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Is tonic water good for your stomach?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 19, 2026

Regular consumption of tonic water may lead to side effects like nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, and nervousness. Among the serious side effects are bleeding problems, kidney damage, and abnormal heartbeat.

Does tonic water help with digestion?

Small doses of quinine found in tonic water have long been used as a home treatment for indigestion and muscle cramps. The evidence of its ability to help isn't there either, however. Tonic water side effects include nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Read more: Is Carbonated Water Bad for You?

What are some of the benefits of drinking tonic water?

The quinine present in tonic water provides a distinctive bitter flavour. The inclusion of quinine in tonic is often associated as a primary health benefit of tonic. Quinine's primary benefit is for the treatment of malaria. It's not used to prevent malaria, but rather to kill the organism responsible for the disease.

Is it OK to drink tonic water every day?

According to the American Heart Association, excess levels of sodium (they recommend staying under 1,500 mg) can lead to water retention, along with puffiness, bloating, and weight gain. Our verdict: Avoid tonic water as a daily drink if you're concerned about your waistline.

What are the pros and cons of drinking tonic water?

About the only benefit of tonic water is that since it is a liquid, it can be hydrating. But Amer says that since it's so high in sugar, the nutritional cons outweigh the tonic water benefits. "I don't recommend choosing beverages with added sugar to meet your daily hydration quota," she says.

21 related questions found

What does quinine do to the body?

Quinine is used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium falciparum is a parasite that gets into the red blood cells in the body and causes malaria. Quinine works by killing the parasite or preventing it from growing.

Is club soda the same as tonic water?

Club soda is infused with carbon dioxide and mineral salts. Similarly, seltzer is artificially carbonated but generally doesn't contain added minerals. Tonic water is also carbonated but contains added quinine and sugar, which means it provides calories.

Is tonic water good for inflammation?

Quinine — which is responsible for the bitter taste in tonic water — is a chemical found in cinchona bark. It has been used as an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug since the 18th century.

Can you drink Schweppes tonic water on its own?

so that Is Schweppes tonic water? Schweppes Tonic Water is part of the Schweppes range. It can be enjoyed on its own or combined with alcohol or fruit juice.

What are the side effects of drinking too much tonic water?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows tonic water to contain no more than 83 parts per million of quinine, because there can be side effects from quinine.
...
If you do have a reaction, it may include:

  • nausea.
  • stomach cramps.
  • diarrhea.
  • vomiting.
  • ringing in the ears.
  • confusion.
  • nervousness.

Is tonic water better for you than Coke?

But if you're doing it because you think a "gin and tonic" is healthier than a "rum and coke," you're out of luck. Twelve ounces of tonic water adds 124 calories and 32 grams of sugar to your glass (that's 8 teaspoons). Compare that to a cola, which isn't too far off at 182 calories and 44 grams of sugar per 12 ounces.

How much tonic water is safe?

A liter normally has 83 mg of quinine. An eight-ounce glass would therefore have roughly 20 mg, about one-tenth the lowest dose doctors prescribed for leg cramps. Even three glasses daily should be OK as long as you are not sensitive to quinine.

Is gin and tonic good for upset stomach?

It eases bloating

So if you find that alcohol often bloats you, switching to gin will give you a much flatter stomach than your usual beverage and help reduce bloating. There's also a particular way to make a gin and tonic to get the most out of the benefits.

Is tonic water good for constipation?

Can Tonic Water Help Constipation? The researchers came to the conclusion that carbonated water helps with dyspepsia and constipation symptoms, as well as gallbladder emptying.

Which tonic water has the most quinine?

Which Brand Of Tonic Water Has The Most Quinine? The most quinine-containing tonic water is Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water, which is made with quinine from the Rwanda Congo border, spring water, and eight botanical flavors, including marigold and bitter orange extracts.

Can I drink tonic water?

The short answer is no. Tonic water contains quinine, a medicine that is distantly related to hydroxychloroquine, the antimalarial drug being tested to treat COVID-19. But the concentration of quinine in tonic drinks is significantly below the levels found in anti-malaria drugs, effectively busting that myth.

How can I reduce inflammation in my gut?

Here are tips that can help reduce inflammation and set you on the path to improving your overall gut health.

  1. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. ...
  2. Try an elimination diet. ...
  3. Reduce your stress levels. ...
  4. Take probiotics. ...
  5. Ensure you're getting the right amount of nutrients. ...
  6. 5 of the Most Anti-Inflammatory Foods You Can Eat.

What is the fastest way to reduce inflammation in the body?

Follow these six tips for reducing inflammation in your body:

  1. Load up on anti-inflammatory foods. ...
  2. Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods. ...
  3. Control blood sugar. ...
  4. Make time to exercise. ...
  5. Lose weight. ...
  6. Manage stress.

What is tonic water used for?

Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctive bitter flavor, though it is nowadays also often sweetened. It is often used in mixed drinks, particularly in gin and tonic.

What can I mix tonic water with?

While gin and vodka are the most famous options, tonic works equally well with cognac, tequila, whiskey, liqueurs, and amaros. A variety of fruits, herbs, and spices can enhance these mixed drinks. Even some cocktails that don't call for it do very well with a dose of tonic.

What's the ingredients of tonic water?

It commonly includes natural quinine (or an artificially derived substitute), citrus peels or oils, and a sweetener (cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup are typical). Other botanicals may include allspice, cinnamon, elderflower, gentian, ginger, lavender, and lemongrass.

Is Perrier and tonic water the same?

Now, most tonic water also has citric acid and added sweeteners. Mineral water: like Perrier or San Pellegrino, contains naturally occurring carbonation and minerals. Since it's bottled directly from a natural source, it tends to be pricier and has a more delicate effervescence than other carbonated waters.

Can quinine cause liver damage?

The hepatotoxicity of quinine is usually mild and resolves within 1 to 4 weeks of stopping. In many instances, jaundice and liver test abnormalities may worsen for a few days after stopping quinine, but fatalities have not been reported, and recovery is usually rapid.

Is quinine an antibiotic?

Quinine is a prescription drug used as an antimalarial drug indicated only for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Do they still put quinine in tonic water?

Today, tonic water still contains quinine, but the roles are reversed: a diluted, sweeter formulation of tonic water helps guide gin and vodka past the tonsils instead. Among foods and drinks that are ingested solely for reasons of taste, tonic water is unique in that it was first and foremost a medicine.