But the operative word here turns out to be "cola." The two forms of water were about the same in their effects on tooth enamel. So, is carbonated water just as bad for our bones as soda is? Do omega-3s protect your thinking skills? Plain carbonated water won’t make you gain weight, but it’s important to note that not all carbonated water is created equal. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, Respiratory failure in COVID-19 usually not driven by cytokine storm, Link between food insecurity and cardiovascular death found, COVID-19: High blood sugar raises death risk in those without diabetes, Drug to reduce bleeding could treat COVID-19, COVID-19 live updates: Total number of cases passes 60 million. Some people urge to go easy on sparkling water, as it may be detrimental to our gut, bones and teeth. A. However, some people are concerned that it may be bad for your health. While researchers found that cola beverages were associated with low bone mineral density in women, other carbonated drinks did not appear to have the same effect. Can acupuncture help my menopause symptoms? In 2005, the British Journal of Nutrition published the results of a small clinical trial comparing healthy postmenopausal women who drank about one quart of noncarbonated mineral water daily with those who drank the same amount of carbonated mineral water. © 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Bubbles, bubbles everywhere! So make sure you get enough calcium through other dietary sources and consider a daily vitamin D supplement. There are claims that carbonation increases calcium loss in bones, causes tooth decay, causes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and can make you gain weight even without the calories, sugar, and flavor that are found in regular soda. If you’re looking at soda and other carbonated beverages with added ingredients, however, the risk factors go way up. And if you suspect that by drinking seltzer water, coffee, colas, or other soft drinks you may be reducing your intake of healthy beverages — such as calcium and vitamin D fortified juices and milk. Club soda or sparkling water will hydrate them better than regular soda, as long as the drink doesn’t have added sugar, which can cause weight gain and harm teeth. A 2006 study involving 2,500 people set out to determine what effects consumption of colas and other carbonated beverages had on bone mineral density. Be aware of the differences between the usual suspects: Last medically reviewed on July 25, 2017, Water is important for maintaining a healthy temperature, lubricating joints, and enhancing digestion. If you subscribe to any of our print newsletters and have never activated your online account, please activate your account below for online access. But is carbonated water safe to drink? Researchers reveal that how we consume dietary acids, such as fruit juices and soda, can have a significant impact on our risk of tooth erosion. Some people over age 60 have few, if any, symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), while others experience the same symptoms younger people do. A Journal of the American Dental Association study found that many popular sports drinks were "extremely erosive," while most sparkling carbonated waters ranked as "minimally erosive." Learn about the symptoms, causes, and risk factors…, Researchers have uncovered a link between conception and soda: drinking it daily could harm your chances of becoming pregnant. An ounce of dark chocolate has 155 calories. But, OK, calm down. While carbonated water is just water plus air, some bottled seltzers and flavor enhancers contain sodium, natural and artificial acids, flavors, sweeteners, and other additives. Some men with an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short) eventually start to experience urinary incontinence, the involuntary discharge of urine. You only need to activate your account once. So does minimally erosive equate to "bad"? Is this true? Enter search terms and tap the Search button. (White chocolate isn't one of them.) Which is good — so it's not bad for you. So feel free to enjoy seltzer water without worrying, but don't overdo the caffeinated beverages, whether carbonated or not. The short answer: There is no proof that your Pellegrino or Perrier is bad for your bones. By now, everyone is well aware of the hazards of drinking soda, both sugary and sugar-free. The process of carbonation is simply the addition of pressurized carbon dioxide gas to plain water – acids, sugars, and salt are not being added. Fortunately, there's no good evidence that a high phosphate intake affects bone metabolism or bone density. Androgens, the family of male sex hormones that includes testosterone, function as a fuel for growth in normal development. In some cases, soft drinks displace calcium-rich beverages, such as milk, and experts think that this, rather than any direct effect of soft drinks on bone, may explain the effect on BMD in adolescent girls. The result? Still, carbonated beverages have long been associated with low bone density and fractures in adolescent girls. We've all read the reports and articles detailing how the sugar in pop will rot our teeth, cause obesity, or give us diabetes. Women who drank more cola didn't drink less milk, but they did have a lower intake of calcium. Q. I've heard that club soda, seltzer water, and sparkling mineral waters rob the bones of calcium. Most melanomas come in the form of a new spot on the skin, not changes to an existing mole. What should people look for on carbonated water labels? So perhaps, like many other people, you've turned to carbonated water to fill that cold, bubbly niche in your life. So is carbonated water bad for your teeth? Can adopting a healthier diet help fight prostate cancer? You don’t actually need to give up sparkling water. But how valid are these claims? The short answer: There is no proof that your Pellegrino or Perrier is bad for your bones. Sure enough, I did a quick Internet search and found several websites warning that drinking carbonated water will leech calcium from your bones… This is due to the fact that cola beverages have phosphorus, which can increase the loss of calcium from the body through the kidneys. They assessed dietary intake and measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the spine and hip. After eight weeks, blood and urine tests for bone turnover showed no difference between the two groups. So does minimally erosive equate to "bad"? In a study using teeth that were removed as a part of treatment and donated for research, researchers tested to see whether sparkling water would attack tooth enamel more aggressively than regular lab water. The Harvard Medical School 6-Week Plan for Healthy Eating, Improving Memory: Understanding Age-Related Memory Loss. Flavored sparkling water may have added citric acid or natural sweeteners, along with caffeine and sodium. It’s not that harmful to dental health, and it seems to have no effect on bone health. Some kinds of chocolate contain high amounts of flavonols. The bottom line: if you have stomach issues and experience flare-ups after drinking carbonated water, you may be better off eliminating them. Find out here. Q. I've heard that club soda, seltzer water, and sparkling mineral waters rob the bones of calcium. Always read the ingredient list and keep a look out for additives, like sodium and sugar, to avoid negative consequences for your teeth and body. However, this is rare. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Back in 2006, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a Tufts University study that linked cola consumption to calcium loss. A Journal of the American Dental Association study found that many popular sports drinks were "extremely erosive," while most sparkling carbonated waters ranked as "minimally erosive." Sparkling water is much less erosive than other beverages. Get health information and advice from the experts at Harvard Medical School. Image: © bhofack2 | iStock\Getty Images Plus. What can we help you find? While it won’t cause IBS, carbonated water may cause bloating and gas, which can lead to IBS flare-ups if you are sensitive to carbonated beverages. These antioxidants may help control blood pressure and fight cognitive decline. Club soda contains sodium, seltzer does not. The concern voiced by your family friend, that drinking carbonated water weakens bones, quite possibly finds its roots in a study conducted in 2006. It’s the addition of those ingredients that ups your risk for tooth decay. Make sure it’s zero calories and zero sugar. Flavored sparkling water may contain citric acid plus sweeteners and caffeine. The authors of the cola study suggested that the caffeine in the colas may account for the cola-drinkers' lower BMD. All rights reserved. Absolutely. What happens if you drink too much water?