We'll be the first to admit to drinking sparkling water to satisfy those pesky soda cravings.
It’s tasty, calorie-free, and hydrating all at the same time…
But doesn’t that all seem a little too good to be true?
Because sparkling water’s acidic nature, you might be left wondering if it really counts toward your eight cups of water per day.
Fortunately, drinks that contain more minerals–including sparkling water–are just as hydrating as regular water.
The flip side of this is that some kinds of carbonated water can be high in sodium.
Dehydration can have some truly nasty effects on your body, including everything from worsening brain function to kidney stones and chronic diseases.
Since sparkling and regular water are equally hydrating, the best water to drink is whichever one you’re going to drink more of!
Here's what you need to know about everyone’s favorite bubbly water and hydration.
Sparkling water, also known as carbonated water, is simply water that has been infused with CO2.
There are many flavors of sparkling water, but it’s not the only carbonated water on the market.
Some other sparkling waters (that might have sugars added) include:
Club soda is seltzer water that has been infused with CO2 and minerals to give it a salty flavor.
This is made from naturally occurring minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and sodium found in spring water.
Although these minerals produce natural effervescence–a fancy word for that fizzy feeling–most commercial sparkling mineral water contains CO2 as well.
Water that has been treated with carbon dioxide, added minerals, and one crucial ingredient: quinine. Quinine (from the bark of cinchona trees) adds the distinct bitter taste to tonic water.
It’s most commonly used to spice up gin and tonics.
Not all fizzy lifting drinks are bad for your health.
Sparkling water is bursting with health benefits:
Hydration is essential for people who are trying to lose weight.
Our bodies often struggle to distinguish between hunger and thirst, so if you’re always hungry, the problem may really be that you’re not getting enough to drink!
In addition to cutting out the sugar found in regular or even diet soda, sparkling water can provide this hydration.
If you’re trying to reach a healthier weight, choose your sparkling water wisely.
Tonic water, for example, has around 15 grams of sugar per serving, or about one-third the amount in a regular soda.
Yikes!
Sparkling water and club soda, on the other hand, have no added sugar, making them a delightful low-cal option.
One study of obesity in rats discovered that drinking ONLY carbonated water for an entire year increased their ghrelin levels.
More research still needs to be done, however, and while sparkling water can be a satisfying part of your daily diet, everything is best in moderation.
Sparkling water helps with digestion and relieves constipation, which may empty the stomach more quickly, causing some people to feel hungry.
Studies like this one suggest that carbonated water may help people swallow more easily.
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, affects 15 million Americans, and is most common in people over 50.
Carbonated water could help to clear your throat, but be sure to consult your doctor first.
Drinking sparkling water has been found to have no negative impact on bone health.
While the phosphoric acid in dark colas can eat away at the calcium in our bones, carbonated water doesn’t include this chemical.
That means it goes easier on your teeth too!
Carbonated mineral waters infused with magnesium and calcium may even have bone-building properties.
The next time you get hit by the temptation to crack open a can of pop, fool your body by drinking a glass of sparkling water instead.
You’ll get the same fizzy feeling, better hydration, and no added sugars.
In a recent study, the Beverage Hydration Index (BHI) was used to assess the hydration of 13 hydrating drinks.
The BHI, by the way, compares the urine volume produced by a drink to that of still water.
According to the study's findings, sparkling water is just as hydrating as still water!
Although sparkling water hydrates you just as well as regular water, it's important to remember that it can make you feel bloated if you're prone to bloating.
If this sounds like you, carbonated water may not be the best choice.
If the fizz of CO2 appeals to you, then bottoms up!
As long as it’s sugar and additive-free, sparkling water can help you stay hydrated throughout the day.
Some studies suggest that sparkling water may even be too quenching, causing some people to drink less overall.
Other people report that bubbly feeling keeps them coming back for more.
Ultimately, both types of water are hydrating, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends sparkling water for those who find plain water unappealing.
Drinking sparkling water can help you up your daily water intake while fending off added sugar, which has been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Best of all, you can make it in your own home with an inexpensive carbonation machine!
Before you start brewing up those bubbles, though, make sure your tap water is free of toxins by testing it regularly.
Keep your family safe by installing a filtration system to remove up to 99.9% of toxins.
Click here to learn more about helping your water reach its fizzy potential.
