Sparkling water is often cited as one of those healthy drinks you’re supposed to switch to when you quit sugary soda. It’s sugar-free and calorie-free, and it hydrates. Still, murky rumors abound online about its potential health drawbacks, including that it erodes tooth enamel, saps calcium from the bones, and leads to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). And, I wondered, what if you drink a lot of it? Is ingesting all that carbonation really good for us?  In a nutshell….

Forget everything you heard about leaching minerals and eroding tooth enamel—it’s just water with bubbles.  Sigh of relief.

 Still, here are takes from two nutrition experts:

The news was good: We’re used to thinking of bubbly drinks as being bad for us – hello, soda – but carbonated water is basically harmless.

“If somebody doesn’t like the taste of water, they shouldn’t be concerned if sparkling is all they’re drinking,” said Manhattan-based nutritionist Keri Gans, RDN, CND. “Sparkling water is just as hydrating. All it is is added carbonation.”

However, there are a few things to watch out for:

Sneaky sodium and sugar: Not all clear, sparkling drinks are automatically healthy. Tonic water contains added sodium and sugar, Gans notes. Bottled club soda may also contain added sodium, so be sure to check out the nutrition label.

Flavors: All those little flavor packets that come with your home carbonator may not be so healthy, if they contain added sugar and calories. “That’s what you need to watch out for,” Gans said. “If you’re drinking more water but each and every time you’re adding a soda mix, before you know it it could equal a soda.”

Americans are already pretty bad when it comes to drinking their calories, so don’t let your choice of water make it worse. Try flavoring your still or sparkling water with mint leaves, cucumber, lemon and lime slices, or fresh fruit. Pretend you are at a fancy spa. It’s fun!

Carbonated water has no calories, no dissolved sugar, no alcohol, and no caffeine. It hydrates, just like plain water does. Drinking seltzer, club soda, or sparkling mineral water will not leach calcium from your bones, strip the enamel off your teeth, or make your thighs look like cottage cheese. Unless you have a medical condition that specifically precludes drinking carbonated beverages, enjoy it if so inclined. And if the thought of buying yet more stuff in plastic bottles or metal cans makes you nuts, think about getting one of those home carbonation gizmos like the SodaStream. If I had the counter space, I’d buy one in a New York minute. (And no, I’m not on the company’s payroll.)

Taken from: NY daily news & takepart.com

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health