Is Sparkling Water Really as Healthy as Regular Water?

If sparkling water is still mostly water, does the fizz actually change what it does for your body?

Walk into a supermarket and you will find bottled water in more forms than most people expect—still water, sparkling water, soda water and products sometimes casually called “bubble water.”

This can make it difficult to know whether they are actually different or simply different names for the same thing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water helps the body maintain a normal temperature, lubricate and cushion joints, protect the spinal cord and remove waste.

With added hydration is needed in hot climates, when people are more physically active, running a fever, or experiencing diarrhea or vomiting.

However, Dr Colleen Muñoz said that sparkling water can do more than just hydrate, as long as added ingredients can make the drinks even more beneficial – or detrimental – this is depending on what’s in them.

The short answer is that plain sparkling water can hydrate you much like ordinary water.

The bubbles do not cancel out its hydration benefits, but however, what has been added to the water can make a significant difference.

Sparkling Water, Bubble Water: Are They the Same Thing?

“Bubble water” is not usually a technical category, because people tend to often use the term to describe sparkling water or carbonated water—water containing dissolved carbon dioxide, which creates the bubbles.

Sparkling water can be naturally carbonated from a spring or artificially carbonated by adding carbon dioxide, and some varieties also contain minerals such as calcium, magnesium or sodium.

The important distinction is between plain sparkling water and flavoured or sweetened carbonated drinks.

A bottle of plain sparkling water is very different from a sugary soft drink simply because both contain bubbles.

Terms such as sparkling water, soda water, club soda and seltzer can also describe slightly different products depending on how they are produced and what minerals or other ingredients they contain.

Does Sparkling Water Hydrate You Like Normal Water?

For hydration, yes. Plain sparkling water still provides the water your body needs.

The carbonation itself does not make the water useless for hydration. In fact, if someone enjoys sparkling water more than still water, choosing it could make it easier for them to drink enough throughout the day.

There are a few differences, though, because the carbonation can cause temporary bloating, burping or a feeling of fullness in some people. That can make drinking large amounts uncomfortable.

The mineral content can also vary considerably. Some mineral waters contain useful amounts of minerals, while others contain very little. This means you should not automatically assume that every bottle of sparkling water provides the same nutritional benefits.

And if the drink contains added sugar, it is no longer comparable to plain water from a health perspective. Flavoured sparkling water with no added sugar is generally a different proposition from carbonated soft drinks.

So, Should You Choose Sparkling or Still Water?

There is no strong reason to consider plain sparkling water unhealthy simply because it contains bubbles. For most people, both still and unsweetened sparkling water can contribute to daily hydration.

The choice may ultimately come down to preference, and some people find sparkling water more refreshing, while others dislike the sensation and prefer ordinary water.

There is one issue worth considering: dental health, and carbonated water is mildly acidic because carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid when dissolved in water.

Plain sparkling water is generally far less concerning for teeth than sugary or acidic soft drinks, but constantly sipping acidic drinks throughout the day is still not ideal for enamel.

Conclusion

Sparkling water is not a completely different form of hydration—it is essentially water with carbonation. If it is plain and unsweetened, it can hydrate you much like still water.

So perhaps the real question is not “Is sparkling water as healthy as normal water?” but “What else is in the bottle?” The bubbles themselves are not the main concern.

With added sugar, acids, flavourings and the overall ingredients are what deserve closer attention.

If you enjoy the fizz and it helps you drink more water, there is little reason to give upplain sparkling water simply because it bubbles.