Carbonated water has made a comeback amongst millennials, hasn’t it? It seems that new brands are popping up everywhere with increasing popularity, and they’re all offering carbonated flavored water. But is carbonated water for weight loss a good idea?
It Might Actually Lead to Weight Gain!
Research has shown that drinking carbonated water might increase levels of the hunger hormone known as ghrelin, according to The Doctors TV.
When you feel hungrier because there’s more ghrelin circulating throughout your body, you’ll obviously be more likely to reach for a snack, and whether or not it’s a healthy snack, you’ll be consuming additional calories that you otherwise would have been able to avoid. Over time, this additional calorie intake can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Other Things to Consider
In addition to increasing your hunger hormone level, carbonated water is more acidic than plain water, so it might do some damage to your teeth. Plus, drinking too much carbonated water might even make you feel more bloated and gassy, which is super uncomfortable.
Water Is the Better Option
Some people will make claims that carbonated water for weight loss works because the beverage helps to fill you up so that you will eat less. While this might be true, it’s also likely that your carbonated water contains unwanted ingredients, such as artificial flavors or sugary sweeteners that can actually contribute to weight gain. So, if you really want to use a liquid to fill your belly up so that you will eat less, skip the carbonated water and just drink pure water instead. It’ll do the same thing, without making you feel gassy, without risking the health of your teeth, and without contributing to your caloric intake.
It seems that carbonated water for weight loss is more myth than fact, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a bit of carbonated water every now and then. It is still a better option than regular soda, and it could be a nice little treat. Ultimately, though, pure water is going to be the best thing for your body, especially if you are trying to lose weight. So, while carbonated water for weight loss might seem like a good idea at first, it actually isn’t. Pure, clean water is going to hydrate your entire body naturally, without any added sweeteners and no calories. You just can’t beat that!