Soda Water?

robynmoosehead

this is probably the stupidest question but a discussion with my OH last night has made me doubt myself a little.

I drink 3L of soda water (carbonated water) a day. I rarely have still tap water. It's just that I prefer the taste and fizz of the soda water.

There is no health difference between soda water and normal water, right? It's just got added CO2.

Please resolve our sheer stubbornness about both being right

DeguelloTex

It's just a watery as tap water.

jgnatca

You win.

MonkeyMel21

Yep, just water with bubbles! I love plain water but I usually replace a beer with sparkling water a few times a week (mainly while eating dinner).

robynmoosehead

jgnatca wrote: »

You win.

HAHAHA i love winning!!

earlnabby

Yup. No difference except the CO2, assuming you just mean plain carbonated water like you can make yourself with a SodaStream or seltzer bottle. If you are referring to the mixer "club soda" (sometime called soda water), it has added sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium sulfate.

2wise4u

No difference.

Liftng4Lis

I drink a seltzer water at least once a day. It's the same, no worries.

mangrothian

earlnabby wrote: »

Yup. No difference except the CO2, assuming you just mean plain carbonated water like you can make yourself with a SodaStream or seltzer bottle. If you are referring to the mixer "club soda" (sometime called soda water), it has added sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium sulfate.

^^ This. Unless you have blood pressure issues or have any other reason to watch your sodium intake, there's no difference.

TuffChixRule

Totally agree. Even if it's flavored soda water like Sparkling Ice or Aquafina Sparkling Water, you're still drinking water.

njmorizio

Not a Stupid Question! You've probably heard at some point that the phosphoric acid in sodas (i.e.fizzy drinks) has been possibly linked to bone density loss leading to osteoporosis; when combined with caffeine as it is in many sodas, diet or non-diet, calcium uptake to the bones can be further impeded. Check the label - no phosphoric acid? No caffeine? Drink away!

mbhungry

TuffChixRule wrote: »

Totally agree. Even if it's flavored soda water like Sparkling Ice or Aquafina Sparkling Water, you're still drinking water.

What about the flavors being labeled "Natural flavors" in the ingredients - what makes the flavor?

earlnabby

mbhungry wrote: »

TuffChixRule wrote: »

Totally agree. Even if it's flavored soda water like Sparkling Ice or Aquafina Sparkling Water, you're still drinking water.

What about the flavors being labeled "Natural flavors" in the ingredients - what makes the flavor?

Usually the distilled essence of the fruit. Kind of like essential oils but distilled from the fruit instead of pressed from it. I have a SodaStream and I use fruit extracts in mine when I want to flavor it, since I have never seen retail essences except the 3-pack Sodastream sells. My favorites are black currant and cranberry.

shifterbrainz

CO2 is causing global warmi . . . oops, I mean climate change. Stop opening those bottles!!! :grumble:

earlnabby

shifterbrainz wrote: »

CO2 is causing global warmi . . . oops, I mean climate change. Stop opening those bottles!!! :grumble:

Opening the bottles isn't as much of a problem as burping up the carbonation. Keep it down!

spatulamom

I literally drink 2-3 cans of Dasani Sparkling every day because I don't like plain water (it's just carbonated water with natural lemon flavoring - no calories or artificial sweeteners). I count it as my water .

schandler1011

MonkeyMel21 wrote: »

Yep, just water with bubbles! I love plain water but I usually replace a beer with sparkling water a few times a week (mainly while eating dinner).

Beer is a downfall of mine as well. I did buy some sparkling water (Love Black Cherry) because for me, a lot of the appeal of beer is the bubbles!

Unknown

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kweisman1

Okay, so the only thing that could be a potential downfall of seltzer is that it can bloat you. I just think of this for me when I am going to be wearing something form fitting or a bathing suit. Other than that, it's fine.

6502programmer

mbhungry wrote: »

What about the flavors being labeled "Natural flavors" in the ingredients - what makes the flavor?

So that's actually a really interesting question. There's a fascinating piece on this topic from Eric Schlosser's _Fast_Food_Nation_ available here. The tl;dr version is that natural flavors come from natural sources, though not necessarily the one that tastes like them, and undergo anywhere from mild to extreme chemical reactions to alter them to a desired taste. Artificial ones start life as chemicals on the shelf. Based on what happens from start to finish, I don't really see any significant difference between the two, but three years of college chemistry will alter your take on it.

Oh, and I strongly suggest, if you like raspberry-flavored items, do not, under any circumstances, EVER google where they get it from.

earlnabby

kweisman1 wrote: »

Okay, so the only thing that could be a potential downfall of seltzer is that it can bloat you. I just think of this for me when I am going to be wearing something form fitting or a bathing suit. Other than that, it's fine.

Burping takes care of that, as long as you aren't worried about global warming (see above).

MsJulesRenee

OP, I was just going to ask this question! I drink it all day long haha

dpwellman

I put lime juice (fresh or otherwise) in mine. Perfect after a long ride in the summer heat. . .

robynmoosehead

earlnabby wrote: »

Yup. No difference except the CO2, assuming you just mean plain carbonated water like you can make yourself with a SodaStream or seltzer bottle. If you are referring to the mixer "club soda" (sometime called soda water), it has added sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium sulfate.

It's coming out of a post mix tap at my pub. There's no syrup or anything going into it. As far as I'm aware it's just mains water going through the carbonater machine!

robynmoosehead

shifterbrainz wrote: »

CO2 is causing global warmi . . . oops, I mean climate change. Stop opening those bottles!!! :grumble:

No bottles for me I'm afraid.

I've got sparkling water on tap.

robynmoosehead

dpwellman wrote: »

I put lime juice (fresh or otherwise) in mine. Perfect after a long ride in the summer heat. . .

Me too! Got a glass full of fresh lime and cucumber slices that I just keep topping up. Delicious. So so refreshing.

earlnabby

robynmoosehead wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

Yup. No difference except the CO2, assuming you just mean plain carbonated water like you can make yourself with a SodaStream or seltzer bottle. If you are referring to the mixer "club soda" (sometime called soda water), it has added sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium sulfate.

It's coming out of a post mix tap at my pub. There's no syrup or anything going into it. As far as I'm aware it's just mains water going through the carbonater machine!

You might want to ask to be sure. The "plain fizzy water" at the diner I used to work at was club soda because we used it to make phosphates (club soda with sweet flavoring syrup. They were called "Phosphates" because of the potassium in the water). Even if that is what they are, unless you have an issue with sodium (and they use sodium bicarb instead of potassium bicarb) there are no health risks. These days, I am guessing you are right and it is just regular tap water with CO2. Phosphates went out of style a generation ago.

michellesz

Water is water. If you are fine with citric acid or natural flavors or aspartame, then hydrate away. I drink about 16 glasses of water a day & mix things up a bit by adding crystal light mix or having Zero Clear American Sparkling Water. I'm not much for seltzer but it is flavored sparkling water and makes me feel like I'm treating myself to something. I also enjoy plain water with a little lemon as stated above. That's usually my go to drink when I go out to a restaurant. Free and refreshing.