Travel Guides Cruises
Lexi Kassler
The moment nausea starts, you’d do just about anything to make it go away. If rubbing our bellies and patting our heads while singing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” could soothe our queasy stomachs, we’d probably do it. Luckily, this tip for seasickness won’t make you feel nearly as ridiculous — and is pretty tasty, too. It turns out that ginger ale and pretzels are the best way to get your tummy woes under control while sailing the high seas, or really anywhere you get motion sickness. Who knew!?
Yes, there are tons of products out there that all claim to stop nausea, but if you don’t usually get nauseous, you may not have thought to bring something like Dramamine with you. If you’re hit by some unexpected seasickness, we recommend trying this simple solution first. It’s both accessible — ships and planes will usually have some ginger ale stocked for this very reason — and fairly inexpensive.
The ginger ale and pretzel trick is also great since it won’t make you drowsy like other anti-nausea medications. The main ingredients in products like Dramamine are typically just antihistamines, which are also the active ingredients in sleep medications. Nap time is definitely not the vibe we’re going for when trying to have fun on a boat or when you’re headed to an island for some fun in the sun.
Why the ginger ale and pretzel trick works
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It’s long been known that ginger is pretty amazing at reducing nausea of all kinds, whether you have the flu or motion sickness. But why does it work exactly? Ginger contains compounds that are thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties that might soothe upset stomachs. Additionally, it’s believed that the fizziness of ginger ale can stimulate nerves in your throat and stomach that reduce the feelings of nausea.
If you’re feeling queasy, you should actually opt for ginger beers, since most popular brands of ginger ale typically have very little real ginger in them. On the other hand, ginger beers have more real ginger, since the carbonation comes from the fermentation of real ginger. You can find non-alcoholic ginger beers to avoid making yourself more sick with alcohol.
But why also pair your ginger drink with some pretzels? Well, bland carbohydrates are said to soak up nausea-inducing acids in your stomach and prevent them from being released in the first place. The saltiness also helps replace electrolytes if you’ve already heaved up your lunch and need to get something in your stomach. It’s not just pretzels, though. Saltines or any bland, lightly salted cracker will work, too.
Other forms of ginger that also work for seasickness
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If you don’t want to depend on a drink to work its magic, go straight to the (ginger) root. While it would be most effective to just chew some ginger in its all-natural state, that might not be super appetizing when you’re already feeling queasy.
Instead, bring along some candied ginger chews. This is real ginger that has been crystallized with sugar to make it a bit tastier. Just be aware of how much you’re eating since it is a lot of added sugar. For something a little more calorie-friendly, you can also try ginger supplements, which are typically just caplets of ginger powder. Look for products that don’t have any added fillers.
If you know you’re prone to seasickness and you have some time to prepare, you could also make ginger tea to bring with you in a thermos. Ginger tea is just sliced or grated ginger that has been steeped in hot water. Feel free to enhance the tea with other soothing herbs like peppermint, lemon balm, chamomile, or some honey.
