We all know that water is essential for us. But sipping on plain water can be a bit bland and boring, unless you are stranded in the middle of a desert. Luckily, carbonated water has various health benefits and choosing it over soda pop is always a great idea.
Our Pick for the Best Water Carbonator
Fully automatic, turns plain water into carbonated water in seconds with the touch of a button
Energy efficient, powered by Co2 cylinder. Each cylinder carbonates up to 60 liters of water
Offers unbelieable amount of flavor choices, from mocktails to cocktails to SodaStream's wide range of flavors
Easy to maintain and clean
Slightly expensive but quality build makes up for it plus all the money you will save not buying bottled carbonated water
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Luckily, we do have several options to quench our thirst with, not all of them are suitable for our health.
It took a long while for the world to realize that sweet fizzy drinks are not good for us. The high sugar content in combination with acidity from carbonation can harm your body in more ways than you know. But is it also true for carbonated water without sugar?
A quick internet search and you will find countless websites warning you that carbonated water can rob the calcium from your bones. Some people even claim that it can cause tooth decay and irritate your stomach. So, we feel it’s time to sort facts from myths. Read on to find out how valid are these claims and are there any sparkling water benefits.
Make Sure Your Water is Purified First
Before we get into all the great health benefits of carbonated water, it is important to make sure that the starting water source has been purified of any potentially harmful contaminants. Check out our review of the best water purifier to learn more about protecting you and your family’s health.
What is Carbonated Water?
Water that is infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure produces bubbly water or carbonated water. Carbon dioxide and water react chemically to form a weak acid, known as carbonic acid. It stimulates the same nerve receptors in your mouth as mustard, which gives you an idea of the acidity of carbonated water. Carbonated water goes by many other names like sparkling water, soda water, seltzer water, etc.
Some amount of salt is added to the water to improve its taste. Often some minerals are also added to it if it’s deficient of those minerals. Sparkling water gives a tickling sensation when you drink it, which is adequately sharp and enjoyable. The pH of the carbonated water ranges between 3 to 4, which shows that it is only slightly acidic.
Since our kidneys and lungs expel the excess carbon dioxide from our body. This keeps our blood within the pH range of 7.35 to 7.45, no matter what we drink or eat. These facts leave no room for the doubt that the acidity of carbonated water can harm your body.
What is Seltzer Water?
Carbonated water has so many varieties that it can be often confusing to differentiate the types. You have lightly fizzy bitter tonic water, which is used for gin. Then you have sparkling mineral water with subtle differences in flavor, from salty to metallic. Apart from these, you also have soda water and seltzer water. All of this variety makes one wonder are not all of these the same?
All of these types of bubbly water appear to be the same. But each one differs in flavor and is made using different processes. What basically sets apart seltzer water from other types is that it is plain carbonated water with no added minerals. It is the simplest of all types and it is made by the carbonation of plain water. Due to its neutral profile natural fruit essence and oils are added to create flavored sparkling water.
Health Benefits of Carbonated Water
Carbonated water has various health benefits. Choosing it over soda and fizzy drinks is always a sound choice. Here are some significant health benefits of carbonated water:
Keeps You Hydrated
A common myth about carbonated water is that it can cause dehydration. Health experts have debunked this belief and they claim that it has the same benefits as that of plain water. In fact, the health benefits can be even greater if the sparkling water is filtered.
Filteration removes organic compounds and toxic chemicals from the water and provides you with clean and healthy water. Carbonated water has a subtle flavor and a bubbly kick which makes the water a true treat to gulp down. As a result, you drink more sparkling water and keep yourself hydrated. So, try sparkling water from a carbonation machine instead of regular water and feel the difference yourself.
Gives a Feeling of Fullness
Many fitness bloggers suggest taking a glass of water right before a meal to prevent overeating. While we cannot be certain about that, what we do know is that sparkling water makes you feel full for longer than regular water. A research shows that carbonated water makes the proximal stomach (the first three parts) contain food longer, which gives you a feeling of fullness for a long time.
Aids Digestion
Carbonated water is also great in keeping stomach issues at bay. Anyone who suffers from dyspepsia, constipation, or an upset stomach frequently can benefit a great deal from drinking sparkling water. The European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology conducted a study that showed that patients of all these problems showed improvement after drinking sparkling water for two weeks. So, that old home remedy of taking lemon-lime soda for stomach bug is not wrong after all.
Supports Bone Health
Another common myth about carbonated water is that it is bad for bone due to its acidic nature. A large observational study showed that only cola can be associated with lower bone mineral density. Carbonated water showed no effect on bone health.
Another controlled study showed that drinking sparkling water for 8 weeks led to better calcium retention in postmenopausal women. Moreover, supplementing hens’ diet with carbonated water for 6 weeks strengthened their leg bones more as compared to tap water.
Fully automatic, turns plain water into carbonated water in seconds with the touch of a button
Energy efficient, powered by Co2 cylinder. Each cylinder carbonates up to 60 liters of water
Offers unbelieable amount of flavor choices, from mocktails to cocktails to SodaStream's wide range of flavors
Easy to maintain and clean
Slightly expensive but quality build makes up for it plus all the money you will save not buying bottled carbonated water
Conclusion
Many people avoid drinking carbonated water thinking that it might be bad for health. The good news for them is there is no valid evidence to prove all the myths about carbonated water. In fact, a lot of research says the opposite. So, you can sip sparkling water from a carbonation machine or a can with zero guilt. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it also has a handful of health benefits for your body.
I drink alot of seltzer water I fill several empty water bottles and put them in the fridge to keep them cold so that when I need a fresh cold carbonated drink I have that instead of soda I love carbonated water and thank you for all the information I really appreciate it now I dont have to wonder if it was bad for me thanks again.