Expensive and "unpalatable", what's so good about sparkling water?

Audit expert: Wang Guoyi

Postdoctoral fellow in Nutrition and Food Safety, China Agricultural University

The taste of water and the texture of carbonated drinks, what is this? This is the sparkling water that has become popular all over the country!

Sparkling water, also known as carbonated water, is made by mixing a certain amount of carbon dioxide gas with drinking water under pressure. This process forms carbonic acid, which is a weak acid. So every time we drink sparkling water, our tongue will feel numb! The main reason is that carbonic acid activates the nerves in our mouth, giving us a refreshing feeling.

Source | Huaban.com

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The difference between sparkling water

Sparkling water originated in America. It is a brand new drink that first entered the European and American markets. This drink is not only sugar-free and calorie-free, but also can bring health to the human body, and has been recognized by many people. Because it contains a certain amount of carbonic acid, it can form carbon dioxide in the human body, consume calories, eliminate fatigue, and is healthy and delicious, so this kind of sparkling water has been valued by people.

There are two main types of sparkling water: natural sparkling water and artificial sparkling water. Natural sparkling water is a natural mineral water containing carbon dioxide, while artificial sparkling water is mineral water with carbon dioxide added. Although many soda waters now have bubbles in them, this type of soda water is not sparkling water. Although both of them look like drinks containing carbon dioxide, the production principles are completely different, which is why many people cannot tell the difference between the two drinks. Now let's take a look at how these seemingly similar but completely different types of water come from!

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Sources of different sparkling waters

When the crustal plates move, the collision of the plates will cause faults. The carbon dioxide in the magma of the "asthenosphere" enters the surface through the gaps in the faults. When the carbon dioxide enters the mineral water through the "aquifer", natural sparkling water is formed. In my country's mineral water standards, when the free carbon dioxide in the water exceeds 250mg/L, this type of water can be identified as natural carbonated mineral water. It is rich in minerals, and natural carbonated mineral water is very scarce. Its bubbles at normal temperature and pressure are very delicate, and these carbonic acids can remain in the water for a long time, and it tastes refreshing and delicious.

Artificial sparkling water is generally made of natural mineral water with food-grade carbon dioxide injected into the water. In fact, it is mineral water plus carbon dioxide. The bubbles of artificial sparkling water are rougher than those of natural sparkling water, and the injected carbon dioxide also dissipates quickly at room temperature and pressure.

Source | TuChong Creative

In general,

Artificial sparkling water = natural mineral water + carbon dioxide

Natural carbonated water = natural carbonated mineral water

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Debunking myths: The adverse effects of sparkling water

We all know that carbonated drinks can affect dental health, so many people start to worry whether carbonated water will cause damage to teeth. The answer is: No!

Although most people feel that when drinking sparkling water, their teeth will directly contact the carbonic acid in the sparkling water. But don't worry, studies have shown that the impact of sparkling water on teeth is negligible, just like drinking pure water. The biggest impact on teeth is still sugar, once it contains sugar, it will cause harm to teeth. In other words, sugary carbonated drinks will be harmful to teeth, and sugar-free, original sparkling water has almost no effect on teeth. If you are really worried, you can also rinse your mouth after drinking sparkling water.

Source | Internet

Perhaps because sparkling water and carbonated drinks have similar tastes, people tend to mistakenly classify sparkling water as carbonated drinks. So, the question is: Does sparkling water affect digestion? Does it cause osteoporosis?

Sparkling water is helpful for human digestion. It not only improves people's appetite, but also makes people feel full during meals, thus avoiding overeating. Compared with ordinary water, sparkling water prolongs the feeling of fullness. Drinking a moderate amount of sparkling water before meals can help people lose weight. Not only that, sparkling water can also promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve constipation. However, patients with bloating or aerophagia should not drink sparkling water, otherwise it may cause indigestion. As for whether sparkling water can cause osteoporosis, it is even more groundless!

It is generally believed that the carbonic acid added to cola will affect the body's absorption of calcium and cause the loss of calcium in the bones. However, under normal human body functions, drinking carbonated beverages in moderation will not have any effect on the body's absorption of calcium, unless drinking too much cola will cause adverse effects. The main cause of osteoporosis is too little calcium intake. Therefore, under the premise of adequate calcium intake, drinking sparkling water will not have a bad effect on human bones.

Source | Internet

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Choosing the right sparkling water

There are many benefits of sparkling water, but don’t be fooled by “fake” sparkling water. This is how you should choose sparkling water!

The most important thing is to choose sugar-free, not only to protect our teeth, but also for health. Excessive sugar intake can cause chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Sugar-free sparkling water is "powerful", numbing and addictive, and not easy to make you fat. It meets all needs and is the first choice among sparkling waters. Of course, if you are very sensitive to carbonated drinks, you should still drink less. Don't forget water, it is the best source of life.

Source: Digital Beijing Science Center