Man's stomach nearly explodes from instant noodles and soda binge

Never binge on instant noodles and soda.

This we've learned from a recent incident in Chongqing, China, which saw a man escape death after an "overdose" of the two led his stomach to be filled with too much gas.

The man, known only as Xiao Cao, was having a case of the midnight munchies when he decided to cook himself two packets of instant noodles, Chongqing Times reported. He then downed two bottles of soda as well as potato chips and some other snacks.

Massive bloating and abdominal pains soon ensued.

At the hospital, doctors found his stomach and intestines swollen with so much flatulence they had to use a tube to expel the excess gas.

A professor of biology and food science at Chongqing Technology and Business University was quoted as saying that consuming carbonated beverages, which are acidic, together with instant noodles, which contain alkaline substances like edible glue, causes a strong acid-base reaction. This releases a great deal of carbon dioxide in the gut.

However, he added that the gas usually leaves the body in the form of burps. Xiao Cao's extreme case was likely due to the immense quantity of his supper, he said.

huizhen@sph.com.sg