Do Straws Make You Bloated?
Hi, Bestie. Glad you’re back! Are you a fellow sister-in-straws? Is it just me, or does every drink feel 100x fancier if you drink it through a straw? I have long been a reusable straw lover. I have wide straws, thin straws, metal straws, and glass straws. No, I don’t use plastic straws (save the turtles) and I know paper straws totally suck (no pun intended). Yes, I know straws can cause mouth wrinkles, and no, I don’t care. But what do straws have to do with pelvic health? Well, believe it or not, the use of straws can cause abdominal bloating. Let’s talk about it!
Using straws can cause abdominal bloating, gas, and discomfort (1). Why does this happen? When you sip through a straw, you not only swallow the liquid you’re drinking, but also the air that was in the straw. In order to get to the liquid, you must suck the air out of the straw. Doing this with each and every sip of your drink leads to swallowing quite a bit of air, and this can result in more gas in the gastrointestinal (GI) system than is typical. This is similar to the result you get when you eat food too quickly. Eating quickly leads you to swallow more air which can also cause abdominal bloating or discomfort.
Think about how you feel after drinking a carbonated beverage. Whether it’s sparkling water, soda, or beer, you probably feel a bit gassy and find yourself burping more than usual. When you drink carbonated beverages, you are swallowing lots of air—the air that’s pumped into the drink in order to give it that bubbly texture. Drinking through a straw has a similar effect.
So, what does this mean? Should I stop drinking through a straw?
I am by no means trying to convince you to stop drinking through straws! As I mentioned at the top, I am an avid straw-user. However, if you’re someone who deals with chronic bloat, decreasing straw usage could make a huge difference for you. For example, folks with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can experience frequent episodes of really uncomfortable bloating and other abdominal pains. For these folks, I might recommend reducing straw usage and assessing whether that has any effect on symptoms. For people with chronic constipation, where it is common to experience pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen, it might also be beneficial to avoid the regular use of straws.
Since the introduction of excess air into the GI system can result in GI upset, I would advise anyone with a sensitive GI system to consider decreasing their straw usage. One group of folks who could potentially benefit from this is new moms who recently went through pregnancy and delivery. The experiences of pregnancy and delivery, in conjunction with the hormone changes occurring can result in GI disruption. It may be completely benign to use straws during this time, but avoiding any unnecessary stress to the GI system could be helpful in this population.
What should I do if I experience bloating and gas after drinking through a straw?
If you experience bloating and/or gas after using a straw, or any time really, you can always do a bit of colon massage. Colon massage can help to move gas and fecal matter through the GI tract so that it can be expelled. There are a few different colon massage techniques, but my personal favorite is the ILU technique. Start by completing the “I” which is massage from left ribs to left hip. Next, create the “L” moving from right ribs to left ribs to left hip. Finally, complete the “U” by moving from right hip to right ribs to left ribs to left hip. Move your fingers firmly in small, circular motions, depressing the tissue one to two inches. You can work on this colon massage for 5-10 minutes at a time and it can be done lying down or in a seated position. You can often feel or even hear the gas moving through the colon as you work on it.
Also, don’t be embarrassed to release gas, from either end! Releasing gas will help you feel better and decrease your bloat.
If you’re a sister-in-straws, like me, please don’t think you need to give up straws. The only purpose of this chat is to draw attention to a potential cause for bloating and/or abdominal discomfort. I personally don’t think I’ll ever give up my fancy glass straws, but on days where I feel especially bloated or notice some pain in my lower abdomen, I try to avoid straw usage. Reducing straws probably won’t change your life, and using a straw every now and again (or even every day) won’t break you (like it broke that poor camel’s back), so take this information and do as you please with it. Until next time, cheers!
XOXO,
Your Pelvic Bestie
References:
1. Zhang L, Sizar O, Higginbotham K. Meteorism. [Updated 2022 Oct 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430851/
*The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
