Why Does Sparkling Water Make You Feel Bloated?

Sparkling water is a fun way to get hydrated. They don't contain sweeteners (real or artificial) or calories, so they're a great option to go for instead of the soda when you're craving a drink.

However, do these bubbles have inconvenient side effects like belching or bloating? Here is what an expert said. Sparkling water contains gas swallowed when you drink.

Sparkling water is basically just water (a liquid) mixed with carbon dioxide (a gas) and combined under pressure.

Aja McCutchen, MD, a board certified gastroenterologist with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates said: "When we swallow seltzer, we also swallow carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is mainly going to be belched before it gets to our stomach."

According to her, belching is any instance where you emit gas noisily from the stomach or esophagus through the mouth.

Bloating occurs when gas persists  

If the gas formed sticks around in your stomach, it might cause temporary bloating. According to McCutchen, when gas enters the stomach, one of three things occurs.

It can be belched out, it can head to the small intestine to be absorbed into the bloodstream or it can remain in the stomach leading to bloating.

Occasional bloating is not a big issue as it is temporary and has no long- or short-term health consequences. In fact, reports claim 15 to 30 percent of average people will regularly experience it.

How to avoid the bloating 

There are a few ways to reduce bloating when you drink sparkling water. One way is to reduce the speed at which you drink or eat. Eating or drinking quickly forces more air into your stomach which may cause bloating.

Another way is to avoid using straws because they make you Ingest more air too.