Sometimes, when on a diet and craving carbonated drinks, I look for and drink sparkling water.

Because it has fewer calories than regular carbonated drinks. However,

Carbonated water can actually be a culprit that sabotages your diet. What is the reason for this?

 

The carbonation in sparkling water can increase appetite.

 

Carbonation in sparkling water can stimulate the secretion of ghrelin, an appetite-regulating hormone. In fact, there are research findings indicating that carbonated water promotes ghrelin secretion. In 2017, a research team from Birzeit University in Palestine conducted an experiment with 20 healthy young men, measuring their blood ghrelin levels after they drank sparkling water, non-carbonated beverages, or tap water one hour after breakfast.

 

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.

In addition, carbonated water also poses a risk of damaging teeth.

 

Sparkling water is made by injecting carbon dioxide into water, giving it a mild acidity with a pH of 3 to 4. According to a research team from the Department of Preventive Dentistry at Yonsei University, six representative brands of sparkling water sold domestically have an acidity level with a pH of 3 to 5. The mouth typically maintains a pH of 6 to 7, but

 

If the pH drops below 5.5, calcium and phosphate molecules in the tooth enamel (the outermost surface) leach out, creating holes in the enamel. In fact, a study from Birmingham Dental School in the UK found that soaking teeth in carbonated water for about 30 minutes resulted in enamel erosion. When citric acid is added to enhance the flavor of carbonated water, it can increase the acidity of the beverage, potentially worsening tooth erosion, so caution is advised.

 

Meanwhile, carbonated water is beneficial for skin health when used during facial cleansing. Pure carbonated water without additives has a mild acidity with a pH of around 3 to 4. If the pH is high, the skin barrier function is quickly damaged, making skin inflammation more likely. The gas in carbonated water can also induce dilation of skin blood vessels, aiding skin metabolism.

 

However, if there are wounds on the skin, it is better to avoid it as it may cause irritation. Also, pay attention to the temperature of the carbonated water before use. If the temperature of the carbonated water is higher than room temperature, the gas in the carbonated water may escape into the air, which could reduce its health benefits.

 

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I didn't know that carbonated water facial cleansing is beneficial for the skin.

I love sparkling water so much.

My uncle also bought me a carbonated water machine.

 

The carbonation is too weak, so I can't drink it.

 

I don't drink much these days.

 

Somehow, when I drink them, they tend to be quite fizzy.

I think it tastes good.

Since carbonated drinks can increase appetite,

Eating a lot doesn't help with dieting.