Many of us drink sparkling water every single day, and some people even throw back multiple cans of seltzer per day. But every once in a while, some information pops up on social media claiming that all that carbonation isn’t great for you ― particularly for your digestion and can cause issues like bloating, reflux and irritating IBS symptoms. But is that really true?
To find out, we got in touch with board-certified gastroenterologists and registered dietitians to learn more about the potential impact of drinking sparkling water. Here’s what you need to know about how sparkling water affects digestion and gut health and whether it’s safe to drink every day.
Is sparkling water bad for gut health?
You may have heard that sparkling water causes bloating and other gut health problems. But the truth is, it depends. People with some gut health conditions may experience side effects when drinking sparkling water, but most others are OK.
“Sparkling water can have both positive and negative effects on gut health, depending on individual sensitivity and the type of sparkling water consumed,” said Dr. Kenneth Brown, a board-certified gastroenterologist in Texas.
On the whole, the experts we spoke with agreed that for most people, drinking sparkling water shouldn’t cause any problems.
“Sparkling water has the potential to cause reflux symptoms, gas or bloating in anyone,” said Dr. Peter Stein, board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine and director of endoscopy at Phelps and Northern Westchester Hospital in New York. “With that said, most people do not experience these symptoms when drinking a can of sparkling water.”
But if you have a condition like IBS or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or if you regularly experience bloating, gas and other gastrointestinal symptoms, drinking sparkling water can trigger symptoms. This is mainly an issue because of the carbonation — when drinking sparkling water, you’re adding more gas to an…
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