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Growing up, if we had an upset stomach or diarrhea, one of the first things that showed up was ginger ale.

That was just what you did.

You got sick, somebody brought out the ginger ale, and you drank it because the adults told you it would help settle your stomach.

I honestly can’t remember whether it always worked when I was little. I assume I must have felt better at some point because they kept giving it to us, and I certainly wasn’t questioning the ingredients as a child.

My mother always told us it was the ginger in ginger ale that helped settle the stomach.

That made perfect sense to me.

So, when I became a mother myself, guess what I did?

I gave my kids ginger ale too.

Because that’s often how these traditions get passed down. Somebody we trust did it for us, it seemed to work, and we continue doing it without thinking too much about it.

Until something makes us start asking questions.

That happened to me one day when I was sick.

I don’t get sick very often, but I remember drinking ginger ale because, once again, that was what you were supposed to do when your stomach was upset.

Except this time, I remember thinking, This seems like it’s making me feel worse.

It was sweet. Too sweet, at least while I was sick. It didn’t taste good to me at all, and it certainly didn’t feel like this soothing little stomach remedy I had grown up believing it was.

And that sent me where so many things eventually send me: to the ingredient label.

Wait… Where’s the Ginger?

As I started paying more attention to labels, I made a discovery that surprised me.

Some of the ginger ale I was looking at didn’t seem to contain any actual ginger.

Now I was confused.

My mother had always told us that ginger ale helped because of the ginger.

So, if there wasn’t any real ginger in the ginger ale… what exactly were we drinking it for?

That was one of those moments when I thought, Okay, I need to start looking into this for myself.

And it became part of the same journey that has led me to pay much closer attention to ingredient lists in general instead of simply trusting the name on the front of the package.

Because something being called ginger ale does not necessarily mean you’re getting a meaningful amount of ginger.

Real Ginger May Help with Nausea

Here’s where the old advice does have some truth behind it.

Real ginger has been studied for nausea and vomiting, and research suggests that it may help reduce certain types of nausea.

So, our mothers and grandmothers weren’t necessarily making the whole thing up.

The important word, though, is ginger.

Actual ginger.

Not simply ginger flavor.

Ginger contains naturally occurring compounds that may have an effect on the digestive system and help some people with nausea.

Of course, ginger isn’t going to work exactly the same way for everyone. Depending on the person and the cause of the stomach upset, it may help, do very little, or occasionally cause heartburn, gas, diarrhea, or stomach discomfort.

Still, once I understood that ginger itself was the part that mattered, my whole way of looking at ginger ale changed.

The Problem with Ginger Ale

Once I started researching different brands, I realized there could be a big difference between one ginger ale and another.

Some contained ginger or ginger extract. Others seemed to rely more heavily on flavoring.

That made me much more selective.

Over the years I’ve looked for brands that actually use ginger, and I’ve found some better options at stores such as Whole Foods and elsewhere.

But ingredients change.

That’s another lesson I’ve learned along the way.

Just because I checked a product five or ten years ago doesn’t mean I assume the ingredient list looks exactly the same today. Companies reformulate products all the time, which is why I still turn that bottle or can around and read what’s actually in it.

And ginger isn’t the only thing to think about.

There’s also carbonation.

Some people find a little fizz soothing when they’re nauseated.

For somebody else, those bubbles can mean more gas, bloating, burping, or indigestion.

When your stomach is already unhappy, adding another complaint to the list isn’t exactly the goal.

Then there’s the sugar.

Regular ginger ale can be very sweet, and I learned firsthand that when I’m nauseated, that sweetness may be the last thing I want.

So even if a ginger ale contains real ginger, that doesn’t automatically mean I want to drink a big glass of it when I’m sick.

What I Reach for Now

These days, if my stomach is bothering me and I want ginger, I usually skip the traditional ginger ale altogether.

I go for ginger tea.

It gives me the ginger I was looking for in the first place without making me wonder whether there’s enough actual ginger hiding somewhere behind all the flavoring.

I shop at Thrive Market regularly, and one option I keep an eye out for is their Thrive Market Organic Ginger Tea.

That’s the kind of product I prefer because when I’m looking for ginger, I actually want ginger in the product.

I’ve also found ginger ales and ginger beers made with real ginger, and those can be another option if you still enjoy having something cold and fizzy.

I personally still read those labels carefully too.

For example, I try to avoid products that contain “natural flavors” when I can, so even if something contains real ginger, I still look at everything else that comes along with it.

If I find a ginger ale made with ingredients I’m comfortable recommending, I may also add it to my Amazon storefront for anyone who prefers ginger ale over tea.

And just so we’re clear: this isn’t about claiming that one particular product will cure an upset stomach.

It’s about knowing what you’re buying.

If you want ginger because you believe ginger may help your nausea, it makes sense to choose something that actually contains ginger.

Seems simple enough, doesn’t it?

What About Ginger Beer?

I’ll occasionally drink ginger beer too because many varieties have a much stronger ginger taste.

But again, I read the ingredients.

Some still contain ingredients I personally prefer to avoid, including natural flavors, so I don’t automatically assume that something is a better choice simply because the front of the bottle looks healthier or says “ginger.”

This is exactly why I keep coming back to the same message:

Turn the package around.

The front is marketing.

The ingredient list tells you what you’re actually getting.

Want to make label-reading a little easier?
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If You’re Vomiting or Have Diarrhea, Hydration Comes First

There is one other important point here.

If you’re dealing with vomiting or diarrhea, the bigger concern may be keeping yourself hydrated.

Sometimes small, frequent sips are easier to tolerate than trying to drink an entire glass of anything at once.

When a person is losing a significant amount of fluid, an oral rehydration solution may also be more appropriate than soda because it is specifically formulated to replace fluid and electrolytes.

If you want to learn more about what electrolytes actually do and when they may be useful, you can also read Do Electrolyte Drinks Actually Help?

So, I wouldn’t look at ginger ale—or even ginger tea—as the answer to every stomach problem.

Sometimes ginger may help with nausea.

Sometimes what your body needs most is fluid.

And sometimes an upset stomach is your body’s way of telling you that something else is going on.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether sports drinks really hydrate better than plain water, I break that down in Do Sports Drinks Really Hydrate Better Than Water?

So, Do You Have to Give Up Ginger Ale?

Not necessarily.

Some people genuinely enjoy ginger ale when they’re sick, and I’m not here to take away anybody’s childhood comfort drink.

If a few sips feel good and stay down, fine.

You can even let it sit for a little while and lose some of the carbonation if the bubbles bother you.

What changed for me was simply realizing that I didn’t want to drink something called ginger ale while assuming it contained ginger when that might not actually be the case.

Once I discovered that, I couldn’t exactly unsee it.

And funny enough, after I started talking to other people about it, I realized how many of us had basically the same story.

“My mother always gave me ginger ale.”

“My grandmother always kept ginger ale in the house.”

Yep.

Mine too.

And when I explain why they probably gave it to us in the first place—the traditional use of ginger for an upset stomach—you can almost see the light bulb come on.

Because somewhere along the way, many of us stopped thinking about the ginger and simply remembered the ginger ale.

The Bottom Line

There really was some logic behind that old family remedy.

Real ginger may help with certain kinds of nausea.

But that doesn’t mean every bottle or can labeled ginger ale is giving you the ginger you think it is.

That realization is why I stopped automatically reaching for ginger ale and started choosing things like real ginger tea instead.

So, if ginger ale is your go-to when your stomach acts up, I’m not telling you to throw it out.

I’m just going to tell you what I tell people all the time:

Read the label.

See whether there’s actually ginger in there.

Pay attention to the sugar, the flavorings, and the other ingredients too.

Because Grandma may have had the right idea all along.

We just need to make sure there’s actually some ginger involved.

This article is for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice. Persistent or severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain, or other concerning symptoms should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.