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Carbonated water, fizzy water, sparkling water, club soda, bubbly water… it has so many different names, and seems to be all the rage now a days.

But, is it healthy?

The answer is a little more complicated than yes or no, so stick with me.

Many more times than not, when new members join the Beyond Diet program, they start with one very important goal: kicking their diet soda habit. It's not surprising since diet soda is the #1 drink to avoid. It is absolutely toxic for your body and is loaded with artificial sweeteners and extreme levels of sodium.

The artificial sweeteners can actually trick your brain into thinking that you're eating something sweet and therefore trigger your pancreas to release insulin. This can lead to higher than normal and/or unstable blood sugar levels.

It can even cause severe health issues and lead to high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, and many other diseases.

So in order to get on the health path, but still satisfy the carbonation craving, many of our members look for soda alternatives.

Therefore they turn to Sparkling Water since what they miss the most are the bubbles and fizziness.

Here are some details about sparkling water…

✅ Calorie Free

Firstly, it turns out that carbonated water is calorie free. But, even though it's calorie free, it does contain added processed sodium. Since the amount is still fairly minimal, it's okay to have it once in a while if you need to satisfy a craving.

❎ Upset stomach

Carbonated water has been linked to bloating and an upset stomach. Since you are drinking many tiny air bubbles, your body's digestive system actually fills up with extra air. This can cause you to feel bloated, heavy, and gassy. Flatulence and belching are among the unpleasant side effects from carbonation.

✅ Hydration

Sparkling water does help hydrate your body, but is not a replacement for water, as I mentioned above. Sparkling water in moderation is okay, but at Beyond Diet, we recommend sticking to your recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Staying sufficiently hydrated is extremely important for reaching your weight loss goals.

❎ Avoid Tonic Water

Tonic water and sparkling water are not equal. Although they both provide the bubbly sensation that many of us enjoy, they are not made in the same way. Tonic water too contains additional processed sodium (more than sparkling water), but the reason to avoid is more due to the fact that a small 12 ounce can contains a whopping 32 grams of sugar! That's 8 teaspoons of sugar that will throw your blood sugar levels into a frenzy.

✅ Try Flavored Water

The main reason people don't drink water is simply because they just don't like the taste of water. If you need a way to transition from soda to water on the program, a great alternative is homemade naturally flavored water. Add fruits or vegetables to a gallon of water, and let the flavors infuse for a few hours. You can take it on the go and even eat the produce when you're done drinking your water.

Here are some great recipes:

Berry Citrus Fruitade

Beyond Diet Lemonade

Cucumber Water

So, my final take on sparkling water is that you can have it in moderation, but not as a replacement for your recommended daily amount of water on the program. Try incorporating more homemade naturally flavored water to help you adjust to the delicious flavor of pure water.