It is fun to play with bubbles, and many people think that it is also delicious to have bubbles in the water. While the carbonated version of the water has gained popularity, people aren’t quite sure where sparkling water is found; also commonly known as carbonated water, mineral water, sparkling water, or mineral water when it comes to health.
Is water similar to alkaline water or different water?
With products that make it easy to make carbonated water at home, many people are even replacing their normal water intake with a large quantity of the carbonated version. But wait, is sparkling water healthy? Is carbonation bad for health? The short answer to both questions: It depends. Let’s dive into this fizzy drink and find out just how healthy (or not) it is!
What is sparkling water? Types of sparkling water
What is sparkling water?
Sparkling water is a variation of water, which is a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid. Sparkling water is infused with carbon dioxide, which makes it bubbly. The “bubbling” of sparkling water can be natural or artificial. If you are wondering what carbonated water is, it is another name used to refer to carbonated water or sparkling water.
The most natural form of sparkling water is carbonated mineral water, which not only naturally contains minerals but can also be naturally carbonated. This refreshing, fizzy liquid comes straight from the source: a natural mineral spring. The effervescence may be due to gases naturally present in the water. However, not all sparkling mineral water is naturally sparkling, and many mineral water companies also add carbon dioxide to the water to make it sparkling.
An example of artificial sparkling water or sparkling water is what comes out of popular new soda manufacturers that inject carbon dioxide into the water. If you have a sparkling water maker, you already know how to make sparkling water at home with the push of a button. There are also flavored sparkling waters, which contain additional ingredients (sometimes natural, but sometimes artificial and unhealthy).
What is soda water?
Mineral water is the artificial version of sparkling water. Mineral water is simply water with carbon dioxide added. Seltzer water is said to have emerged as a cheaper alternative to sparkling mineral water.
Is sparkling water good for your health? The benefits of sparkling water
Is sparkling water healthy? That is a good question. As with many foods and drinks, sparkling water can be healthy if you choose the right kind. The best variety of sparkling water is one that is rich in minerals, called carbonated mineral water. Many experts say sparkling water can be just as hydrating as regular water, but the bubbles can make the sparkling variety more difficult to drink.
Opt for sparkling mineral water instead, because you’re not only getting water, but also valuable minerals. The type of sparkling water you want to avoid contains artificial flavors, colors, and/or additives.
In some cases, carbonated water has been shown to have certain benefits for human health. Let’s take a look at some of the ways sparkling water can be helpful.
1. Rich in minerals that promote health
If you choose sparkling mineral water, you can add a variety of minerals to your diet while quenching your thirst. Natural mineral waters can be defined as those “that comes from an aquifer or an underground reservoir, that flow from one or more natural or perforated springs and that have specific hygienic characteristics and, where appropriate, healthy properties. »
In short, sparkling mineral water must come from a natural source and naturally contain minerals. Depending on the source, the type and amount of minerals can vary. The good thing about mineral waters is that their minerals are said to be more easily absorbed than minerals found in food because minerals in food are bound to complex molecules while minerals exist as free ions in the water. mineral. Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are examples of vital minerals found in sparkling mineral water.
2. Blood sugar management
Mineral waters also usually contain bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is present in the human body and helps maintain a healthy pH of the blood so it doesn’t become too acidic or too basic.
A 2015 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine linked consumption of mineral water high in bicarbonate to better blood sugar control. The 19 healthy subjects in the study drank 500 milliliters of commercially available tap water or bicarbonate-rich mineral water daily. The researchers found that, compared to tap water drinkers, mineral water drinkers experienced a significant drop in serum glycoalbumin levels, which is significant since glycoalbumin levels are used as a marker of glycemic control.
3. A healthier alternative to soft drinks
If you’re drinking a diet soda, choose sparkling water now. As long as sparkling water does not contain additives harmful to health, it still wins when comparing sparkling water to sodas. Sodas are either loaded with insulin-spiking sugars or filled with extremely health-threatening fake sugars like aspartame.
4. Helps with dyspepsia and constipation
A UK scientific journal published in 2014 analyzed 20 different trials involving 902 subjects with a central neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, or a brain injury, such as a stroke. People with these types of health conditions are much more likely to experience constipation than the general population. This study found that sparkling water may be helpful for stroke victims with constipation.
Another study published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology examined the effects of carbonated beverages in 21 patients with functional dyspepsia and found that carbonated water improved symptoms of dyspepsia, as well as constipation and gallbladder, emptying.
5. Calms dizziness
This is one of those sparkling water benefits that can come in handy, especially when you’re on a long car, bus, plane, or boat ride. Motion sickness can be annoying, but non-caffeinated sodas are known for their ability to quell nausea. Drinking fresh and sparkling mineral water can be the perfect drink to help you feel better fast.
The dangers of carbonated water
Is sparkling water bad for health?
Some people think so. For example, carbonated water has been linked to dental problems. What makes sparkling waters so hostile to our mouths? According to some experts, it is the carbonation that over time can wear down tooth enamel and potentially contribute to the formation of cavities.
Researchers have found that the feeling we get when we drink a carbonated beverage like sparkling water is due to a reaction in the mouth that converts carbon dioxide bubbles into irritating carbonic acid. So this heady “bite” of carbonation is chemical rather than physical.
However, these doctors agree that sparkling water is still a much better option than soda, which is much more acidic. They also point out that sparkling mineral water contains minerals “that can offset some of the potential damage caused by low pH.” They usually recommend still water over the sparkling water, but sparkling water wins over sodas and high-sugar juices.
Another problem with sparkling water is companies that add unhealthy additives and sweeteners. Some sparkling water brands have made sparkling water even more popular these days. Flavored Sparkling Waters gives soda drinkers the fizz they love and are available in a variety of fruit flavors. On the plus side, naturally flavored, unsweetened sparkling waters can help break an addiction to unhealthy soda. The bad news, however, is that these flavorings, including citric and other fruit acids, have been linked to possible erosion of tooth enamel.
Once again, the pH of flavored sparkling waters is of concern. While the pH of tap water is usually between 6 and 8, carbonation of the water lowers its pH to around 5. With scents and other additions to carbonated water, the pH can drop even lower, and the lower the pH, the more likely it is to be destructive to our teeth.
What does the research say about carbonated water and dental erosion?
Well, a study published in the International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry shows that flavored sparkling waters seem to be the biggest concern. The researchers found that the pH levels of the flavored carbonated waters tested were in the same range as colas and orange juice. In addition, the flavored waters also contained citric acid (commonly added to flavored sparkling waters for flavor) and, as the study notes, citric acid has a “particularly high erosive potential.” Overall, the researchers found that flavored sparkling waters had a significantly lower pH than unflavored sparkling mineral waters.
Another study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation found that unflavored carbonated mineral water was 100 times less harsh on tooth enamel than the carbonated beverages tested. Overall, the researchers conclude that the minerals in sparkling mineral water have a positive effect on the erosion that occurs on the surface of the teeth, and that “mineral waters appear to offer a safe alternative to more acidic and erosive beverages.”. »
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