Many people soothe their craving for carbonated drinks with sparkling water while dieting because it has fewer calories than regular soda. However, sparkling water can also be a hindrance to dieting.

 

Carbonation in sparkling water stimulates appetite

 

The carbonation in sparkling water is the cause of increased appetite. Carbonation stimulates the secretion of the appetite hormone ghrelin. In 2017, a research team from Birzeit University in Palestine conducted a study on 20 healthy young men, having them drink sparkling water, non-carbonated beverages, and tap water one hour after breakfast, and measured their blood ghrelin levels.

 

As a result, the ghrelin levels of people who drank carbonated water were three times higher than those who drank non-carbonated beverages and six times higher than those who drank tap water. The research team explained that carbonation increased stomach pressure, which stimulated ghrelin secretion. If you want to succeed in your diet, it is better to drink plain water instead of carbonated water when you are thirsty.

◇ Promoting Tooth Decay... Should Not Drink Frequently Even if it doesn't interfere with dieting, you should not drink carbonated water too often. It damages teeth. Carbonated water is made by injecting carbon dioxide into water, which gives it a slightly acidic pH of 3 to 4. According to a research team from Yonsei University's Department of Preventive Dentistry, six representative carbonated water products sold domestically have acidity levels confirmed to be pH 3 to 5. It is desirable to maintain the mouth's pH at 6 to 7.

 

When the pH drops below 5.5, calcium and phosphate leach out from the outermost enamel of the tooth, creating holes in the enamel. In fact, a study conducted by Birmingham Dental School in the UK found that immersing teeth in carbonated water for about 30 minutes resulted in enamel erosion. When citric acid is added to improve the flavor of carbonated water, it increases the acidity, which can lead to more rapid tooth erosion.

 

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These days, there are many different types of zero-carbonated drinks.

It means it can properly stimulate your appetite.

 

For those on a diet

It's the same with carbonated drinks, but

 

I should also refrain from drinking carbonated water.