Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not medical advice, does not constitute a diagnosis, and should not replace guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. If you are experiencing severe, persistent, or unexplained nausea or vomiting, please consult a doctor or seek appropriate medical care.
Ginger – the root – has a genuine, if modest, body of evidence behind it for easing certain kinds of nausea. Ginger ale, the soft drink, is a different matter entirely. Most commercial ginger ales contain little or no real ginger; what they do contain is carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup or sugar, and ginger flavouring that may amount to a trace of extract or simply an artificial approximation. So when someone reaches for a can of ginger ale after a rough night or a bumpy car ride, any relief they feel is more likely coming from the gentle hydration, the cold temperature, the placebo comfort of a familiar ritual, or the slight settling effect of flat carbonation – not from a meaningful dose of the bioactive compounds that researchers actually study.
That distinction matters, and this article will walk through it carefully.
Ginger vs. Ginger Ale: The Crucial Distinction
Ginger the root – Zingiber officinale – contains a family of bioactive compounds, most notably gingerols in fresh ginger and shogaols in dried or heat-processed ginger. These compounds interact with serotonin receptors in the gut and may influence gastric motility, which is why researchers have been interested in ginger as an antiemetic (anti-nausea agent) for decades.
Ginger ale the beverage is a carbonated soft drink that was historically flavoured with real ginger. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, "ginger beer" and "ginger ale" were often genuinely ginger-forward drinks, brewed or blended with enough root to give them heat and bite. That tradition largely disappeared when mass-market production scaled up and cost pressures pushed manufacturers toward cheaper flavouring agents.
Today, if you pick up a major commercial ginger ale brand – the ones that dominate supermarket shelves – the ingredient list will typically show "natural flavours" somewhere well down the list. That phrase can mean almost anything legally, and it almost certainly does not mean a clinically meaningful quantity of gingerols or shogaols. Some brands use a small amount of real ginger extract; most use flavouring that approximates the taste without delivering the chemistry.
The practical consequence: you cannot assume that drinking ginger ale is equivalent to consuming ginger. The two things share a name and a flavour profile. They do not necessarily share the compounds that the research is actually about.
What the Evidence Says About Ginger and Nausea
Let's be precise about what the evidence does and does not show – and about what "evidence" means in this context.
Pregnancy-related nausea (morning sickness)
This is where the research base is strongest. Multiple randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews have examined ginger supplementation in pregnant people experiencing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) acknowledges ginger as one of the non-pharmacological options that may help with mild to moderate nausea of pregnancy. The National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) similarly notes that ginger may help relieve pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
The key word throughout is "may." The studies are generally small to moderate in size, the dosing varies, the preparations vary (capsules, teas, extracts), and the effect sizes, while positive, are modest. Ginger is not a cure; at best it appears to reduce nausea frequency or severity somewhat in some people.
If you are pregnant and experiencing morning sickness, this is exactly the kind of situation where you should talk to your midwife or obstetrician before trying any supplement or remedy, including ginger in concentrated forms.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea
Several trials have investigated ginger as an adjunct to standard antiemetic medications for people undergoing chemotherapy. Results have been mixed. Some studies suggest that ginger supplementation may reduce the severity of acute nausea in certain patients; others show no significant benefit over placebo. The NCCIH notes the inconsistency in findings and stops well short of recommending ginger as a reliable treatment in this context. Anyone undergoing chemotherapy should discuss any complementary approaches with their oncology team.
Post-operative nausea
A handful of trials have looked at ginger for nausea following surgery. Again, results are mixed, and the quality and consistency of evidence is not strong enough to draw firm conclusions.
Motion sickness
Some evidence suggests ginger may modestly reduce symptoms of motion sickness in some individuals, though it does not appear to be as effective as prescription or over-the-counter antiemetics. The evidence here is limited in volume and consistency.
General stomach upset and stomach aches
For everyday, non-specific nausea or upset stomach – the kind that follows a heavy meal, a stressful day, or a mild gastrointestinal bug – there is much less formal research. Ginger has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems across Asia and elsewhere for digestive complaints, but traditional use is not the same as clinical evidence. It is plausible that ginger's effects on gastric motility and serotonin receptors could help; it has not been rigorously proven in these everyday contexts.
What the authorities actually say
The NCCIH's summary is a useful benchmark: ginger is generally considered safe for most adults in food amounts; some evidence suggests it may help with nausea, particularly pregnancy-related nausea; the evidence for other uses is limited or inconsistent; and it should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment. The Mayo Clinic similarly notes ginger as a complementary approach that some people find helpful for nausea, while making clear it is not a replacement for medical care.
Why Most Ginger Ale Probably Won't Do Much
If the active compounds in ginger are gingerols and shogaols, and if commercial ginger ale contains negligible quantities of either, then the honest answer to "does ginger ale help with nausea?" is: probably not in the way most people assume.
What ginger ale might actually do:
- Provide mild hydration. When you're nauseated, especially if you've vomited, staying hydrated matters. Any clear, palatable liquid helps – ginger ale, water, diluted juice, electrolyte drinks. Ginger ale is not special here; it just happens to be what many people reach for out of habit.
- Deliver a small amount of carbonation comfort. Some people find that the slight fizziness of a carbonated drink, particularly when it's gone partially flat, settles a queasy stomach. This is largely anecdotal, and carbonation can also worsen nausea or bloating in some individuals.
- Offer a familiar, comforting ritual. There is real value in comfort. The psychological dimension of nausea is significant, and if a cold ginger ale makes someone feel cared for, that is not nothing. But it is not a pharmacological effect.
- Deliver sugar. If your blood sugar has dropped – say, after vomiting or after not eating – a sugary drink can help stabilise it. But water and a plain cracker would do the same job with less sugar.
On the other side of the ledger: most commercial ginger ales are high in added sugar. A standard 12-ounce can typically contains somewhere in the range of 30–35 grams of sugar, depending on the brand – check the nutrition label of your specific product for accurate figures, since formulations differ. That is a substantial sugar load, which can be counterproductive if your stomach is already unsettled, and it is worth factoring into any regular consumption.
Ginger ale calories similarly add up quickly. A can is not a light drink. For someone managing blood sugar, watching calorie intake, or simply trying to stay hydrated without excess sugar while sick, plain water, diluted electrolyte drinks, or unsweetened ginger tea are better options.
For a deeper look at what separates mass-market ginger ale from products made with real ginger root, see our guide to real-ginger ginger ales and what to look for on the label.
If You Want to Try It Anyway
There is no reason to tell someone not to drink ginger ale when they feel sick, provided they understand what it is and is not likely to do. Here is how to make the most of it if it's what you have or what you want:
Choose a brand that uses real ginger. A small number of craft and specialty ginger ales are made with actual ginger root – enough that you can taste the heat. Brands in this category will typically say so prominently on the label and list ginger (not just "natural flavours") in the ingredients. These are not the same as the mainstream supermarket options. They are closer to what ginger ale historically was. Whether they contain enough gingerol to have a meaningful physiological effect is still not guaranteed, but they're a more honest product.
Let it go flat. This is old advice, and it has some logic behind it. Carbonation can cause belching, bloating, and additional gastric distension, none of which is helpful when you're already nauseated. Pouring ginger ale into a glass and letting it sit for a while, or stirring out the bubbles, removes that variable. Flat ginger ale is essentially sweet ginger-flavoured water, which is gentler on a sensitive stomach.
Sip it slowly. Drinking anything quickly when nauseated can trigger vomiting. Small, slow sips spaced out over time are easier for the stomach to manage than a long drink.
Don't treat it as medicine. Frame it as comfort, not treatment. If your nausea is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms, a can of ginger ale is not an appropriate response.
Better-Supported Alternatives
If you want to pursue the ginger angle with more confidence that you're actually getting ginger, there are better vehicles than commercial soda.
Ginger tea made by steeping fresh or dried ginger root in hot water delivers a genuine concentration of ginger compounds. You control the strength. Sliced fresh ginger steeped for ten minutes in hot water, optionally with a little honey and lemon, is a time-honoured remedy that at least puts real ginger into your system.
Ginger chews or candies made with real ginger – the kind that actually taste sharp and spicy – are convenient and portable. Check the ingredients; some are mostly sugar with ginger flavouring, while others use meaningful amounts of real ginger.
Ginger capsules or supplements are what most of the clinical research has used, typically in doses ranging from around 500 mg to 1,500 mg of ginger powder per day across multiple doses. But this is where you need to be careful: supplement dosing is not something to guess at, interactions with medications are possible (ginger may affect blood clotting, for instance), and you should consult a healthcare provider before taking ginger supplements regularly, particularly if you are pregnant, on blood thinners, or managing a chronic condition.
Plain water and rest remain underrated. For mild, transient nausea, staying hydrated with plain water, resting, and eating small amounts of bland food (the old BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce, toast – has limited formal evidence but is widely used and unlikely to cause harm) is often sufficient.
Over-the-counter antiemetics such as dimenhydrinate or meclizine (for motion sickness) or bismuth subsalicylate (for some types of stomach upset) have stronger evidence bases than ginger for specific types of nausea. A pharmacist can help you choose an appropriate product.
When to See a Doctor
Nausea is almost always a symptom of something else, and while it is usually benign and self-limiting, certain presentations require prompt medical attention. Do not rely on home remedies – ginger ale or otherwise – if you experience any of the following:
- Nausea or vomiting that is severe, or that has lasted more than 24–48 hours without improvement
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness, significantly reduced urination
- Blood in vomit, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Severe abdominal pain accompanying the nausea
- High fever alongside nausea and vomiting
- Nausea following a head injury
- Nausea in someone with diabetes, particularly if blood sugar is difficult to manage
- Nausea during pregnancy that is so severe you cannot keep any food or liquid down (this may indicate hyperemesis gravidarum, which requires medical management)
- Any nausea that is new, unexplained, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms
This list is not exhaustive. When in doubt, contact a healthcare provider. A can of ginger ale is not a triage tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ginger ale settle your stomach?
It may provide mild, temporary comfort for some people – possibly through hydration, the slight effect of carbonation, or simply the ritual of drinking something familiar. It is unlikely to have a meaningful pharmacological effect on nausea unless it contains a significant amount of real ginger, which most commercial brands do not. "Settling your stomach" is not the same as treating the underlying cause of nausea.
Is flat ginger ale better than fizzy for nausea?
For most people, yes. Carbonation can cause additional gas, bloating, and belching, which can worsen nausea. Letting ginger ale go flat removes the carbonation variable and makes it gentler on a sensitive stomach. This is why the traditional advice has always been to drink it flat.
How much ginger do I actually need to have an effect?
The clinical research on ginger for nausea has typically used doses in the range of roughly 500 mg to 1,500 mg of ginger powder per day, divided across doses. The amount of ginger in a standard commercial ginger ale is almost certainly far below this – often negligible. If you want to explore ginger as a remedy, tea or supplements made with real ginger are more reliable vehicles. Consult a healthcare provider before using ginger supplements regularly.
Is ginger ale good for nausea in children?
This is a question for a paediatrician, not a drinks editor. Children's hydration needs and tolerances differ from adults', and the high sugar content of commercial ginger ale is a particular concern for children. Paediatric guidance on managing nausea and vomiting in children – including appropriate fluid replacement – should come from a qualified clinician.
Is ginger ale safe during pregnancy?
Ginger in food amounts is generally considered safe during pregnancy, and ACOG acknowledges it as a non-pharmacological option for mild nausea of pregnancy. However, ginger supplements in high doses are a different matter, and commercial ginger ale delivers mostly sugar with minimal real ginger. If you are pregnant and experiencing nausea, discuss your options with your midwife or obstetrician. For a fuller discussion of ginger ale in pregnancy, see our dedicated article on ginger ale and pregnancy.
Does ginger ale help with heartburn?
Probably not, and it may make it worse. Carbonated drinks can increase gastric pressure and worsen acid reflux or heartburn in many people. The sugar content doesn't help either. Real ginger in modest amounts has some evidence for gastroprotective effects, but a carbonated sugary drink is not the ideal delivery mechanism. If you have frequent heartburn, speak with a doctor.
Does ginger ale help with stomach aches?
It depends entirely on what is causing the stomach ache. For mild discomfort related to indigestion or gas, the ritual comfort of a flat ginger ale might help some people feel a little better. For anything more serious – significant pain, cramping, pain that is localised or severe – ginger ale is not a treatment, and the underlying cause needs attention.
Is ginger ale healthy?
As a regular drink, no – not in any meaningful sense. It is a sugary carbonated soft drink. Most commercial versions contain substantial added sugar, minimal nutritional value, and negligible real ginger. Occasional consumption is unlikely to cause harm for most healthy adults, but it is not a health drink, and marketing that implies otherwise deserves scepticism.
Is ginger ale bad for you?
Occasional consumption is not likely to be harmful for most people. Regular consumption of any high-sugar soft drink is associated with the usual concerns around excess sugar intake – weight gain, blood sugar spikes, dental health. People with diabetes or blood sugar management concerns should be particularly mindful of the carbohydrate content. Check the nutrition label of your specific brand for accurate ginger ale nutrition facts, as sugar content varies.
What are the actual nutritional facts for ginger ale?
Nutritional content varies by brand and formulation, so always check the label of the specific product you're drinking. As a general orientation: a standard 12-ounce serving of a major commercial ginger ale is typically around 120–140 calories, with most of those calories coming from sugar (roughly 30–35 grams). It contains no meaningful protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, or minerals. Diet versions replace sugar with artificial sweeteners, reducing calories but introducing their own considerations. Craft or natural ginger ales may use cane sugar rather than corn syrup and may contain real ginger – check the label.
What is ginger ale actually good for?
Honestly? It is a pleasant soft drink that many people find comforting when they feel unwell. That comfort is real, even if it is not pharmacological. It provides some hydration. If you choose a brand made with real ginger, you may be getting a small amount of a compound with genuine (if modest) evidence behind it. Beyond that, its reputation as a medicinal drink far exceeds what the evidence supports.
Which ginger ale brands use real ginger?
Rather than naming specific brands here – formulations change and we'd rather you read the label yourself – look for products that list ginger root or ginger extract (not just "natural flavours") among the ingredients, that taste genuinely spicy rather than mildly sweet, and that are transparent about their production. Craft and specialty producers are more likely to use real ginger than major commercial brands. Our guide to the best ginger ales made with real ginger covers what to look for in more detail.
Can ginger ale replace electrolyte drinks when I'm sick?
No. If you've been vomiting or have diarrhoea, you are losing electrolytes – sodium, potassium, and others – that plain ginger ale does not meaningfully replace. Oral rehydration solutions or electrolyte drinks formulated for illness are significantly better at addressing dehydration. Ginger ale is not an appropriate substitute, particularly for children or anyone with significant fluid loss.
A Realistic Appraisal
The ginger ale and nausea story is a case study in how a kernel of genuine science – ginger root does have some evidence for modest antiemetic effects – gets stretched into a folk remedy that has largely lost its connection to the original mechanism. By the time the ginger has been processed into a mass-market soft drink, diluted with water and sweetener, and flavoured with something approximating ginger, the therapeutic rationale has mostly evaporated.
None of this means you should feel foolish for reaching for a ginger ale when you feel sick. Comfort matters. Hydration matters. Familiar rituals have a place in how we care for ourselves and for people we love. But if you want to give ginger a genuine chance as a remedy, you need actual ginger – in tea, in a thoughtfully made craft ginger ale that lists real ginger in its ingredients, or in a supplement discussed with a clinician.
And if the nausea is serious, persistent, or accompanied by any of the red-flag symptoms listed above, the most useful thing you can do is put down the can and call a doctor.
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