What are the benefits of sparkling water? Learn about the health benefits of drinking sparkling water

Although carbonated water has existed for over 200 years, the global thirst for sparkling water is only just beginning! As sparkling water grows in popularity, many have questioned the health effects of drinking the bubbly beverage. We did our research and here's a breakdown of some of the scientifically proven benefits of drinking carbonated water!

The first step is to better understand fizzy water itself… What is sparkling water exactly?


What is sparkling water?

Sparkling water is actually very simple: it is regular water which is carbonated with CO2 (carbon dioxide gas) using pressure. Sparkling water (also called seltzer water) has become extremely popular, and there are hundreds of different sparkling water brands available. For those interested, here is a brief history of sparkling water! 

Sparkling water, mineral water, club soda… What is the difference?

The differences between sparkling water, mineral water, tonic water, club soda and other sparkling beverages can become blurry at times. The main thing to know is that sparkling water only contains plain water and CO2 (and potentially a flavoring agent). Other products such as soda water will contain additives such as salts, sugar and minerals. In this article, we will focus on the health benefits of simple sparkling water.

 

The benefits of sparkling water vs tap water

Drinking sparkling water does offer some health benefits, but this is not true for every carbonated beverage! When we say sparkling water can benefit your health, we are only talking about simple sparkling water (such as water made with a Spärkel beverage system).

Here are the main health benefits of sparkling water:


1. Sparkling water helps you drink more water

The most obvious way sparkling water can benefit health is that it promotes water consumption: the more water you consume, the more hydrated you will be. However, drinking plain water all day might seem a bit boring. 

If you struggle with your daily water intake, try drinking carbonated water to help combat taste fatigue and make water more enticing (7). Seltzer water can make things a bit more exciting (even more if you infuse your water with fresh ingredients)!

Don’t underestimate the importance of hydration!

Water is essential to human health. According to the National Institute of Health, about 60% of the average adult human body is made of water. This includes your brain, heart, lungs, muscles, skin, and even about 30% of your bones. Water helps regulate our internal temperature, is essential for cellular function, transports nutrients throughout our bodies, flushes waste, lubricates joints and even serves as a protective shock absorber for vital organs.

Many studies have concluded that carbonated water is just as hydrating as still water. So, sparkling or flat – make water your best friend!

 

2. Carbonated water may increase your feeling of fullness

Bubbly water may also help you feel fuller longer. Research has shown that sparkling water may help food remain in the stomach for a longer period of time than flat water, which can trigger a sensation of fullness (6). Because of this, the tiny bubbles in your glass of sparkling water may offer a helping hand when it comes to controlling overeating and losing weight. The bubbles may trick your brain into feeling full, which means you will probably eat less

 

3. Sparkling water is the perfect alternative to soda or cola!

At this point, we are all aware of the negative impacts the high levels of sugar in soda have on our health, but it is difficult to remove a beverage from your drinking habits. That change is easier if you have a healthier alternative, such as bubbly water. If you're trying to cut back on your soda consumption, you might want to make sparkling water your new drink of choice!

How does a bubbly drink help reduce soda consumption?

Drinking carbonated water provides the same sensation as drinking a soda without the added calories, sugar, artificial colors and sweeteners. This familiar sparkling sensation is great to trick your body and move away from high-calorie beverages.

To add a little excitement and flavor to your sparkling water, try adding real ingredients like fruit, veggies and herbs. Infusions like cucumber & mint, orange & basil or strawberry & lemon can make your sparkling water more appealing without adding any artificial ingredients or extra calories. A great way to prepare delicious infused sparkling water at home is the Spärkel beverage system!

 

4. Seltzer water might improve your heart health

Although we are not 100% certain yet, there has been promising signs that sparkling water had positive impacts on the heart, particularly in cholesterol levels in the blood. A study conducted on a post-menopausal women sample showed an increase in “good” cholesterol levels in individuals consuming sparkling water.

And again, favoring simple carbonated water over sugary drinks has the results you would expect, such as lowering blood sugar levels!

 


Does sparkling water help with digestion?

Carbonated water may benefit digestive health in various ways.

1. Sparkling water was shown to help swallowing ability!

Firstly, studies suggest that sparkling water may improve swallowing ability in both young and older adults, which assists with overall digestion (1, 2, 3). In one study, participants were asked to repeatedly swallow different liquids and carbonated water showed the strongest ability to stimulate the nerves responsible for swallowing (2).

2. Sparkling water has the added benefit of reducing constipation

Secondly, sparkling water can aid in digestion by reducing constipation. According to a study examining the impact of drinking still and carbonated water on digestion, a small test group who had been suffering from indigestion and constipation were given either sparkling or still water along with their regular diet. Over a two week period, those in the sparkling water group reported less constipation, feeling fuller after a small amount of food and significant improvements in their symptoms of indigestion. Those given still water reported no alleviation of their symptoms (5). There's also evidence that carbonated water may improve other symptoms of indigestion, including stomach pain.





False impressions about sparkling water

Sparkling water is an easily misunderstood product. It is often perceived as a product similar to sodas containing high amounts of sugar and calories: this is not true! Here are a few false perceptions about the health benefits of sparkling water:

 

Sparkling water is bad for your bones

Carbonated water becomes slightly acidic during the carbonation process, leading some to believe the acidity would have negative impacts on bone health. This is not the case! Studies found that sparkling water and carbonation were not related to low bone mineral density issues.

The only carbonated beverages having an impact on bone health were sodas because of an unexpected ingredient: phosphorus! Phosphorus is an important ingredient in many sodas, and some scientific studies hint that phosphorus might affect bone health.

Sparkling water is bad for your teeth

A popular misconception about sparkling water is that it damages the enamel of the teeth overtime, leading to various dental problems. However, studies showed that the damage made to the teeth by carbonated water was comparable to the damage caused by regular water! Once again, the high sugar content of soft drinks were responsible for damages to tooth enamel.





Should some people avoid sparkling water?

Carbonated water might not be the best alternative for some people! Here are a few examples of people who should avoid sparkling water:

 

People with digestive issues such as IBS or acid reflux

While sparkling water can help with digestion in some, it also releases carbonic acid during the carbonation process. Therefore, it is advised that patients with acid reflux, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or gas should stick to non-carbonated beverages, like regular water.

 

People should avoid sparkling water during sports or workouts

It might be better to choose standard water over sparkling water during a workout or other exercise simply because the carbonation can cause discomfort when combined with vigorous movement.

 

Sparkling water can cause gas or bloating for some individuals

There is always a possibility that consuming sparkling water causes gas and bloating for some people. As fizzy water contains CO2,  carbon dioxide can accumulate in the stomach and cause bloating. If you suffer from bloating, we recommend you try regular water next time so see if the symptoms are indeed caused by carbonated water.



 

Looking to enjoy the many benefits of sparkling water at home?

Leave soft drinks behind you - Choose Spärkel 

Spärkel beverage systems are the perfect solution to make delicious and refreshing sparkling water at home! Spärkel is an eco-friendly water carbonator that allows you to add fresh ingredients directly to your water bottle, creating more enticing sparkling water you can enjoy all day long. And for those interested, it can also make all kinds of carbonated drinks!

 

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, we would love to hear from you! Reach out to us at hello@sparkel.com

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