Caffeine intake is a big deal for many individuals. For some, this is because of the benefits of taking caffeine such as increased concentration and activeness. On the other hand, this is because of the adverse health implications of having too much caffeine in one’s body system.
This has led to many people asking about sodas and carbonated drinks that contain caffeine, as well as those that are free of it. If you need an answer to the question of whether ginger ale or ginger beer does contain caffeine, then you are reading the right article on the nutrition page of the International Health Alliance website.
Here in this piece, you will get the right answers to this question. So, read on!
How Much Caffeine Is in Ginger Ale?
The truth is that most ginger ale drinks are free of caffeine. The same also applies to ginger beer. However, some brands have taken it upon themselves to make options that contain caffeine. So, saying all ginger ale drinks are free of caffeine does not cut it.
Some of them have various flavors of ginger ale that are caffeine-free but have still gone ahead to make caffeinated options available. The popular brand that produces Canada Dry ginger ale is a good example. This is a brand that has been actively producing this kind of drink since 1904.
While most of their drinks are caffeine-free, one of them – Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale, contains caffeine. This is because caffeine is naturally occurring in herbal tea. So, its involvement as a flavor makes this drink contain caffeine.
However, the caffeine present is very minute. To put things in perspective, it is not as much as coffee. Coffee is even very high up on the spectrum as what is present in Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale is not as high as what you have in drinks like:
- Red bull energy drink
- Monster energy drink
- Bang energy drink
- Coca-Cola (the classic kind)
Given its minute caffeine content, it is a good option for those that want just a minute amount of caffeine in their beverage or diet at large.
What Does Ginger Ale Contain?
For the most part, ginger ale contains ingredients such as:
- Sodium – Also as a preservative
- Sugar – Mostly in the form of corn syrup which has lots of fructose content. This usually provides around 35 grams for every 12 ounces consumed
- Carbonated water
- Citric acid
- Natural Flavor
On a whole, you should have around 140 calories for every 12 ounces of this drink that you consume. Ordinarily, this soda drink should be primarily made using ginger root extract. This is how it is with some (perhaps many) brands but not all. Some ginger ale drink brands pull a fast one by using artificial flavors that taste like ginger ale.
To truly enjoy the benefits of ginger ale root, it would help if you made sure the drink you get truly contains ginger root. It is only then that you can enjoy its positive impacts on the stomach like nausea relief and aiding digestion.
Are There Any Side Effects of Drinking Ginger Ale?
There are side effects that come with drinking ginger ale or ginger beer. However, they are soft and possibly non-existent when people take these soda drinks moderately. Some of the discovered downsides include:
- Gassing, burping, and bloating as a result of the involvement of carbonated water as part of the ingredients
- Dental health issues because of the impact of sugar
- Consequences of consuming high-acidic food
- Adverse effects on blood clotting activities
All these do not rule out the fact that there are health benefits involved as well. For example, there are claims that it is better than drinking energy drinks while pregnant. However, it also means that it should be consumed reasonably.
We understand if you want other nutrition-related content. We have more than enough for you. For instance, you can find out if eating sausage when pregnant is safe.
