There’s nothing worse than feeling bloated—especially for seemingly unexplainable reasons. If you exercise regularly, stick to a healthy diet, adhere to any dietary restrictions as recommended by your doctor, take your menstrual cycle into account, and still experience regular bloating, then feeling uncomfortable in your own skin can be incredibly frustrating. If this sounds familiar, bloat-inducing drinks may be the culprit.
“Aside from specific drinks that cause bloating, there are many reasons you may bloat with specific drinks while others may not,” clinical nutritionist Samantha Franceschini of Nutrition by Sam told The/Thirty. “It’s always recommended to see a clinical nutritionist or physician if you are experiencing bloating. Distended bellies can also indicate a potential lymphatic problem or enzyme deficiency,” she adds. Below, find the seven worst drinks for bloating, according to Franceschini.
This one is a no-brainer, but as Franceschini points out, “It doesn’t matter if it’s sparkling water or soda, the carbonation will cause you to feel bloated.” Yes, that even means La Croix. “The bubbles can cause the stomach to temporarily inflate, causing bloat.”
Sugar-free sodas and soft drinks should be off-limits if bloating is a huge concern. “Artificial sweeteners are not recognized by the body, so when you ingest them, it takes longer for your body to digest, causing bloating,” she explains.
Contrary to popular belief, “Caffeine-based drinks like coffee and energy drinks can overexcite the stomach and lead to bloating,” says Franceschini. While coffee can help regulate your system, it’s incredibly dehydrating and generally hard on your stomach. Try these alternatives instead.
This one falls into the “obvious” camp, but dairy-based drinks like cow’s milk can upset your stomach, even if you’re not lactose intolerant. “Some people are sensitive to cow dairy, and a lot of recent studies have shown that it has become more difficult for our bodies to break down cow’s milk, [because of] how it’s processed today.” Here are some other benefits to going dairy-free.
