Does carbonated water hydrate you the same

Story highlights

Whether a beverage is carbonated has little effect on how well it keeps you hydrated

Sugar, other nutrients or electrolytes are more hydrating than plain water or plain carbonated water

CNN  — 

Good news: Sparkling water (including the flavored kind), which often helps with the taste fatigue some people experience with plain water, is just as hydrating as non-carbonated water.

If that’s all you needed to know, you can stop reading. But if you want to know why, enjoy this cool, refreshing glass of explanation.

Sparkling water contains carbon dioxide, either naturally or added, which provides the carbonation, explained Melissa Majumdar, a registered dietitian, personal trainer and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

But whether a beverage is carbonated has little effect on how well it keeps you hydrated, according to Ronald Maughan, a professor at the School of Medicine at St. Andrews University in Scotland and author of a recent study comparing the hydrating effects of beverages including still water, sparkling water, milk, colas, juice and coffee.

“The presence of carbonation has little effect on the body’s response to ingested water,” Maughan said. “We know that most of the gas comes out of solution in the stomach.” An increased volume may slightly speed how quickly the beverage is emptied from the stomach and then absorbed in the small intestine and ultimately excreted from the body, he explained, “but the effect is small.”

“Since water and carbonated water have the same base ingredient, they are in theory equally hydrating,” Majumdar said. However, carbonation may affect how much water is actually consumed. “Some people find having the bubbles or a flavor help them drink more, while others feel full and bloated and may drink less with carbonated waters.”

Other factors of carbonated drinks, aside from carbonation, can affect hydration. For example, waters with sugar, other nutrients or electrolytes are more hydrating than plain water or plain carbonated water.

“Adding large amounts carbohydrates or fat [such as natural sugars in orange juice or the fat in milk] will slow gastric emptying,” Maughan said. Additionally, sodium (aka salt) in beverages acts like a sponge to hold water in the body. Potassium has been less well-studied than sodium, but there is some evidence that it can also help promote water retention in the body, according to Maughan.

Join the conversation

  • See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter.
    • So athletes who sweat a lot might be better off drinking lightly sweetened beverages or drinks with electrolytes – but not necessarily carbonated beverages.

      “During exercise, flat or still water is best,” Majumdar said. That’s because carbonation may cause bloating during physical activity and can prevent an athlete from drinking enough. Non-carbonated water is also best for anyone recovering from gastrointestinal surgery or for patients who feel full sooner than normal, Majumadar explained.

      Lisa Drayer is a nutritionist, an author and a CNN health and nutrition contributor.

      21 Sep

      Does carbonated water hydrate you the same

      What’s The Buzz On Carbonation?

      With all the negative hype on sugary drinks, beverage producers have come up with more brands of water, both purified and carbonated. Their nutrition labels highlight PH, carbonation, minerals, and electrolytes. So does carbonated water hydrate you more or less effectively than basic water?  

      Carbonated water, sparkling water, bubbly water, and fizzy water are all general terms referring to water that has been pressurized with carbon dioxide. 

      Seltzer includes water and carbonation, so seltzer is just as effective as regular water at hydration. 

      Club soda has added sodium and/or potassium salts. Salts help to lock water into your cells and ensure that they stay hydrated. As long as you’re getting enough sodium in your diet, club soda won’t hydrate you any more than plain water. However, if you aren’t getting enough salt in your diet, club soda might hydrate you more than other alternatives.

      Perrier and San Pellegrino are popular brands of sparkling water. Both types have a number of other mineral components and are slightly acidic. Neither of the two are acidic enough to cause dehydration, or any potentially negative impacts. They’re well within the range that science deems safe, and closer to neutral than some non-carbonated brands of bottled water. However, the mineral content of these two drinks might be cause for pause. They both include a number of minerals that are essential for hydration (calcium, magnesium, chloride). They also include sulfates, which are known to have a laxative effect in the presence of calcium and magnesium. But it’s unlikely that the trace amounts of minerals are concentrated enough to cause any harm. 

      If you are sick, or really, dangerously dehydrated, drinking Perrier or San Pellegrino is probably slightly less hydrating than drinking still water or seltzer. In everyday situations, the difference is likely marginal at most.

      When it comes to Tonic water, you’ll find sugar as well as quinine in the mix. To substitute it for water would increase both sugar and quinine levels. While neither of these things would dehydrate you, they are not the healthiest of options. 

      The Bottom Line - Does Carbonated Water Hydrate You? 

      The best thing you can do for your body is to stay hydrated. If you enjoy the buzz of carbonation, there’s little harm, unless it’s sugary. Bottom line: make sure you’re drinking enough water every day, whether it’s natural or carbonated. 

      Does carbonated water hydrate you the same

      Is carbonated water as hydrating as still water?

      Nutritionists agree that carbonated water (a category that includes seltzer water, which is artificially carbonated, and naturally sparkling water) is just as hydrating as regular water, however tap water has the added benefit of fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay.

      Does sparkling water hydrate you the same as normal?

      Good news: Sparkling water (including the flavored kind), which often helps with the taste fatigue some people experience with plain water, is just as hydrating as non-carbonated water.