The benefits of staying hydrated can't be overstated. From better-looking skin to improved mood and clarity, drinking plenty of water is one of the best, easiest, and cheapest things you can do for your health.
But let's be real: Sometimes, you want to drink something with a little kick. You're likely well aware that fruit juices and sodas are incredibly bad for you, which leaves sparkling water. A can of seltzer is a bubbly, lightly flavored treat that's, like water, hydrating and calorie-free. But it turns out that fizzy drink might offer additional weight-loss benefits.
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A new study finds that sparkling water can positively affect metabolism.
A new study published on Jan. 22 in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health asked: Can carbonated water support weight loss?
In speaking with CNN, study author Akira Takahashi, MD, a physician in the dialysis center at Tesseikai Neurosurgical Hospital in Shijonawate, Japan, explained that when you drink sparkling water, "CO2 is absorbed into the blood vessels in the stomach."
The process that ensues lowers glucose levels, in turn stabilizing the metabolism.
As Healthline explains, this is important because "extra insulin and blood sugar in an individual’s blood can trigger the body to start to store the excess glucose. Some can be stored in the liver or muscles, but the rest is stored as fat. This leads to weight gain."
However, the results aren't considered significant.
But before you go stocking up on seltzer, the study author admits that the results did not show significant changes.
"Given this minimal glucose reduction, the impact of CO2 in carbonated water is not a standalone solution for weight loss," Takahashi said, according to SciTechDaily. "A balanced diet and regular physical activity remain crucial components of sustainable weight management."
Sumantra Ray, MD, executive director of the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, which co-owns the BMJ journal, added that the connection between sparkling water and glucose metabolism has not yet been tested in human intervention studies.
"And although this study adds to the evidence base, it doesn’t provide sufficient evidence on which to make recommendations for the preventive or therapeutic use of carbonated water," he noted.
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But there's a simpler way sparkling water can help with weight loss.
However, there may be a much simpler explanation for how sparkling water can help with weight loss.
"If fizzy drinks were to be shown to lead to weight loss, it would much more likely be through effects on feelings of fullness," said Keith Frayn, a professor emeritus of human metabolism at the University of Oxford in the U.K., who was not involved in the study, in speaking with CNN.
In fact, a 2012 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology found that drinking carbonated water "may induce a short-term, but significant, satiating effect," while a 1997 study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences concluded that carbonated water may slow gastric emptying, leading to longer feelings of fullness.
There are also risks to drinking excess sparkling water.
Like most things in life, sparkling water should still be consumed in moderation.
"Drinking carbonated water can have some effects on the digestive system, particularly for individuals with sensitive stomachs or pre-existing gastrointestinal conditions," Takahashi pointed out. "The primary concerns include bloating, gas and, in some cases, exacerbation of certain symptoms associated with digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease."
It can also erode your teeth's enamel since the CO2 in sparking water can cause the PH to drop—meaning it's more acidic. As Best Lifepreviously explained, "Seltzer or sparkling water with no added sugars or citric acid usually has a pH between 3 and 4."
And as John Ruby, a retired professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, stated in an interview with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, "A pH of 3 to 4 is erosive, and 2 to 3 is extremely erosive."
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The takeaway:
New research found that sparkling water has a positive effect on blood glucose levels and metabolism, both of which contribute to weight loss. However, the change is not significant enough to forego a healthy diet and exercise to reach one's weight-loss goals.
Drinking excess carbonated water can also cause gastrointestinal issues and harm your teeth.
"Moderation is key to avoiding discomfort while still enjoying the possible metabolic benefits of carbonated water," Takahashi concluded.
