Soda water is just water with added carbon dioxide gas — that’s why it is referred to by some as “carbonated water”. Its presence on the market helps make staying hydrated a more interesting task, appealing most especially to individuals who find glugging down regular water blah.
Just because the word “soda” is in its name doesn’t mean right away that soda water is as bad for your health as sodas. Other than the fact that both soda water and soda have the same effervescent characteristic that many love, these beverages share nothing else in common.
There are a couple of reasons why the consumption of soda water is frowned upon by some health-conscious individuals. For instance, they believe that soda water can make the bones brittle just like soda — its intake can drive calcium out of the bones and into the bloodstream.
However, numerous scientific investigations on the matter have proven such belief to be wrong. According to experts, it’s not really the carbonation that makes soda bad for the bones, but its phosphoric acid content. Since soda water has no phosphoric acid in it, drinking it won’t weaken the bones.
Another reason why many disfavor soda water is the fact that it can cause erosion of the enamel, which can lead to cavity formation. Studies have shown that even though it’s true that soda water have erosive properties, it’s nothing like soda that can really harm the teeth, courtesy of its sugar and phosphoric acid content.
Needless to say, drinking soda water is less likely to ruin your health. Well, it also depends on which brand of soda water you go for. That’s because there are some soda water out there that contain added ingredients such as refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, synthetic flavorings and even sodium.
With some of those myths concerning the intake of soda water busted, it’s now time for us to take a look as some of the health benefits the beverage offers. Some of them include:
- It hydrates the body. Soda water is still water, albeit it comes with fizz. It’s for this reason why it can provide much-needed hydration. A lot of people fail to drink enough water on a daily basis because plain water is a bore. With soda water, staying hydrated for these individuals need not be a tedious task.
- It quenches thirst. Many people reach for a bottle of soda when they are really thirsty because the beverage is very good at combating thirst. If you are looking for a way to beat your thirst effectively but without having to put up with the downsides to drinking soda, you may go for soda water instead.
- It prevents constipation. A study involved dividing the participants into two groups — one was given plain water and the other was given soda water. After a couple of months, researchers found out that those who took soda water had less bouts of constipation than those who drank plain water.
- It wards off an upset stomach. Do you often end up with an achy stomach especially after having a large, greasy or spicy meal? Reach for a glass of soda water. Based on researches, the bubbly beverage is capable of warding off an upset stomach. It’s also proven to be very helpful against nausea.
If you have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, it’s a good idea to stay away from soda water. That’s because its carbonation can be bad for your GI condition. You should also stay away from it if you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome or IBS because it will only cause aggravation.
By the way, some soda water products on the current market contain sodium. If you are on a low-sodium diet because you were instructed by your doctor to do so, it’s a good idea to turn your back on or limit your intake of soda water — or simply inform your doctor about your plan on taking it.
Sources: menshealth.com
