As sales of non-alcoholic drinks soar, sparkling water is having a moment. Craft Canadian makers, such as Hamilton’s Botany, Montreal’s Le Seltzer, Ottawa’s City Seltzer, Toronto’s Barbet and Victoria’s Spinnakers, are on store shelves alongside behemoth brands like Bubly and La Croix and private-label products such as Compliments.
Besides being destigmatized as a bar order with the “zebra striping” trend — alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on a night out — a new study suggests that fizzy water might help weight loss by boosting the body’s ability to use and convert energy.
“The consumption of carbonated water has become popular among health-conscious individuals, leading to discussions about its potential effects on weight loss,” author Akira Takahashi, a physician in the dialysis centre at Tesseikai Neurosurgery Hospital in Shijonawate, Japan, wrote in the report published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. “While many advocate for its benefits, it is important to explore the underlying mechanisms more closely.”
Takahashi stressed that fizzy water “may indirectly promote weight loss” by enhancing blood glucose uptake and metabolism in red blood cells, but it’s not a magic bullet. The effects are so minor that losing weight solely because of drinking sparkling water is unlikely.
“Carbonated water is not a standalone solution for weight loss,” wrote Takahashi. “A balanced diet and regular physical activity remain crucial components of sustainable weight management.”
The bubbles in carbonated drinks tend to make people feel fuller. “Distension of the gastric antrum (the lowest part of the stomach) due to the release of dissolved gas from carbonated water induces satiety, which may cause further satiety and gastric motility, thereby reducing hunger,” the study says, underscoring a need for further studies to examine the long-term consequences and potential side effects.
The report notes that drinking sparkling water can affect the digestive system, potentially exacerbating symptoms for those with sensitive stomachs or gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Takahashi highlights that “moderation is key” to enjoying fizzy water’s possible metabolic benefits without discomfort.
“While there is a hypothetical link between carbonated water and glucose metabolism, this has yet to be tested in well-designed human intervention studies,” Sumantra Ray, executive director of NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, which co-owns the journal, said in a statement.
“Although this study adds to the evidence base, it doesn’t provide sufficient evidence on which to make recommendations for the preventive or therapeutic use of carbonated water. Additionally, any potential benefits must be weighed up against the potential harms of carbonated drinks, which may contain sodium, glucose or other additives.”
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here.