This kind of carbonated water is sold across the globe as plain, ready-to-drink sparkling water (think San Pellegrino), as part of pre-flavored soft drinks (everything from La Croix to Lemonade), and can also be made at home via special appliances, the most common being Soda Stream. A study undertaken by researchers from Birzeit University in Palestine, published in the peer-reviewed Obesity Research and Clinical Practice Journal, put carbonation under the microscope for a period of six months. The researchers wanted to know whether carbonation alone contributed to weight gain linked to obesity, so they fed a group of male rats the same standard diet PLUS one of four different drinks each: tap water, plain still water, plain carbonated water, and diet carbonated water. The verdict? The rats that drank diet or plain carbonated drinks ate more and gained significantly more weight compared to the rats that drank flat soda or plain water. The researchers discovered the rats’ weight gain was associated with increased production of ghrelin, the hormone responsible for telling you when you’re hungry. Put simply: Every single time you feel like eating food, your ghrelin (produced the same way in both rats and humans) is speaking to you; it’s causing you to feel hungry. Try to ignore this reaction, and you’ll quickly graduate from hungry to hangry. In other words: You are not going to become obese if you keep loving your La Croix or ordering sparkling water instead of still. What you do to move your body each day (exercise) and eat to feed your hunger all count! This study suggests that carbonated, bubbly, fizzy soda or water can cause your hunger hormone to ramp up when you drink it. In my (humble) natural foods chef opinion, I think you’re better off leaving the bubbles to soak in during bath time. Stick with still water, flavored if you must with natural things like: *Club soda or soda water usually houses additional sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, or similar added ingredients. Some seltzer water may also house additional ingredients; always check the ingredients label. After almost dying a few years ago from malnourishment as a result of severe leaky gut and autoimmune issues, Shine threw herself into rebuilding her body, learning how to truly cultivate and sustain good health. Her passion now lies in supporting better understanding of food and how it can affect your health. Find out more about Danielle Shine via her website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
