Why Does Soda Give Me Diarrhea

Can Baking Soda Cause Diarrhea

Most households keep baking soda in stock because it can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen, bathroom, cooking and baking, for health, in the car, for pets, and other miscellaneous uses.

The secret to the usefulness of baking soda lies in two letters: pH. It means power of hydrogen which was intended to create either an acid or a base . Since baking soda is alkaline, mixing it with acid alters the pH level. This is what makes baking soda so effective in soothing an upset stomach or neutralizing a bad smell.

With regards to the digestive tract, baking soda is dissolved in water to act as an antacid. According to the Mayo Clinic, baking soda can be used to help relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach, and even as a treatment for stomach ulcers. It can also be used to increase the alkalinity of urine.

However, The dangers of baking soda primarily come from overdosing on it. Baking soda can be poisonous when taken in large amounts. Too much sodium can cause side effects such as diarrhea and vomiting, and in some instances, more serious complications like kidney failure and seizures.

According to a study published in the journal Plos One in August 2017, the sodium from baking soda provides additional oxygen to the muscles and may also increase blood volume. However, it also discovered that the spurt in performance provided by baking soda does not last long. In fact, the side effects may well counteract any benefit provided by baking soda.

Does Soda Make You Poop And Cause Diarrhea

Soda is a popular carbonated drink that comes in so many brands, flavors, and tastes. Thus, its something many people enjoy, and its one of the things we always buy since its available everywhere. However, one of the things you may notice about soda is that it can affect your digestion. For instance, you may ask:

Does soda make you poop and cause diarrhea? Yes, soda makes you poop and causes diarrhea. This is because soda contains large amounts of sugar and sugar alternatives such as aspartame, sucralose, maltitol, and sorbitol. These sugars can produce a laxative effect, leading to your poop and causing diarrhea. Thus, you should limit your consumption.

Soda comes in so many variants, and its something we always enjoy drinking because of its texture and flavor. However, since it can cause some effects on our digestion, particularly in our bowel movements, you should be wary of it.

In this article, youll see our in-depth take on soda and how it affects our digestion. This way, you can learn what it does to the body and how you can enjoy the experience without putting so many things at risk.

Without further ado, lets get into it!

Foods To Avoid If You Have Ibs

Discomfort in the lower gastrointestinal tract can affect a person’s well-being, and it is very common: For instance, about 10% to 15% of Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome , a chronic condition that can cause unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, gas, abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.

While there is no cure for IBS, there are certain foods and medications that can make symptoms worse. Avoiding the following foods may bring some relief:

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What Are The Causes Of Diarrhea After Drinking Alcohol

When you drink alcohol, it travels to your stomach. If theres food in your stomach, alcohol will be absorbed along with some of the nutrients of the food into your bloodstream through the cells in the stomach wall. This slows the digestion of the alcohol.

If you havent eaten, the alcohol will continue to your small intestine where it similarly passes through the cells of the intestinal wall, but at a much quicker rate. This is why you feel more of a buzz, and faster, when you drink on an empty stomach.

However, eating foods that are hard on your body, such as those that are very fibrous or very greasy, can also speed up digestion.

Once most of the alcohol is absorbed, the rest is excreted from your body through your stool and urine. Your colon muscles move in a coordinated squeeze to push the stool out.

Alcohol speeds up the rate of these squeezes, which doesnt allow for water to be absorbed by your colon as it is normally. This causes your stool to come out as diarrhea, often very quickly and with a lot of extra water.

Scientists have found that drinking small amounts of alcohol tends to speed up the rate of digestion, causing diarrhea.

On the other end of the spectrum, drinking large amounts of alcohol can delay digestion and cause constipation.

Alcohol can also irritate your digestive tract, worsening diarrhea. Scientists have found this occurs most often with wine, which tends to kill off helpful bacteria in the intestines.

Is Soda Bad For Ibs

Most sodas contain a triple whammy of IBS threats: they are caffeinated, they are carbonated, and they usually contain high fructose corn syrup. All three caffeine, carbonation, and fructose are considered major IBS triggers. They are also just not good for you, period.

Is carbonation bad for IBS?

While it wont cause IBS, carbonated water may cause bloating and gas, which can lead to IBS flare-ups if you are sensitive to carbonated beverages. The bottom line: if you have stomach issues and experience flare-ups after drinking carbonated water, you may be better off eliminating them.

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Avoiding Foods That Might Be Causing Symptoms

Many people find that their irritable bowel syndrome symptoms become worse after they eat. Sometimes certain foods make symptoms worse. Foods most commonly listed as causing symptoms include:

Other types of food that can make IBS symptoms worse include:

• A sugar found in milk, called lactose. Some people who have IBS also have lactose intolerance. This can make IBS symptoms worse when they eat or drink dairy.
• A sugar found in vegetables and fruit, called fructose. In people who have IBS, fructose may not be digested as it should. This can cause diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
• An artificial sweetener called sorbitol. If you have diarrhea, avoid sorbitol. It is found in sugar-free chewing gum, drinks, and other sugar-free sweets.

Common Causes Of Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea has many causes. Some are caused by disease. This article focuses mostly upon those causes where you can make changes that may result in a rapid improvement.

This type of diarrhea is usually painless and persistent, and there are no signs of disease such as bleeding, anemia, weight loss, or fatigue. Frequent loose stools are a daily occurrence. There may be occasional normal stools. Despite the need to stay within reach of a toilet, the person is otherwise well.

Very frequently, the diarrhea is due to something in the diet that is taken in excess. Usually this is an excess of a sugar or chemical substance. Common examples are alcohol and caffeine. An excess of alcohol, especially beer and wine, may cause loose stools the next day. The best test is to stop alcohol completely and see if the diarrhea stops. If it does, drinking may be cautiously resumed at a more modest level.

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Sugar And Artificial Sweeteners

Some sugars and artificial sweeteners can have a laxative effect.

Fructose is a component of table sugar and occurs naturally in fruits. The body can only digest a certain amount of fructose at one time. Consuming more fructose than the body may cause diarrhea.

One source estimates that approximately 3040% of people have trouble absorbing significant amounts of fructose.

Some fruits contain more fructose than others. Some examples of foods high in fructose include:

Drinking Gallons Of Coca

Natasha Marie Harris, a 30-year-old mother from New Zealand, drank nearly two gallons of Coca-Cola each day for several years until she died of a heart attack in February, 2010.

Her family said at an inquest this week the soft drink is partly to blame, The New Zealand Herald reported, and some experts seem to agree.

Harris’ partner, Chris Hodgkinson, testified at the inquest that Harris drank between 8 and 10 liters – 2.1 and 2.6 gallons – of regular Coke every day, according to the Associated Press.

“The first thing she would do in the morning was have a drink of Coke and the last thing she would do in the day was have a drink of Coke by her bed,” Hodgkinson said. “She was addicted to Coke.”

Harris reportedly had some other unhealthy habits. Hodgkinson said she ate little and smoked about 30 cigarettes a day. In the months before her death, she experienced blood pressure problems and lacked energy, he said.

Hodgkinson said on the morning of her death, Harris helped get her children ready for school before slumping against a wall, the AP reported. He called emergency services and tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but could not revive her.

Potassium is essential for nerve and muscle cell function, and symptoms of the condition include constipation, fatigue, muscle weakness or damage and abnormal heart rhythms.

“I never thought about it,” Hodgskinson told the Herald of soda making Harris ill. “It’s just a soft-drink, just like drinking water.”

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Does Sprite Help With Diarrhea

Diarrhea causes the body to lose fluids, leading to dehydration. Although replacing lost fluids is essential to prevent severe effects of dehydration and drinking Sprite may help some people. Sugary drinks, such as Sprite, may not be high up on the list of recommended fluids in case of diarrhea. This is because the high sugar content of Sprite may in fact increase stool frequency by extracting water and salt from inside the cells of the gut lining. The carbonated water in Sprite may also cause flatulence and increase gastric distress. So, in case there is no option but to drink Sprite, it may be a good idea to add some water to it and let the bubbles fizz out before drinking it. Adding a pinch of salt and a dash of lemon to it may also help.

A person can also replace lost fluid with a variety of fluids, such as water, soup, Gatorade, oral rehydration solution , lemonade or ginger ale. Caffeine can worsen dehydration. Hence, caffeinated drinks should be avoided during diarrhea. Noncaffeinated clear drinks are easy on the stomach when you have stomach upset and they help replenish lost fluids.

Additional Side Effects Of Too Much Soda

What does soda do to your body?

Drinking too much soda that is loaded with caffeine and sugar can only be bad for your health in both the short and long-term. In fact, this is associated with an increased chance of diabetes and heart disease, by nearly 25 percent!

If youre still not convinced, these studies may change your mind! A review of 30 studies published in the journal Obesity Facts showed that the regular consumption of drinks that are sugar-sweetened leads to obesity in children and adults.

In fact, a shocking 93 percent of these studies in the review found an association between the onset of being overweight and obese and the consumption of drinks high in sugar for both children and adults.

If this concerns you, then keep reading for some delicious alternatives to soda.

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Read Also: What To Eat With Ibs Flare Up

Health Benefits Of Diet Soda

Drinking diet soda does not provide any direct health benefits. However, it may offer some people a way to reduce their consumption of sugary beverages.

People who wean themselves off sweetened sodas by drinking diet sodas can significantly reduce their sugar intake. They can then begin to transition to more healthful drinks, such as sparkling water.

Some analysts, especially those with ties to the soda industry, insist that there is no compelling evidence directly linking soda to poor health. Others insist that diet soda remains a healthful alternative to traditional soda, despite the evidence to the contrary.

The authors of a 2016 analysis noted that 26 studies found no link between soda consumption and worse health outcomes. However, those studies had received funding from companies in the soda industry.

This fact, the authors of the study argue, suggests that the soda industry is manipulating contemporary scientific processes to create controversy and advance their business interests at the expense of the publics health.

To cut down on diet soda, a person needs to understand why they drink soda and then find a viable alternative.

For some people, soda offers a quick caffeine jolt. Switching to coffee or tea may be a good alternative as both of these drinks provide several health benefits. The best choice is unsweetened coffee or tea. Milk can offer some sweetness without the extra sugar.

Learn How To Identify The Foods Or Ingredients That Give You The Runs

As we age, our digestive systems can become more sensitive to certain types of foods and methods of food preparation. While you once may have handled the spiciest of foods without breaking a sweat, now that super-hot chicken curry gives you the digestive drama known as diarrheauncomfortable, unformed, watery stool.

Sometimes diarrhea occurs because of an underlying condition, or as a side effect of a medication . However, diet is often the cause.

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How To Enjoy Your Next Happy Hour

First, don’t forget to eat before you’re imbibing, says Dr. Sonpal. âTry to eat a well-balanced meal with a lot of fiber,â he says. âEven if you don’t have time for a full meal, having a simple snack that is fiber-filled can help enhance your hydration.”

What you’re eating while you’re drinking can also play a role in how your stomach will react to alcohol. âAvoid these foods when drinking, as they tend to further speed up the digestion process and irritate the bowels: spicy food, highly seasoned foods, dairy, greasy or fried foods, and caffeinated beverages,â he says. So consider trading the cheese plate for chips and hummus or guacamole to go with your glass of wine.

It’s also key to drink plenty of water before, during, and after you have alcohol to help boost hydration. A great rule to follow: Drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks to help pace yourself.

Lastly, after drinking, avoid those above-mentioned problematic foods and drink a full glass of water before going to sleep. When you wake up, start your morning with a well-balanced breakfast that has some good fiber, healthy fats, and protein. This can help balance your body and bowels back out to keep you more regular moving forward as it repairs the damage. You’ll be all the happier for it.

How Do I Control Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diet

You can manage your irritable bowel syndrome by limiting or eliminating foods that may bring on symptoms, particularly diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating. Make sure you don’t stop eating completely from any one food group without talking with a dietitian. You need to make sure you are still getting all the nutrients you need.

Read Also: Can Stomach Ulcers Cause Diarrhea

Tips For Controlling Symptoms

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Try to eat meals at about the same time each day. Take time to eat.
• Don’t skip meals or wait too long between meals.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Be sure to drink water in addition to your other beverages. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• Limit or avoid caffeine, such as from coffee and tea.
• Avoid alcohol and fizzy drinks.
• Avoid foods that may cause gas and bloating. Vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, peas, radishes, and raw potatoes may not be digested well by your body and can cause gas and bloating.
• Limit your intake of fresh fruit and fruit juice. These are high in fructose. People who have IBS may not be able to digest fructose well. This can cause diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
• Be careful eating some types of fiber. Fiber affects each person who has IBS in different ways.
• If you have diarrhea, try limiting the amount of high-fiber foods you eat, especially if you have a lot of gas and bloating. This includes vegetables, fruits, whole-grain breads and pasta, high-fiber cereal, and brown rice.
• If you have constipation, add fiber such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your diet each day and drink plenty of water.

Diarrhoea And Vomiting Not Helped By Fizzy Drinks

22 April, 2009By NT Contributor

NICE has issued new guidelines warning parents not to give fizzy drinks or even flat cola to children with diarrhoea and vomiting.

Health experts say that diarrhoea and vomiting is not helped by flat drinks, fizzy drinks or fruit juices, but dehydration should be avoided by giving children the right kinds of fluids.

Parents should give youngsters at risk of dehydration water with an oral rehydration salt solution.

NICE has issued the new advice to help parents manage gastroenteritis in children up to the age of five.

Each year GPs and hospitals deal with 150,000 to 300,000 cases of children under five in England, around 10% to 20%, who have symptoms of gastroenteritis.

When children end up dehydrated some may need hospital care but most children get better quickly without treatment and can be looked after at home.

Keep breastfeeding children who are not yet dehydrated, if they usually are breastfed, and keep fluids up, the guidelines advise.

However, the drinking of fruit juices and carbonated drinks should be discouraged, it said and while children who are dehydrated need a higher level care these drinks should still not be given.

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