Does Drinking Soda Cause Heartburn?

It’s Not Just The Caffeine Keeping You Up At Night.

Do you love to sip on a nice, crisp cola with lunch? Or maybe you reach for an orange pop when you need a pick-me-up. Whatever the case, you might want to think twice about your beverage choice. While some believe that soda can help heartburn, that’s simply not the case.

A large study published in the journal CHEST surveyed more than 15,000 people and found that 25 percent of respondents experienced heartburn at night.¹ People who drank soft drinks were likelier to experience nighttime heartburn.¹ Heartburn can keep you awake at night.⁴

Why Does Soda Cause Heartburn?

When you drink soda, it causes bloating in your stomach.² When bloating occurs, it puts more pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter.² This can cause acid reflux to occur.²

Can Soda Water Cause Heartburn?

Since soda water is carbonated, it can cause heartburn.² Any type of fizzy or carbonated beverage can trigger heartburn.²

What Drinks (Other Than Soda) Can Cause Heartburn?

Now that you’ve learned that carbonated drinks like soda can cause heartburn, you may be wondering what other drinks can trigger it. Here are some other beverages you should avoid or drink in lesser quantities if acid reflux is a problem for you:^2,3

• Drinks containing alcohol
• Citrus juices
• Tomato juice
• Caffeinated drinks
• Coffee (with or without caffeine, although decaffeinated coffee is less likely to trigger symptoms of heartburn or reflux)

If you deal with heartburn two or more days a week, you can try an OTC medication like Nexium 24HR for all-day, all-night protection from frequent heartburn. But if you’re a steady soda drinker, it’s worth trying to reduce your risk of reflux by kicking your soda habit. (If your soda of choice contains caffeine, reduce your caffeine consumption slowly to limit withdrawal symptoms.⁵)

Next, find some tasty (and healthy) alternatives. One great swap is to sip decaffeinated iced tea (unsweetened if you can do it) for the perfect afternoon drink. If tea isn’t your thing, perk up your water by infusing it with herbs, fruit and vegetables. Combinations like watermelon and basil or cucumber and kiwi are refreshing and delicious.

Once you find yourself sleeping better—and feeling better—you might find the strength to toss the cans in the trash for good, especially you’re avoiding middle-of-the-night heartburn.