Diarrhea is a common problem, with many possible causes. Some of these causes include eating foods that your body disagrees with, drinking too much water too quickly, and eating contaminated food.
Drinking contaminated water or too much water too quickly can lead to diarrhea due to excess liquid in the body. The body responds by trying to get rid of that extra liquid as fast as it can.
When you have diarrhea, your bowel movements become watery and may be accompanied by cramping and abdominal pain. This can be a symptom of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Diarrhea can have mild symptoms or it can be very severe. If you are experiencing severe diarrhea, you may become dehydrated which will be discussed later in this article. Diagnosing the cause of your diarrhea is important in treating it. Treatments depend on the cause of the diarrhea and the severity of the symptoms.
Does Sprite help diarrhea
Sprite, also known as soda or carbonated beverage, is one of the most popular drinks in the world. People of all ages drink it, and almost every restaurant has a fountain dispenser for it.
It is available in a wide variety of flavors, including citrus-flavored ones like lemon lime and orange. Many restaurants even have unique flavors for their Sprite, like chicken flavor or curry flavor.
Does Sprite help diarrhea? The short answer is no, Sprite does not help diarrhea. In fact, it may make your situation worse. This part covers why that is the case.
Diarrhea can be caused by a number of things, including eating contaminated food or consuming too much alcohol. There are foods that actually cause diarrhea as well, like wheat and corn.
The problem with drinking soda when you have diarrhea is that it contains a lot of sugar. Diarrhea can dehydrate you, so drinking lots of liquid can seem like the right solution- but it’s not! You need to keep your body well hydrated without adding extra sugar.
How does carbonated water work
When you have diarrhea, your intestines overproduce water and salt. This is called fluid imbalance. You lose excessive amount of water in your feces, making it very liquidy.
Carbonated water works by balancing the amount of fluid you take in. You drink more fluids, Sprite being one of them, so you get more sodium into your system.
You can even make your own carbonated water to use for this solution! All you have to do is buy a bottle of baking soda and pour it into a full bottle of water. Shake it up and let it sit for an hour or two until it becomes flat. Then, add some flavoring and enjoy!
This works because baking soda is a neutral salt. It does not leave you feeling salty after you drink it like other salts do. It also does not make your urine smell differently due to its neutral nature.
Are there other alternatives to try
If you are worried about the sugar content in Sprite, you can try adding a few drops of lemon or lime juice to your glass. You can also try drinking plain water or drinking other no-sugar drinks like dial-a-flavor or Dasani.
If you are concerned about the caffeine in Sprite, then try drinking a full night’s worth of sleep off of caffeine before trying this solution. If that does not work, then try replacing Sprite with plain water and sleeping off of the lack of sleep for a day.
Sprite is not the only soda that helps relieve diarrhea. Other carbonated drinks like Root Beer and Ginger Ale may help as well. Try these if you have an aversion to Sprite!
None of these solutions have been tested, however. If your stomach is hurting, sprite may still help relieve some symptoms temporarily.
What is in Sprite
The primary ingredient in Sprite is sodium chloride, more commonly known as salt. Sodium is an essential nutrient, but too much can be a problem. You can view sodium intake as a balancing act between too little and too much.
Like you do with sugar, you want to try to minimize your Sprite consumption if you are watching your sodium intake. It is not necessary to completely eliminate it, but do not over-do it!
The second main ingredient in Sprite is carbon dioxide. This naturally-occurring gas is what gives Sprite its fizz. The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is C2O2, so there is nothing else in it except more sodium chloride if you choose the salty version.
There are several different flavors of Sprite, including lemon lime, oranges and vanilla. These all contain different flavorings, but they are all natural and non-toxic.
Could it be the sugar?
Some suggest that Sprite could cause diarrhea because of the sugar content. The main ingredient in sugar is glucose, which your body uses for energy.
When you eat too much sugar, it can can be difficult for your body to process it. It can also lead to weight gain, and weight gain is a known cause of diarrhea.
However, there are many other foods that contain sugar that don’t seem to have this effect. If it was simply the sugar in Sprite causing this effect, then we would see similar effects with other sodas.
So could it be something else in Sprite? We’re getting closer to the truth!
Several studies have identified compounds called brominated compounds as potential culprits in causing adverse effects. One such brominated compound is found in citrus-flavored sodas and is called brominated vegetable oil (BVOs).
Is it the acid?
Some people believe that the reason Sprite is good for diarrhea is because of the acid content. The idea is that the soda is mildly acidic, and this helps calm down diarrhea.
Diarrhea can be a result of eating foods with fiber, but most people have soda instead of water. Since soda has no nutrients or water, it may help reduce symptoms by replacing one of those things.
Acidic drinks can also help prevent nausea, so if you are vomiting, Sprite may help stop the nausea associated with that.
However, the glucose in the soda may actually make diarrhea worse. If you are suffering from diarrhea, you may want to try drinking some water and turning down the sugar a bit.
Sprite contains no vitamins or minerals, so you won’t be losing any of those while you’re drinking it. It’s just a nice, cool beverage to have when you’re feeling sick.
What else can I drink?
If you are experiencing diarrhea, the best thing to drink is water. You can also drink diluted juice or sugar-free broth or drinks. If you are experiencing diarrhea, avoid heavy drinks like coffee and alcohol.
Diarrhea can be caused by bacteria, a virus or a parasite. Depending on the cause, different drinks may be more appropriate than others.
Broth is a appropriate for all causes of diarrhea as it contains lots of water and some salt which helps rehydrate you. Sugar-free juice may be appropriate if it is not caused by a high glucose level in your blood.
If the diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection, Sprite may help prevent dehydration if you are not nauseous. If you are nauseous, Sprite may make it worse so it is best to avoid it. Zip-lock bags of ice cubes may help cool you down though.
Do I need to see a doctor?
If diarrhea lasts for more than a day, you may want to visit your doctor. You doctor can determine if there is something medically wrong and can treat it.
Unless you are very sick, your doctor can manage your symptoms while you are visiting them. They will also be able to give you tips on how to manage your diarrhea.
Diarrhea can be a symptom of many different infections and diseases. Some of these include infectious diarrheas caused by viruses or bacteria, parasitic infections, gluten-sensitive enteropathy (a disorder that causes chronic diarrhea in people who are sensitive to gluten), and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Depending on the cause, your doctor may ask you questions about your diet, lifestyle, and other symptoms. They may do some tests to determine what is causing the diarrhea.
