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I've never been able to get a real answer: does sparkling water hydrate you the same way flat water does? Also if there are "natural flavors" in the sparking wa

by skizm 8y ago

I've never been able to get a real answer: does sparkling water hydrate you the same way flat water does? Also if there are "natural flavors" in the sparking water, how does that affect hydration. I personally don't mind drinking water, and always do during/after workouts, but prefer flavored sparking water if the option is available. Just wondering if drinking a few cups of that per day is the same as drinking a few cups of flat water per day.

professorgerm 8y ago
According to CNN[1] and a scientist in Scotland- yes! It hydrates pretty much equally, though it's slightly worse for your teeth. Not nearly as bad as regular soda/pop/etc, though. Missed the second part. The article doesn't address it, but from my knowledge flavoring shouldn't affect the hydration unless the flavor includes other components like sugar/acid/salts/caffeine/etc. [1]: https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/health/sparkling-water-hydration-drayer/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/health/sparkling-water-hydrat...
copperx 8y ago
From what I've been able to find out, yes, it's pretty much the same. But you have to be aware that mineral water has potassium and magnesium, sometimes even sodium and calcium. If you're drinking it as a substitute of plain water all day you are at risk of kidney stones and kidney damage (this is from a conversation with a nephrologist, but I haven't found any research paper talking about it). Sparkling water seems to be inoffensive. However, if you're going to add sugary flavor to it, remember that you need to add a lot of sugar to CO2-infused water to be able to taste it (that's why sodas have so much sugar but don't taste like it). Be careful with sugar and sparkling water.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  It’s the nitrates and nitrites in mineral water that you should also consider. But that’s something an oncologist would tell you to worry about, not the nephrologist ;)
Sileni 8y ago
Per volume? Not quite, but not really measurably different. The CO2 dissolved in the solution has to take up some small amount of space. Otherwise it's basically identical; our bodies interact with enough CO2 in a day that you simply aren't making a dent. "Natural flavors" are essentially adding sugar and a couple chemicals to the water. You can think of it as being effectively the same as drinking an equivalent amount of H2O and taking a tablet that contained all of the "natural flavors". No real difference in hydration, but taking in a bunch of sugar after a workout is generally frowned upon. Go get some protein instead.
- samatman 8y ago
  Pedantic note: this is not actually true, it's possible and normal to dissolve something in water, increasing the density and not the volume.
  - scotty79 8y ago
    Like what? Sugar increases volume of water.
    - samatman 8y ago
      Sodium chloride decreases the volume of water at saturation by nearly 2%
- skizm 8y ago
  "Natural flavors" is in seltzer water with 0 sugar. It is also advertised to have "no artificial sweeteners", which I realize might be bending the truth somehow, but I'm pretty sure food and drink companies can't outright lie about that stuff. From what I've gathered it doesn't affect insulin levels like the artificial sweeteners from diet soda does, but I also can't figure out what it actually is. Side-note: sugar after a workout is the best time for sugar. You want to replenish muscle-glycogen as soon as possible and sugar is a fast track to that. Obviously you should opt for fruit over a Gatorade or sweets though.
  - 8y ago

by skizm 8y ago

professorgerm 8y ago

According to CNN[1] and a scientist in Scotland- yes! It hydrates pretty much equally, though it's slightly worse for your teeth. Not nearly as bad as regular soda/pop/etc, though. Missed the second part. The article doesn't address it, but from my knowledge flavoring shouldn't affect the hydration unless the flavor includes other components like sugar/acid/salts/caffeine/etc. [1]: https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/health/sparkling-water-hydration-drayer/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/health/sparkling-water-hydrat...

copperx 8y ago

From what I've been able to find out, yes, it's pretty much the same. But you have to be aware that mineral water has potassium and magnesium, sometimes even sodium and calcium. If you're drinking it as a substitute of plain water all day you are at risk of kidney stones and kidney damage (this is from a conversation with a nephrologist, but I haven't found any research paper talking about it). Sparkling water seems to be inoffensive. However, if you're going to add sugary flavor to it, remember that you need to add a lot of sugar to CO2-infused water to be able to taste it (that's why sodas have so much sugar but don't taste like it). Be careful with sugar and sparkling water.

Scoundreller 8y ago
It’s the nitrates and nitrites in mineral water that you should also consider. But that’s something an oncologist would tell you to worry about, not the nephrologist ;)

Sileni 8y ago

Per volume? Not quite, but not really measurably different. The CO2 dissolved in the solution has to take up some small amount of space. Otherwise it's basically identical; our bodies interact with enough CO2 in a day that you simply aren't making a dent. "Natural flavors" are essentially adding sugar and a couple chemicals to the water. You can think of it as being effectively the same as drinking an equivalent amount of H2O and taking a tablet that contained all of the "natural flavors". No real difference in hydration, but taking in a bunch of sugar after a workout is generally frowned upon. Go get some protein instead.

samatman 8y ago
Pedantic note: this is not actually true, it's possible and normal to dissolve something in water, increasing the density and not the volume.
- scotty79 8y ago
  Like what? Sugar increases volume of water.
  - samatman 8y ago
    Sodium chloride decreases the volume of water at saturation by nearly 2%
skizm 8y ago
"Natural flavors" is in seltzer water with 0 sugar. It is also advertised to have "no artificial sweeteners", which I realize might be bending the truth somehow, but I'm pretty sure food and drink companies can't outright lie about that stuff. From what I've gathered it doesn't affect insulin levels like the artificial sweeteners from diet soda does, but I also can't figure out what it actually is. Side-note: sugar after a workout is the best time for sugar. You want to replenish muscle-glycogen as soon as possible and sugar is a fast track to that. Obviously you should opt for fruit over a Gatorade or sweets though.
- 8y ago