Is ginger ale ok to count towards fluid intake?

I try to drink a liter or two of water or crystal lite a day but its miserable because for some reason its giving me acid reflux....BAD! It feels like my throats on fire.....I dont understand how water is doing this but it always seems so much worse with water.

So I have become addicted to ginger ale....it doesn't have any caffine which I try to stay away from (only have a dunkins coffee once in a great while or a regular soda if thats all thats around at a function) and the carbination helps my acid reflux alot with the burping...lol=/

I know I'm supposed to be getting tons of water in but I just cant push any more in with out feeling like my heads going to fall off (tryed pepcid and tums no luck) so is ginger ale ok to count towards my fluid intake or is it bad for me?

 

does it have sodium in it? To me anything with sodium is like drinking just for the hell of it. You aren't really getting anything from it. KWIM? Ginger ale it good..I get it every now and then, but to sub it for water, never entered my mind...

 

If you were talking about sipping a small glass of ginger ale a day, I would think it would be no big deal. But if you are replacing water w/ soda, I'd say it's not the best option, esp. considering that we're supposed to get 100+oz/day. There is nothing of any nutritional value in sodas and as we know, it's already difficult to get enough GOOD stuff in w/ the shrinking capacity of our stomachs. Filling it with artificial stuff won't help. Are you drinking regular or diet? Again, my personal opinion, but I avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague while pregnant. For me, it's not worth the risk. And Crystal Light has sweeteners, so if you are only drinking that and ginger ale, I'd say you aren't really getting what you and your babies need without adding in lots of yucky chemicals and stuff. Excess sugar consumption can put you at additional risk for gestational diabetes, too.

If you need the carbonation, what about a soda water with a little fruit in it? Or Faygo has a soda water that I like It has no sweeteners and comes in fruit flavors. It's not overly sweet - just has a little flavor to make it less boring. Lots of other soda waters have sweeteners so do check the labels.

I would talk to your doctor about the burning throat. Seems odd that plain water would do that. The Crystal Light I could see, since some of it is pretty acidic. Be honest w/ your doc about your acid reflux and your fluid intake and let him/her recommend some alternatives.

Good luck! I HATE the heartburn/reflux more than any other part of this pregnancy!! Ick.

Eve

 

[SIZE=12pt]Honestly, i don't think it would be wise to replace water with soda. Water really is the best thing for your body and your growing babes. Try to talk to your doctor about your situation, he may help, but in my experience, they will tell you that plain water really is best. I know it is hard to drink so much everyday, but it makes a big difference.[/SIZE]

 

Have you tried seltzer? NOT club soda (which has sodium) or tonic water (which has quinine), but plain SELTZER, which is 100% water with carbonation...nothing added. It comes in flavors (still with zero calories and zero sodium), but I drink it plain and love it. I sometimes mix it with a tiny bit of OJ or pom juice. Yum! My doctor says its a fine way to get my water that way (she actually says any clear liquid). I do think ginger ale counts in your a liquid intake by the way (its why so many people drink it when dehydrated or sick!), its just that its a lot of sugar and calories that have zero nutritional value. If you're absolutely not going to drink water, or not enough water, and you don't have diabetes or weight issues while pregnant - I'd say have your ginger ale! Whatever works and keeps you hydrated. Good luck!

 

QUOTE(teafor2 @ Apr 1 2009, 07:03 PM) [snapback]1254922[/snapback]
Have you tried seltzer? NOT club soda (which has sodium) or tonic water (which has quinine), but plain SELTZER, which is 100% water with carbonation...nothing added.


Just wanted to clarify that the Faygo water I mentioned is "sparkling" water, not club soda. Nothing but water, fizzies, and a little flavoring in it.

I still say you should discuss all of this with your doctor - perhaps he/she will have a good fix for your reflux.

Eve

 

ginger ale has a lot of sodium so probably not, although they do say that "light" sodas are ok for fluid intake, at least when you've got a UTI. maybe switch to sprite if you can't handle loads of water?

i know that since i have been pregnant i haven't enjoyed the taste of water as much. it used to be ALL i drank but now i can't seem to drink it enough. so i try gatorade, vitamin water, tea, things like that. but i will say that here lately i have CRAVED ginger ale and coke slurpees. i just can't get enough and find myself waking up in the middle of the night to raid the fridge for a sip or two of ginger ale. which is strange because i could never stomach it before