How Does Sparkling Water Affect Your Body?

Most people drink sparkling water thinking it’s a healthier alternative to soda and a more interesting way to consume water. But did you know sparkling water can actually have negative effects on your health? Some researches are sure that sparkling water can lead to calcium loss in bones, tooth decay, and even irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Additionally, it and can leads to weight gain even without the calories, sugar, and flavor that are found in regular soda. It may sound scary, but it’s actually not all bad. Actually, you don’t have to give up sparkling water. This article will explain why.

1. Digestion
If you don’t have any digestive issues, you shouldn’t worry about how sparkling water will affect it unless you’re against belching. While you’ll probably burp up most of excess CO2, a little bit may remain and get into your digestive tract, leading to modest bloating, flatulence, and other unpleasant things.

According to several studies, sparkling water could actually help some people with their digestion. Carbonated water is able to lower the pH level in the stomach that can help in the initial digestive process. However, if you have acid reflux disease, it’s wise to avoid sparkling water as it can exacerbate the condition.

2. Teeth
The fear around sparkling water’s effect on teeth occurred due to the beverage’s acidity. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), different brands of sparkling water have pH values around 5, putting them in the acidic territory. This means that sparkling water is generally more acidic than regular water.

But the American Dental Association notes that there’s no research that has found any evidence that drinking normal amounts of sparkling water without sugar is more harmful to enamel than drinking regular water. However, it doesn’t mean you can drink sparkling water all day, every day.

Sparkling water with citrus is not the best flavor option since it contains citric acid that reduces their pH and increases their potential to damage your teeth. Drinks with other flavors can also contain other acids, but according to the JADA study, citric acid specifically a big cause of enamel damage.

Try to drink fluoridated tap water in addition to sparkling water since fluoride can help strengthen enamel. You can enjoy normal amounts of sparkling water without worrying about your teeth.

But people who have dry mouth, snoring, and those who are taking certain medications that impair saliva production should avoid sparkling water. This is due to the fact that saliva helps prevent tooth decay as it neutralizes acids. If you have dry mouth, like drinking sparkling water, and worry about it exacerbating your symptoms, talk to your family dentist.

3. Bones
The concern that consumption of sparkling water could increase the risk of fractures and osteoporosis probably stems from one research that showed a connection between Coke consumption and low bone density in women. According to several studies, Coke (but not other carbonated drinks) reduces bone mass density and increases the risk of fractures.

Initially, researches thought that the high amount of phosphorus in Coke was to blame since it can lower calcium levels. But now according to the NIH, the connection between Coke and bone health issues is most likely because people are replacing milk with Coke or soda.

You’ve probably heard that milk improves bone density and promotes bone growth in children. That’s because it contains high levels of calcium and vitamin D that encourage bone growth and strength and even help prevent osteoporosis in older adults.

Actually, you’re not at risk of bone health problems until you have inadequate bone-building nutrients. The good news is that some sparkling mineral waters can contain some calcium, therefore it might be worth to consider this fact. Remember, sparkling water consumption won’t harm you if you’re healthy.