For some people, drinking too much sparkling water can induce gas and bloating, making them uncomfortable. Patients with acid reflux, gastroesophgeal reflux disease (GERD), or gas who are drinking mostly carbonated water should switch to non-carbonated beverages, like plain water.
In some cases, drinking water, specifically carbonated mineral water, may help acid reflux. Water can help balance the pH of acidic meals, which may help decrease the occurrence of acid reflux.
Background: Carbonated beverages have unique properties that may potentially exacerbate gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as high acidity and carbonation. Cessation of carbonated beverage consumption is commonly recommended as part of lifestyle modifications for patients with GERD.
“Sparkling water has a pH of 3 to 4, which is mildly acidic,” he said. “Repeated exposure to acidic liquids may potentially be damaging to enamel, but there is very little evidence to support this.” When carbon dioxide and water react chemically, they produce carbonic acid, a weak acid.
Drinking water, low fat milk, and herbal teas may help manage it. Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and sodas may worsen symptoms, however. Acid reflux, or heartburn, occurs when stomach acid flows up into a person's esophagus, or food pipe.
Soda – Sodas and other carbonated beverages, specifically caffeinated ones, are one of the biggest risk factors for acid reflux. Carbonation causes distension in the stomach, which increases pressure on the esophageal sphincter, leading to reflux.
As long as you're choosing sugar-free, caffeine-free varieties, there aren't many risks to worry about. “There is very little specific research showing that sparkling water has a negative impact on health,” Sullivan says.
Vichy Catalan has the highest potassium content at 51 mg/l, and the least acidic pH at 6.82 of any major sparkling water brand. It is known for its bold carbonation with large bubbles.
Coffee and tea – Caffeinated beverages aggravate acid reflux. Opt for teas without caffeine. Carbonated beverages – The bubbles expand in your stomach, creating more pressure and pain. Choose plain water or decaf iced tea.
A lower pH means higher acidity. Fruit juices are between 3 and 5, while soft drinks range from 2 to 4. Sparkling water measures between 5 and 7. This is important to teeth because enamel, the hard, protective outer layer of the tooth, can dissolve in a pH level below 5.5.
Drinking hot water can help alleviate symptoms of acid reflux in some ways. Here are a few: 1) It helps to relax the sphincter muscle between the stomach and esophagus. This can help reduce acid reflux symptoms by allowing food and acids to move more easily from the stomach to the intestines.
Yogurt that is not too sour is also excellent for acid reflux, because of the probiotics that help normalize bowel function. Yogurt also provides protein, and soothes stomach discomfort, often providing a cooling sensation. It is easy to choose foods by looking them up to see how acidic they are.
In general, both dietitians say that drinking sparkling water every day is not going to negatively affect the body—as long as you keep it in moderation.
But as long as you can enjoy sparkling water in moderation – and never as a permanent replacement for plain, still water – there's nothing to stop you from enjoying it every day.
Rubinov recommends sticking to no more than one can of seltzer per day, and drinking it alongside a meal and some regular water to keep the acid from sticking to your teeth.
If you already struggle with low appetite, you, too, may need to be especially cautious about overdoing seltzer water to ensure you consume enough calories. Overall, if you're sensitive to the carbonation and acidity of seltzer water, you may want to limit yourself to one can or glass per day and see how you feel.
This is the body's way of clearing out a potential threat. We crave a non-threatening thrill. The tongue perceives lightly sparkling beverages as pleasurable; the gentle bubbles allow the natural flavours of the drink to come to life for us to savour and produce a cooling, refreshing feeling.
It's a healthy alternative to sugary sodas. If you opt for sparkling water without added sweeteners, for example, San Pellegrino or Perrier, you can rest assured that sparkling water is a zero-sugar and -calorie alternative to other carbonated beverages like soda.