New study reveals surprising health benefits and negatives of drinking sparkling water
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Sparkling water could help weight loss in more indirect ways, experts said, but warned there were some potential negatives. New research on the potential health benefits of fizzy water has revealed some surprising positives - but also some negatives. The study suggests sparkling water could help people lose weight by increasing glucose uptake and boosting metabolism, but researchers and other experts said the effect, in reality, is minimal to none.
![[A balanced diet and exercise will have a much larger impact on weight loss than carbonated water.]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/22/09/iStock-1767240913.jpg)
However, sparkling water could help weight loss in more indirect ways, experts said, while warning of some potential negatives. The research, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, investigated claims that sparkling water was a potential slimming aid by speeding up digestion and lowering blood sugar levels.
![[Experts warned plain water might be better for dental health]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/17/12/17114641-ebaa54bb-0823-47b5-b244-7b4dfb22141f.jpg)
Researcher Dr Akira Takahashi said: “While many advocate for its benefits, it is important to explore the underlying mechanisms more closely.”. To test this idea, Dr Takahashi compared the process of drinking sparking water to haemodialysis, where blood is filtered to remove waste and excess water. In that process the blood turns alkaline, producing carbon dioxide.
In a similar process, the carbon dioxide in fizzy water gets absorbed through the stomach lining and gets converted to bicarbonate - an alkaline - in red blood cells. Dr Takahashi said the alkalinisation process speeds up glucose absorption in red blood cells, adding: “However, the amount is so small that it is difficult to expect weight loss effects solely from the CO2 in carbonated water.”.
