Is it OK to drink sparkling water?
Is there such a thing as too much sparkling water? I typically consume around a bottle (1.5 litre) at night as I find it a lot easier to drink than still water. With thanks, Peter C.
Hi Peter. Carbonated water has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure, the result producing a bubbly drink. There are also natural sparkling mineral waters, typically captured from mineral springs, however, these tend to contain minerals and sulphur compounds.
Most of the research that addresses the consumption of carbonated drinks, is in soft drinks that also include sugar and are therefore not good for dental health. There’s no reason to give it up, but as with anything I would encourage a moderate consumption of sparkling water. That means not consuming it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Having a few sparkling waters at night in place of alcohol is obviously going to be far better for your health in the long term.
All carbonated beverages with or without sugar contain phosphorus. Blood calcium and phosphorus levels are both regulated by the parathyroid hormone. High blood phosphorus levels prevent your body from stimulating the conversion of vitamin D into its active form, and from absorbing adequate amounts of calcium.
This leads to a reduced blood calcium level and an increase in the release of the parathyroid hormone. High levels of parathyroid hormone stimulate bone resorption, or demineralisation, which can weaken bones.
However, poor bone health is more often seen when a high phosphorus diet is coupled with a low calcium intake. So enjoy sparkling water, but I encourage you to make still water your main drink. Hi Georgie. Here are some ideas: Ensure that you are drinking plenty of filtered water, herbal tea, organic bone broth and vege juices to help keep your body and skin hydrated. Fluids also help to flush out any harmful substances from the body and prevent these substances from needing to be excreted through the skin, where they can cause damage.