Carbonated drinks, with their refreshing taste and instant cooling ability, have always been a top choice for hot summer days or gatherings with friends. However, in addition to their benefits, this drink has also been caught up in countless rumors that have caused confusion among consumers. M-Pacific will reveal the real answers to these “scandals”. Firstly, let’s dive into the definition of this beverage.

1. What are Carbonated Drinks?

Water that has been under pressure infused with carbon dioxide gas is known as carbonated water.

This results in a frothy beverage that goes by several names, including sparkling water, fizzy water, soda water, club soda, and seltzer water. Other than seltzer water, salt is typically added to carbonated fluids to enhance their flavor. Occasionally, trace amounts of other minerals are added.

Different are natural sparkling mineral waters like San Pellegrino and Perrier. These fluids, which are drawn from mineral springs, frequently include sulfur compounds and minerals. They’re also frequently carbonated.

Tonic water is a type of carbonated beverage that combines sugar or high-fructose corn syrup with quinine, an acrid chemical.

Acidic in Carbonated Water 

Carbonic acid, a weak acid that has been demonstrated to activate the same nerve receptors in your mouth as mustard, is created chemically when carbon dioxide and water combine.

This results in a prickly, burning feeling that may be both fun and annoying. Carbonated water has a pH of 3.4, making it rather acidic. But consuming an acidic beverage—such as carbonated water—doesn’t increase the acidity of your body.

Your lungs and kidneys eliminate extra carbon dioxide. This maintains your blood’s pH between 7.35 and 7.45, which is slightly alkaline, regardless of what you eat or drink.

2. Carbonated water is Harmful to Teeth?

The impact of sparkling water on teeth is one of the main worries since it exposes your enamel to acid directly.

Though very little research has been done on this subject, one study indicated that enamel was only marginally more affected by sparkling mineral water than by still water. Moreover, a sugar-filled soft drink was 100 times more harmful than mineral water.

Carbonated drinks with added sugar had a considerable tendency to erode enamel, according to one study.

Actually, a carbonated sugar-free drink (Diet Coke) was less dangerous than a non-carbonated sweet drink.

In a another investigation, dental enamel samples were left in different liquids for up to a day. Compared to diet beverages, the enamel loss from the sugar-sweetened carbonated and non-carbonated beverages was noticeably higher.

According to a study of multiple studies, carbonation and sugar together can cause serious dental damage.

Still, it seems that drinking simple sparkling water won’t be too harmful to your teeth. The only dangerous varieties are the sweet ones.

If you’re worried about your oral health, consider washing your mouth with plain water after consuming sparkling water with your meal.

3. Carbonated water is Harmful to Bones?

Many people think that because carbonated drinks contain a lot of acid, they are terrible for your bones. Research, however, indicates that carbonation isn’t the problem.

The only beverage found to be substantially related with reduced bone mineral density was cola, according to a large observational study involving over 2,500 participants. The health of bones did not seem to be impacted by carbonated water. Cola beverages have a high phosphorus content in contrast to carbonated water and clear soda.

The cola drinkers may have been ingesting too much phosphorus and not enough calcium, according to the researchers’ theory, which could have created a risk factor for bone loss.

Teenage girls who drank carbonated drinks had reduced bone mineral density, according to another study. This was ascribed to drinks that took the place of milk in their diet, which led to insufficient consumption of calcium.

Compared to drinking plain mineral water, consuming 34 ounces (1 liter) of sodium-rich sparkling water daily for 8 weeks improved calcium retention in a controlled research with 18 postmenopausal women.

Furthermore, there were no detrimental effects on bone health in the sparkling water group. According to studies on animals, drinking carbonated water can potentially strengthen bones. When hens were fed carbonated water instead of tap water for six weeks, their leg bone strength rose.

4. Carbonated water is Harmful to Heart Health?

The answer is No. Because the evidence for carbonated water’s potential to improve heart health is quite weak.

In one study, consuming carbonated water high in salt reduced blood sugar, inflammatory markers, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in 18 postmenopausal women.

Additionally, they saw a rise in HDL cholesterol, which is good cholesterol (20Reliable Source).

Furthermore, those who drank carbonated water had an estimated 35% decreased risk of getting heart disease within ten years compared to those who drank control water.

Still, a great deal more research is required before any conclusions can be drawn, given this was only one tiny study.

CONCLUSION

There is no proof that sparkling or carbonated water is unhealthy.

It appears to have no effect on bone health and doesn’t do much harm to oral health. It’s interesting to note that a fizzy beverage might actually improve digestion by easing constipation and facilitating better swallowing.

It is also a delightfully bubbly beverage that has no calories. It is preferred by many over calm water.

If you appreciate this beverage, there’s no need to stop. It might even enhance your general health, in fact.