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Nagging Question
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Is Carbonated Water Bad for You?It depends on the water in question |
Is carbonated water better or worse for you than still water?
Though some believe carbonation can help alleviate upset stomach and constipation, carbonated water isn’t necessarily any better or worse for you, nutritionally, than still water. It depends on the waters in question.
“The perfect water would be rich in magnesium and calcium and low in sodium chloride,” says Roberta Anding, director of sports nutrition at the Texas Medical Center, and a dietitian for the Houston Texans football team. According to a study in the American Journal of Medicine, that means more than 48 milligrams of magnesium and 85 milligrams of calcium per liter, and fewer than 195 milligrams of sodium per liter. Just because water has bubbles, either because they’ve been forced in by the manufacturer or because they occurred naturally from a spring, doesn’t mean it also contains more or less of certain minerals than still water.
Many believe carbonated water contains higher sodium levels than still. This isn’t true. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. Oftentimes, you can find out how much sodium your carbonated water has by reading the label. The FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to list levels, but many do. (If your fizzy water came from Europe, it definitely will, as required by EU law.) If the water you’re drinking contains a lot of sodium, it can contribute to high blood pressure. But it may also have health advantages. A 2004 article in the Journal of Nutrition found that fizzy waters with higher sodium levels reduced cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular problems in postmenopausal women.
The studies don’t differentiate between soda water, seltzer water, club soda, or any of the other names under which carbonated water is sold. This is probably because those terms have no legal meaning. The only type of carbonated water the FDA has a standard for is sparkling water. It must come from its source naturally carbonated (though carbonation that’s lost during processing can be added back artificially). Other kinds of carbonated water might be naturally or artificially carbonated, and may or may not have added minerals.
If carbonation that gets "lost" can be added back artificially, doesn't that defeat the purpose of the "sparkling" designation? Seems like a heck of a loophole.
carbonated water can leach calcium from your bones
If there is a study that proves carbonated water leachs calcium from bones please direct us to it. Carbonated water is nothing more than carbon dioxide (in gas form) infused in water.
I'm sick of this kind of crap. Years ago, it was said that you shouldn't drink cold liquid, it was a shock to the system. Since I love cold water, I ignored this nonsense. Now seltzer? Prove it, I say.
Basically, these studies are all about removing the fun and flavor of food.
To hell with them.
carbonated water is more acidic than most still water, i'm not sure what the medical implications of that may be, but it definitely tastes unpleasant to me even when it's flat. anyone else have an avesion to it?
I share your aversion, warrenr. I don't drink anything fizzy (except for champagne, and then I try to get as many bubbles out as possible).
Carbonic acid (a weak acid) is produced when carbon dioxide is dissolved in water -- thus, it's present in all carbonated beverages. To me, it not only tastes "sharp" but also slightly bitter (I'm bitter sensitive).
Many years ago, my uncle who was a chemist, told me that bubbles from real seltzer bottles had larger bubbles than seltzer that you made at home.
Also, I've always been under the impression that club soda had added salt while seltzer did not
It depends on the carbonated water. Some have added salt, which would make them a slightly less healthier option.
However there are quite a few sparkling and carbonated waters that don't have any added salt and would put them at them same level, health-wise, to regular water. I have design a special [url=http://www.envisionwebhosting.com/reviews/dot5hosting-hosting.htm]dot5hosting[/url] site for this which also have different answers for this carbonated water.
If you're in to brewing then you know about carbonation. While carbonated drinks may leach calcium from the bones, I do not think it is a carbonation issue rather than a Phosphorus issue. The human body is adaptive in that it uses ready available minerals to compensate. Although you do need Phosphorus in your diet, red meats are rich in that element and manufacturers add it to sodas as well. I love Red meat and a certain dew of the mountain variety. Unfortunately as we age, our systems decline in the ability to absorb calcium and magnesium and a host of other minerals that inhabit our bones. The human body will start to absorb the easier minerals such as phosphorus in place of Calcium and magnesium and many larger players in human health. This all contributes to the Alkalinity of the body. Fats and lipids are another misnomered whipping boy. That is another story. Acidity can aid in digestion and even remedy heartburn. vinegar and capsicum are a few.