There are bubbles all around.
Everyone is now fully aware of the risks associated with consuming diet coke in Singapore, both sugar-filled and sugar-free. What about their less flashy cousins, tonic water, seltzer water, sparkling water, and soda water?
Some argue that even without the calories, sugar, and flavour included in ordinary soda, carbonation can still cause weight gain by increasing bone calcium loss, dental decay, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
But how reliable are these assertions? Let’s look into it.
Does carbonation cause more bone calcium to be lost?
Put: No. Cola and other carbonated beverage use were examined in a 2,500-person study conducted in 2006 to see their impact on bone mineral density.
According to studies, cola beverages were linked to reduced bone mineral density in women, but other carbonated beverages from a CO2 cartridge in Singapore didn’t seem to have the same impact. This is because cola drinks contain phosphorus, increasing the body’s calcium loss through the kidneys.
Does carbonated drinking water harm your teeth?
The answer is no, as long as it’s simply carbonated water without citric acid or sugar added.
However, the risk factors significantly increase when you include soda and other carbonated beverages with added substances. According to 2009, the acids and sugars in these drinks have the potential to be acidogenic and cariogenic, which can lead to enamel loss.
Acids, sugars, or salt are not added during the carbonation process; just pressurized carbon dioxide gas is supplied to plain water—your chance of developing dental decay increases when these chemicals are added.
It’s a common myth that carbon dioxide gas dissolves as carbonic acid in carbonated water is highly corrosive and can harm teeth. But according to two studies, one from 2012 and one from 1999, the concentration of carbon dioxide doesn’t truly damage the teeth’s enamel.
Is IBS a result of carbonated water?
Although it won’t cause IBS, drinking carbonated water may create bloating and gas, which, if you have IBS and are sensitive to carbonated beverages, might cause flare-ups.
The bottom line: You could be better off cutting carbonated water out of your diet if you have stomach problems and flare-ups after drinking it.
Can you gain weight drinking carbonated water?
Although plain carbonated water is a healthier alternative to sugary drinks like soda, juice, or sweet tea, a small 2017 study found that men who consumed plain carbonated water had higher levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. So even the well-liked LaCroix might not be flawless.
High ghrelin levels might make you feel more hungry and eat more, which can result in weight gain. However, more study is required to confirm this finding in women and on a wider scale.
It’s also crucial to remember that several types of carbonated water exist. For example, some bottled seltzers and flavour enhancers contain sodium, natural and artificial acids, flavours, sweeteners, and other additions, whereas carbonated water is merely water + air.
All of these can have extra sodium and undisclosed calories. Read labels carefully because studies show that these substances might cause weight gain and cavities over time.
How to maintain its health
To minimize damaging effects on teeth and health, always read the ingredient list and watch for additives like sodium and sugar. Recognize the variations among the regular suspects:
- Seltzer water lacks sodium, although club soda does.
- Tonic water has flavouring and sweeteners added.
- Besides caffeine and sodium, flavoured sparkling water may contain citric acid or natural sweeteners.
To liven up the flavour of basic carbonated water, try adding mixes of fresh fruit, herbs, citrus, or cucumbers.
