweeteners without calories are used in place of sugar to maintain the sweet taste.
Is Ginger Ale Beneficial for Acid Reflux
Is ginger ale good for acid reflux? While ginger ale can help with mild acid reflux, if you have severe acid reflux, it can potentially make it worse. Acid reflux can cause chest pain, heartburn, nausea, upper abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting. It is brought on by the stomach creating too much acid, which then passes through a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter muscle and into the esophagus.
There are two perspectives on the relationship between ginger ale and acid reflux.
1. Can ginger ale soothes an upset stomach? Due to the presence of ginger in it, ginger ale helps treat minor cases of acid reflux.
Ginger has been used to treat digestive issues because of its anti-inflammatory effects. This anti-inflammatory property can enhance acid reflux by reducing esophageal inflammation and easing heartburn.
2. Because ginger ale contains ingredients including sugar, carbonates, citric acid, and preservatives, it might aggravate acid reflux in extreme cases.
It prompts us to wonder if ginger ale is sour for acid reflux. Because of all of the ingredients in ginger ale, it could not be good. They might make acid reflux worse.
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4 main reasons why Ginger Ale is not suitable for acid reflux
According to studies, ginger root can reduce nausea and vomiting symptoms. In addition, ginger ale, a popular everyday beverage made from ginger root extracts and consumed on its own or with food, is another example.
For the following reasons, a fizzy ginger ale might not be the best option for getting your recommended daily intake of ginger:
- The ginger flavor could result from artificial flavoring rather than actual ginger.
- If it does include ginger, the quantity might not be sufficient to offer noticeable relief.
- It is very sweet or contains artificial sweeteners.
The easiest way to further reinforce the response is to look at the typical components of ginger ale, which make drinking it unwise for someone with GERD.
1. Citric Acid
Citrus fruits naturally contain citric acid, including orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit. But it’s also added to confectionery, drinks, and soda as a flavor and preservation. Because the esophagus is not built to handle acidic foods, citrus fruits can produce acid reflux. Our stomachs can handle acidic foods.
You will experience sour-tasting regurgitated food in the back of your mouth and a burning sensation in your chest when you have acid reflux. When ingested on an empty stomach, citric acid increases the production of stomach acids, which worsens the symptoms of GERD.
2. Carbonated Water
Carbonated beverages include bubbles that can stretch and enlarge the stomach. A swollen stomach puts more strain on the esophageal sphincter, which leads to acid reflux because it forces the stomach’s contents and other bodily fluids back into the esophagus.
GERD symptoms could become more severe due to carbonated beverages’ high acidity and carbonation. Additionally, drinking carbonated beverages eases the pressure on the sphincter in the lower esophagus. GERD sufferers should avoid sodas and other carbonated drinks as part of their diet changes.
3. High-fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) negatively impacts GERD symptoms for two reasons. First off, HFCS contains sulfuric acid, an extremely acidic chemical. Additionally, the lower esophageal sphincter is prone to becoming more pliable due to the chemicals employed in producing HFCS.
In addition to the fact that drinking ginger ale may be the least nutritious option, added sugar may also contribute to the onset of acid reflux in the first place.
4. Sodium Benzoate
Food is given preservatives to prevent premature expiration and to help them maintain its color, flavor, and size, making them appear more appetizing to consumers. To avoid microbial contamination, sodium benzoate is an artificial preservative applied to food and pharmaceuticals.
Regrettably, other chemicals, including sodium benzoate, can irritate the GI system. Consuming excessive amounts of artificial preservatives like sodium benzoate can worsen GERD symptoms like gas, bloating, heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and food intolerance.
Conclusion
Most of the health advantages mentioned above apply to ginger in general, not just ginger ale. Even though ginger has several health advantages, ginger ale is nevertheless seen as unhealthy because it is a soft drink or soda.
Ginger ale is a common drink available in almost all US supermarkets, eateries, and bars. Choose a low-sugar or diet kind of ginger ale that suits your health objectives if you want to find a healthier variety of beverages. So, does ginger ale help with GERD? No, it is preferable to stay away from it entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Is Ginger Ale Good for Acid Reflux?
Can ginger ale cause diarrhea?
If you drink too much ginger ale, you risk developing diarrhea. It is because calorie-free artificial sweeteners like sugar alcohol have been added to ginger ale, which can cause diarrhea.
Is ginger beer good for you?
No, its use can increase stomach acidity and relax the esophageal sphincter, allowing acid from the stomach to back up into the esophagus.
Alcohol is also present in ginger beer to some extent. Alcohol abuse can harm the esophageal mucosa and aggravate acid reflux. However, ginger beer can be used to alleviate acid reflux when consumed in moderation, just like ginger ale.
Is ginger ale beneficial for a stomach ache?
Yes, ginger ale has been used to alleviate nausea and vomiting, so it can help reduce stomach pain. Due to its capacity to boost other digestive juices and neutralize gastric acid, this is the case. In addition, ginger’s anti-inflammatory effects minimize gastric inflammation, and its antioxidant capabilities stop stomach cells from being harmed, reducing pain in the stomach.
Does ginger ale have caffeine?
The beverage ginger ale does not contain any caffeine. It is a carbonated drink with no caffeine at all and either artificial or natural ginger flavoring, as well as sweeteners and preservatives. As a result, one can avoid the negative consequences that drinking caffeinated beverages may cause.
References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314886\
https://preferredresearchpartners.com/10-foods-add-diet-acid-reflux/
https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/ginger-for-acid-reflux
https://nonahoodnews.com/gerd-avoiding-acid-reflux-through-diet-and-lifestyle-changes/
https://woman.thenest.com/heartburn-ginger-ale-7810.html
https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/g20433234/best-foods-and-drinks-to-fight-acid-reflux/
https://gutadvisor.com/is-ginger-ale-good-for-gerd/
https://tastylicious.com/is-ginger-ale-acidic/
https://khealth.com/learn/gerd/is-ginger-good-for-acid-reflux/
