Is Drinking Carbonated (Sparkling) Water Beneficial or Harmful?
Carbonated water is a delightful drink that is a decent substitute for sugary soft beverages. Some people, however, are afraid that it may be harmful to your health. This article examines the health implications of carbonated water in depth.
Under pressure, carbonated water joins water and carbon dioxide. Sodium and other minerals are frequently added to foods. Although carbonated water is acidic, your body should maintain a constant, slightly alkaline pH regardless of what you drink. Carbonated beverages with added sugar can damage dental enamel, although simple carbonated water appears to be reasonably safe.
Is it affecting your digestion?
Carbonated water can help your digestive system in a variety of ways.
1. Can help you swallow more easily.
Sparkling water has been shown to improve swallowing abilities in both young and elderly persons in studies. In one experiment, 16 healthy participants were asked to swallow various drinks over and over again. Carbonated water was shown to have the greatest capacity to trigger the neurons that control swallowing. Another study found that combining cold temperatures with carbonation boosted these positive benefits. Drinking ice-cold carbonated water improved the symptoms of 63 percent of people in a trial of 72 people who had a continuous need to clean their throats. Those who had the most frequent and severe symptoms had the biggest improvement.
2. It’s possible that it’ll make you feel more full.
Carbonated water may also prolong sensations of fullness longer than plain water after meals. Sparkling water may help meals stay in your stomach for longer, resulting in a stronger feeling of fullness. Fullness scores were higher after drinking 8 ounces (250 ml) of soda water than after drinking still water in a controlled study of 19 healthy young women. Larger investigations, however, are needed to corroborate these findings.
3. Constipation relief may be possible.
Constipation sufferers may discover that consuming sparkling water alleviates their symptoms. The average bowel movement frequency substantially increased in the group that drank carbonated water compared to the group that drank tap water in a 2-week study of 40 older people who had had a stroke. Participants also reported a 58 percent reduction in constipation symptoms. There’s also evidence that sparkling water can help with other indigestion symptoms, such as stomach pain. Twenty-one persons with chronic digestive problems were studied in a randomised controlled trial. Those who drank carbonated water saw significant improvements in their digestive problems, constipation, and gallbladder emptying after 15 days.
Carbonated cola drinks may be harmful to bone health, although simple sparkling water looks to be neutral or beneficial. Carbonated water has been shown to lower cholesterol, inflammation, and blood sugar levels, potentially lowering the risk of heart disease. However, more research is required.
There is no proof that carbonated or sparkling water is harmful to your health. It appears to have little effect on bone health and isn’t particularly damaging to oral health. Surprisingly, a carbonated beverage can help with digestion by aiding swallowing and minimising constipation. It’s also a calorie-free drink that gives off a pleasant bubbly sensation. It is preferred by many individuals over still water. If you appreciate this beverage, there’s no need to stop drinking it. Indeed, it has the potential to benefit your overall health.
