# Coca-Cola for a tummy ache? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530 "2003-11-27T05:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shannablu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@shannablu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shannablu)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/21 "2003-11-30T18:59:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*Coke or Sprite always make me feel better. Flat (opening it and letting the bubbles go away) Coke seems to work for my girlfriend. \*\* My mother used to give us flat Coke also and I guess it seemed to work. I do the same for my children and it seems to help relieve the nausea. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/22 "2003-12-01T20:30:04Z")
My mother always gave us flat cola to soothe a tummy ache. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/23 "2003-12-01T21:25:07Z")
I get gastritis on occasion. I could take gas-x, but slamming a coke and lettin a nice big **BRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPP** out is just so much more satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/24 "2003-12-01T22:16:22Z")
A couple years ago I had an accident and they gave me some opiates to take home from the hospital (Darvocet, I think) which made me so sick I couldn’t keep _anything_ down (including water and crackers). I called my doctor and the nurse told me to try flat pepsi, a sip at a time. For some reason I was able to keep that down when I couldn’t keep plain water down. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/25 "2003-12-01T22:52:03Z")
Flat coke is very good. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/26 "2003-12-01T23:06:16Z")
I’m guessing that part of the reason why flat soda might be effective for tummy ailments is that it’s really little more than sugar water. Aren’t people who are suffering from dehydration or malnutrition often started off on sugar water? And isn’t sugar water often what’s in the intravenous drip at the hospital? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/27 "2003-12-01T23:25:19Z")
Carbonated Coke, as mentioned, can neutralize stomach acid. It’s far less clear to me why flat Coke would work. I’m not saying it doesn’t. It’s also dandy for cleaning out hospital tubes (G-tubes, nasogastric tubes, etc.) that block after being put into the patient. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/28 "2003-12-01T23:46:41Z")
I always keep Coca-Cola Syrup in the fridge. For nausea, pour a tablespoon or two over a cup of chopped ice. Terrific. I have no ideas why it works, but the chopped ice is at least 50% of the “cure.” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/29 "2003-12-01T23:50:47Z")
OK, just got mine out of the fridge (oops, it expired in ’02). It’s “_Cola_ Syrup,” not Coca-Cola Syrup, “for relief of simple nausea.” It’s made by Apothecary Products, Inc., and recommends 1-2 tablespoons over crsuhed ice, “until distress subsides.” ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530/30 "2003-12-02T00:01:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr\_Paprika \* > \*\*Carbonated Coke, as mentioned, can neutralize stomach acid. It’s far less clear to me why flat Coke would work. I’m not saying it doesn’t. It’s also dandy for cleaning out hospital tubes (G-tubes, nasogastric tubes, etc.) that block after being put into the patient. \*\* Dilution, maybe? In the case of the “empty stomach” nausea, all that’s in there is acid, presumably. So by adding flat Coke, you’re diluting it and settling things down. Just a WAG. As an aside, Coke also makes a nice tenderizer on a tough roast. Mmmm, Cola roast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-for-a-tummy-ache/215530.md?page=1)