In the modern era, the public desire for better quality is undoubtedly reaching new heights. Dissatisfaction with water that is often contaminated by things like nitrates, copper, lead, and bad bacteria have led many to invest in alternative water products such as hydrogen water, filtered water, purified water, distilled water, mineral water and… well, the list goes on. Synergy Science, a company specializing in such products, say however that it is not only the poor state of much of American municipal water, but also a desire to truly optimize health and hydration that has led to the popularity of such products.
One of the most refreshing and popular of water products has long been carbonated, or sparkling, water. Refreshing as it is though, there has been quite a lot of debate around whether it is actually good for you. Certainly, carbonated water contains nothing but water and carbon dioxide gas, so it is always an effective hydration option. Nevertheless, it is the addition of the carbon dioxide around which the debate as to its health benefits revolves.
To be clear, carbonated water does have its unique benefits, and you are certainly not in any imminent danger from consuming it. The best way to appraise carbonated water, therefore, is simply to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages.
What is Carbonated Water?
Obviously, carbonated water is any water that has had carbon dioxide gas added, thereby making it fizzy. To make the water sparkling in this way, the carbon is pressurized and, importantly, the water temperature is lowered. The combination of these two factors causes the carbon dioxide to dissolve into the water itself. That means carbonated water is not just water with carbon dioxide bubbles – it is in the water too.
The other thing to keep in mind when understanding the nutritional value of carbonated water is that that nutritional value depends on what type of water is actually being carbonated.
Benefits of Carbonated Water
Here follows a few of the generally agreed upon benefits of carbonated water:
It Can Help with Digestion
In some people, carbonated water can reduce feelings of being bloated or uncomfortably full. Indigestion is caused by excess stomach acid, but it is unclear how carbonated water combats this. But it does seem to work in very many cases.
Carbonated Water is Heathier than Almost Any Other Carbonated Drink
This is a fairly simple benefit and it’s easy to see where it comes from. Most carbonated beverages also contain a lot of sugar and other additives.
Carbonated Water Can Help with Weight Loss
This is another mysterious benefit, but it has been demonstrated that carbonated water can increase feelings of fullness and help food stay in the stomach for longer.
Disadvantages of Carbonated Water
Here follows some of the downsides:
Can Damage Tooth Enamel
We have all heard of the famous experiment involving the fate of a tooth submerged for 24 hours in a glass of cola (spoiler: it doesn’t end well for the tooth). While sugar plays a significant role in the erosion of tooth enamel, carbon dioxide can also be a damaging agent.
Can Cause Gas Symptoms
This one is fairly obvious. Drinking carbonated water can have you burping more often, and it can also increase flatulence, which can be… embarrassing. Although it can reduce bloating in some cases, it seems to increase it in those with specific gastro-intestinal issues.
In conclusion, we can certainly say that carbonated water has its place and can offer great health benefits for many. Others, however, might have to be more careful. For those people, there are plenty of hydrating alternatives.
