Carbonated Water vs. Plain Water: Do They Provide the Same Benefits?

75 % of our body is made of water. Indeed, this precious liquid is vital to the optimal functioning of our body. Blood, among other parts, is mainly composed of water and carries nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, as well as some metabolic waste) toward their final destination. Each gram of muscle is bound to three grams of water, and the same thing goes for the carbohydrate reserves that our body stores in the liver and muscles, the famous glycogen.

That is to say how important it is to be well-hydrated in order to maintain this balance! A sedentary person eliminates 2 to 2.5 liters of water per day, and even more so on very hot days and for people who practice physical activities.

The beverage of choice is, without contest, water. In this area, it can sometimes be hard to make a selection. With the various range offered, we wonder about the difference between plain water and carbonated water.

Carbonated water becomes sparkling by the addition of carbon dioxide (CO2), in addition to containing various minerals. For this reason, people who suffer from hypertension or renal insufficiency are advised not to consume this type of water. Also, people who regularly suffer from heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease should also abstain from it, since carbon dioxide is irritating and will intensify the symptoms.

For the rest of the population, carbonated water can be an interesting alternative to plain water, especially between 5 and 7 PM, if we want to replace an alcoholic beverage. Given the sodium content of this beverage, we should limit ourselves to 500 ml per day.

Please note that in case of severe heat, where sweating is greater, carbonated water can be an excellent choice to stay hydrated: the mineral salts contained in this beverage will replace the ones lost through sweating.

Don’t forget that the feeling of thirst is only activated once the body is 1 to 2 % dehydrated. So don’t wait until you are parched, and drink regularly throughout the day!

By Marilyne Petitclerc

Carbonated Water vs. Plain Water: Do They Provide the Same Benefits? is a post from Nautilus Plus. The Nautilus Plus blog aims to help people in their journey to fitness through articles on training, nutrition, motivation, exercise and healthy recipes.
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