First, a tiny science lesson—don’t worry, it’s painless. Carbonated drinks are pumped with carbon dioxide gas, which dissolves into the liquid. When you drink it, that gas expands inside your warm stomach, creating pressure.
Your body’s response? It tries to burp it out, but sometimes the gas gets trapped. This trapped gas is the bloating culprit. It’s like a party balloon inflating in your gut, but nobody’s popping it.
Here’s the kicker: not all bubbles are created equal. Sugar-free sodas can be worse because artificial sweeteners like sorbitol ferment in your gut, adding extra gas on top. So you get double trouble: fizzy air plus gut-gas fireworks.
