Some people feel that carbonated water can't hydrate you like regular water can. They think that the bubbles in the carbonated water make it much less effective for combatting dehydration. However, this is not the case. Carbonated water is just like regular water; only it offers a fun and more exciting way to drink your daily allotment of water.
Fruit flavored sparkling (carbonated) water also makes a great and healthy alternative to soda because it has zero calories and no added sugar. The biggest difference between sparkling water and regular water are the bubbles. How your body uses the water and reacts to it is the exact same.
Carbonated water has carbon dioxide added to it, and this is how you get that fun, signature bubbly effect that carbonated water is known for.
Carbonated Water for Hydration
Research has been done in the past in an attempt to learn how water and carbonated water can both hydrate. They also included other beverages to test their hydration levels, including soda, juice, coffee, and milk. But, of course, it was found that still water and sparkling water both hydrated the same with minimal differences between them.
Through these studies, they found that still water and carbonated water were both as useful for hydration. One didn't win out over the other. This is because they have the same base ingredient - they are both just water.
Carbonated Water Differences
The carbonation in sparkling water has very little effect on the body when it comes to digestion. However, it was found that it might take the body a bit longer to empty the liquid from the small intestine to the stomach after drinking carbonated water, which can affect how the water is absorbed by the body.
Still water is absorbed more quickly than sparkling or carbonated water, but once it is absorbed, the effects and the benefits are the exact same. Sparkling water is also a good alternative for those who aren't fans of still water because of the flatness and tastelessness of the water. These people find sparkling water much easier to swallow.
You can also add a splash of juice to sparkling water to create a refreshing and low-calorie drink if you are looking for a little flavor, so you stop reaching for the sugary sodas. The only time you probably want to stick with still water is during your workout.
People tend to shy away from carbonated water during a workout, which can cause dehydration. So, for this, still water reigns supreme. Other than that, the experts still say you can drink carbonated water to reach your recommended daily serving of water (eight glasses) each day.
Making the Switch to Carbonated Water
If you are someone who finds it hard to get their eight glasses of water every day, then you may want to consider switching to carbonated water. Some even feel that it is a much more natural way to drink water, and it is much easier to swallow.
Another reason to make the switch is if you find yourself addicted to soda, and you need to find a better way to get more water into your system. Naturally-sweetened carbonated water is an excellent way to get off the sugary sodas and start drinking a healthier alternative. There is also a lot of flavor options to choose from, so you will find yourself missing soda less and less.
How Can You Get Carbonated Water?
You will quickly find that purchasing cases and bottles of carbonated water at the store will begin to add up very quickly each week, which can cause your grocery bill to be a bit higher than usual. Sometimes people will even choose to drink tap water over carbonated water simply because of the cost. However, there is a solution!
SodaStream is an easy and affordable solution to this problem. With just a touch of a button, you can run your plain, still water through a CO2 canister which carbonates it quickly and easily. It incorporates those fun bubbles into your water and makes it come to life.
There is also a big selection of natural sparkling water flavors you can choose from to give your water that tasty boost you love so you will find that you won't miss soda as much as you thought you would. You will also feel better because you are supplying your body with the hydration it needs every day.
Using SodaStream is an excellent way to stay hydrated without breaking the bank and without turning back to drinking soda when you feel thirsty and don't want plain water.
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If LaCroix or Perrier is basically your blood type, you’ve probably been wondering if sparkling water hydrates you like plain old water.
The short of it: You betcha it hydrates you. In fact, it may help you meet those seemingly impossible daily water intake standards.
Here’s how sparking water counts toward your daily water guzzle and keeps you hydrated with a little fizz.
Sparkling water, also known as seltzer or carbonated water, combines two simple ingredients: water and carbon dioxide.
When the carbon dioxide dissolves, creating the bubbly fizz we love, the water’s pH drops (meaning the water becomes more acidic).
Some sparkling waters also have added fruit flavors and minerals like sodium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate, and sodium chloride. These are the ingredients that really change up the taste and make you want to down three cans in one sitting (we’re looking at you, every AHA flavor 🤤).
The most common varieties are:
- Sparkling water, seltzer, or carbonated water. This type of bubbly water is filtered and carbonated artificially.
- Mineral water. The gas in mineral water occurs naturally, but extra carbon dioxide may be added either artificially or from the same source as the water.
- Soda water. This fizzy water contains both carbon dioxide and sodium bicarbonate. It may also contain other compounds to regulate its acidity.
- Club soda. This carbonated water can include sodium components like sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. It’s often mixed into alcoholic drinks.
- Tonic water. This carbonated and mineralized water also contains quinine, which gives it a bitter taste. It’s often combined with sweeteners or flavorings.
Call it seltzer, call it sparkling water… carbonated waters are hydrating mostly because they contain water (duh). It’s good news, because even the biggest water devotees can get tired of the flat stuff.
In 2016, researchers examined 13 drinks and gave them a beverage hydration index (BHI) as compared to regular water. The team found that sparkling water was every bit as hydrating as still water.
They also noted that beverages with a higher mineral content tended to be even more hydrating. A small study in 2000 found similar results with plain and carbonated water.
But some sparkling waters may have more sodium than regular water, which could make them less hydrating. When choosing a sparkling water, pay attention to just how much sodium you’re gulping down.
So, how much water should you drink per day now that you know sparkling water counts?
The Institute of Medicine says men should drink about 101 ounces (about 13 cups) per day and women should drink 74 ounces (about 9 cups) per day. This can include a mix of water, sparkling water, and other hydrating beverages.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even endorses sparkling water for those who don’t enjoy drinking plain water. The bubbly effect makes water more drinkable for some people and might encourage them to drink more. But this isn’t permission to down an entire pack of Waterloo in a day.
The fizz from carbonated waters can make you feel more bloated and full, which could cause you to drink less water overall. Some research also suggests that carbonated waters could worsen the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
So, if you’re prone to bloating, it may be a good idea to moderate your sparkling water consumption.
Want the fizzy goodness without all the added flavors and ingredients? Or just tired of spending major $$$ on cases and cases of Bubly?
You can make your own carbonated beverages with a machine like a SodaStream that helps you turn regular tap water into seltzer with carbon dioxide.
Then just add fruits or veggies like cucumber, lemon, strawberries, or blackberries for some extra flavor.
Don’t want to go the fizzy route but still want to stay hydrated? You can always infuse plain old water with those same flavors and see if that entices you to drink the daily recommended amount.
Sparkling water will hydrate you just as well as regular water, but it shouldn’t totally replace water. Some people find that the fizz helps them drink enough water per day. Others drink less since the carbonation may lead to bloating.
If you’re going to drink sparkling water, pay attention to any additives such as sugar, other sweeteners, or excess sodium.