Health Benefits Of Drinking Soda Water

What Is Soda Water?

Soda water, also known as carbonated water, is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. This gives it a distinct bubbly texture and tart, acidic flavour. It’s also sometimes referred to as sparkling water, seltzer water, club soda, and tonic water.

Soda water is consumed for its refreshing taste and is often enjoyed with meals. It has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its potential health benefits.

Nutritional Profile of Soda Water

Soda water is naturally calorie-free and fat-free, making it a great alternative to sugary drinks like soda, juice, and sports drinks. Though it has no macronutrients, it does provide a few key minerals. A 12-ounce (355-ml) serving of soda water contains approximately (1):

• Calcium: 10.2 mg
• Magnesium: 7.8 mg
• Sodium: 9.7 mg
• Potassium: 11.1 mg

Potential Health Benefits Of Soda Water

Soda water is a refreshing and calorie-free alternative to sugary drinks. Here are a few potential health benefits of regularly drinking soda water.

1. May Enhance Digestion

The carbon dioxide gas in soda water may aid digestion. Studies have found that drinking carbonated water stimulates gastric acid secretion, which helps with digestion (2, 3).

What’s more, soda water is a good source of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. These minerals are important for healthy digestion and may help reduce constipation (4, 5).

2. May Help With Weight Loss

Drinking soda water instead of sugary drinks may help with weight loss. Studies have found that drinking sparkling water instead of regular soda can reduce overall calorie intake (6, 7).

However, more research is needed to determine whether drinking soda water leads to significant weight loss.

3. May Help Treat Dehydration

Though plain water is the best option for hydration, soda water may help treat mild or moderate dehydration. A study in adults with mild dehydration found that drinking 500 ml of sparkling water was just as effective as plain water in rehydrating the body (8).

4. May Improve Blood Sugar Control

Drinking soda water instead of sugary drinks is an easy way to reduce blood sugar levels. A study in adults with type 2 diabetes found that drinking 500 ml of sparkling water daily for 4 weeks significantly reduced blood sugar levels (9).

This may be due to soda water’s lack of sugar and carbs, which can cause blood sugar to spike.

5. May Help Relieve Heartburn

Soda water is a popular remedy for heartburn and indigestion. Studies have found that drinking carbonated water may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux, such as heartburn and indigestion (10, 11).

This may be because the gas in soda water helps move food through the digestive tract, reducing the amount of time it spends in the stomach.

Summary

Soda water, also known as carbonated water, is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. It has a distinct bubbly texture and tart, acidic flavour.

Though it has no macronutrients, a 12-ounce (355-ml) serving of soda water contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

Regularly drinking soda water may offer several potential health benefits, including improved digestion, weight loss, better blood sugar control, and relief from heartburn and indigestion.