Tap water toxicity is, unfortunately, a very real problem throughout the world these days. A three-year study by the Environmental Working Group revealed 316 chemicals in tap water throughout the United States. Sparkling mineral water, ideally in glass bottles, can make a healthier, safer choice instead of drinking tap water. Potential Risks Flavoured waters are a delicious way to refresh and hydrate without adding unnecessary sugars and calories to your diet. They are frequently substituted for fizzy drinks and other sugary beverages, which often contain excessive calories and have little to no nutritional value. Certain varieties of flavoured water also contain beneficial antioxidants and vitamins derived from plant extracts and fruit juices. http://journals.lww.com/eurojgh/Abstract/2002/09000/Effects_of_carbonated_water_on_functional.10.aspx So although plain sparkling water is better for your teeth than flavoured sodas (diet or regular) which have a lower pH, still water is best – it has a pH of around seven. Incidentally, club soda is not only carbonated but has some “minerals” added for flavour. These may include sodium, so if you are watching your salt intake you also need to be mindful of this. Pure water

like sparkling water: The science behind the fizz Why we like sparkling water: The science behind the fizz

San Pellegrino is our top choice for mineral sparkling water with its gentle bubbles and subtle mineral taste. It's light, refreshing, and their classic green glass bottle looks sophisticated on your table. But what makes mineral water different from regular sparkling water? So flavoured mineral waters shouldn’t be considered as harmless as water, but how about sparkling water with no added flavours? Studies on this are few and far between. But in 2001, the Birmingham team examined seven different brands of mineral water, again pouring them over extracted teeth to see what happened. They found sparkling waters had a pH of between 5 and 6 (so not as acidic as some cola drinks which can be as high as 2.5), compared with still water which was neutral at 7. In other words, they are a weak acid, as suspected. But when it came to the erosive potential of that weak acid on the teeth, the effect was 100-times less than that of some other kinds of fizzy drinks. Of course the mouth itself is a different environment from a jar, but so far the evidence for harm doesn’t seem to be very strong.Sparkling water—including flavored and unflavored seltzer, club soda, and mineral water—is a carbonated water beverage that can be a refreshing alternative to regular water. For those that have difficulty meeting their hydration goals from plain water alone, sparkling water can be an appealing option to help boost your intake. Typically containing little or no added sugar, sparkling water is also a great substitute for sugar sweetened drinks like soda when you are craving a bubbly beverage.

Is sparkling water really bad for you? - BBC Future Is sparkling water really bad for you? - BBC Future

What is sparkling water? Sparkling water is a variation on water, which is a clear, colorless, odorless and tasteless liquid. Sparkling water is infused with carbon dioxide, which causes it to be sparkling or bubbly. The “sparkle” of sparkling water can occur naturally or be man-made. If you were wondering what is soda water, it’s yet another name used for carbonated water or sparkling water. According to the FDA, which regulates bottled water, mineral water must contain at least "250 parts per million (ppm) 'total dissolved solids,' originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source." So, mineral water must have naturally occurring minerals, like sodium, magnesium, and calcium, when it comes out of the earth.Scientists from Birzeit University in the Palestinian West noting that the hunger hormone ghrelin spikes in people after drinking sparkling water. We all know by now that drinking sweet, fizzy drinks all day isn’t a good idea. The combination of a high sugar content coupled with acidity caused by the carbonisation that makes it fizzy, isn’t good. Anyone who has tried leaving coins in a glass of cola overnight knows that they come up shiny and clean. The reason is that phosphoric acid in the drink removes the oxide coating that has built up on the coin. So one alternative is to drink water. “Still or sparkling?” they say to you in restaurants. If you’re not brave enough to say “tap” then sparkling can seem like a nice change. Butwhat is it, exactly, that makes seltzer so irresistible—addictive, even? I asked some experts to get to the bottom of this question that so many of us consider each and every time we reach for our second (or third) can of the day. Keep reading for the reasons why you can't say no to bubbly beverages.