Some Fizzy Facts About Carbonated Water

Has there ever been so much fear, uncertainty and doubt about something filled with so many bubbles? Carbonated water has been accused of turning drinkers acidic, leeching the enamel off their teeth, and eroding their bodies from the inside out.

It's not that it's some miracle elixir – it's only bubbly water, after all – but neither is it going to send your health into a tailspin, either.

First of all, don't confuse the many varieties. Carbonated water is just regular H20 shot through with carbon dioxide. In and of itself, the process does not add any sugar, sodium, caffeine or calories. However, different brands may add their own “secret sauce” to the mix, which may include small amounts of artificial flavoring, salt and other minerals.

Tonic water, used most commonly as a mixer in adult beverages, is carbonated water that contains quinine, a bitter alkaloid once used to treat malaria.

The so-called “natural sparkling mineral waters” such as Perrier and San Pellegrino may be “naturally sparkling,” but they will be re-injected with carbon dioxide before they make it to the supermarket shelf. They will also contain a variety of minerals naturally occurring in the springs of their namesake. Will these kill you? No. But neither are they the Elixirs of Life their proponents and marketing teams espouse them to be.

If you are a purist and want your carbonated water with nothing added except carbon dioxide, seek out seltzer – you know, the stuff The Three Stooges would spray down everyone's pants at fancy parties. It is available in most every grocery store. The soda guns used by your friendly corner bartender also produce pure seltzer.

Because water and carbon dioxide combine chemically to create carbonic acid, sparkling water is slightly acidic (3 to 4 on the pH scale). However, your grandmother's fears that it will “turn your body acidic” did not take into account the outstanding job that your kidneys and lungs do at removing excess CO2 from your bloodstream. These organs keep your body at a slightly alkaline pH of 7.35 to 7.45 no matter what you eat or drink. Carbonated cola drinks are a different matter, however. The phosphorus they contain can significantly lower your bone density, but the carbonation is not to blame.

Another of your grandma's fears was that carbonated water would “rot your teeth.” The science to which she was alluding has to do with the effect of acids on your teeth's enamel. The truth, according to scientific research, is that sparkling water is only slightly more damaging to your teeth than pure water. Sparkling sugar water – soda pop – on the other hand, is 100 times more damaging than carbonated water alone.

On the up side, carbonated water has been shown to improve the swallowing ability in both young and older adults. It stimulates the nerves responsible for the swallowing function, especially when it is served cold. It can also improve satiety – the feeling of “being full” after a meal – and so contribute to you eating less. One study on the effects of carbonated water on older women showed how drinking 1 liter of sodium-rich sparkling water for 8 weeks led to better calcium retention and no negative effects on bone health, compared to drinking just plain mineral water.

So enjoy your seltzer, preferably not down your pants. It won't erode you from the inside out, and you may even enjoy a few healthy benefits from it.

You're Soaking In It: Epsom Salts

You have soaked in it for years and probably never knew why – except that it felt good. Epsom salt, also known as bath salt, or magnesium sulfate if you're a chemist, has been easing aches and pains since it was first discovered in the 17th century. Back then, it put the healing springs of the town in Surrey, England, for which it is named on the map. Later that century, an Epsom chemist acquired a royal patent to recreate the town's local miracle in a lab, and the over-the-counter bath salts industry was born.

The spa enthusiasts who made pilgrimages to Surrey soaked in the springs to cure a whole medical encyclopedia full of ailments on which Epsom salt has zero effect. Today, we have a better handle on what bath salts can and cannot do.

Much of the magic in the magnesium. Most people do not get enough of this vital mineral in their diets, and one study from the University of Birmingham showed how blood magnesium levels rise after soaking in an Epsom salt bath. Since low magnesium levels impinge upon the quality of your sleep, some reports point to the Birmingham study as the science behind why we often sleep better after soaking in an Epsom salt bath. Another study examined how magnesium may help your body produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.

Athletes and weekend warriors both have long taken to drawing up Epsom baths to ease muscle soreness and cramping. Magnesium again is the focal point: your body draws heavily upon the mineral to facilitate its management of glucose and lactic acid. For this reason, many athletes suffer from a marked magnesium deficiency and their doctors recommend supplementation. It's worth noting, however, that as good as an Epsom salt bath feels to your aching bones, the jury is still out as to whether soaking in one allows you to absorb enough magnesium to really make a difference.

There are many who take Epsom salt orally – in fact, the FDA lists it as a laxative. It works because because the magnesium draws water into the colon, which promotes bowel movements. However, there are a number of caveats. It is effective against constipation, but many might find it too effective, resulting in severe diarrhea. It can also cause bloating and an upset stomach. If you do choose to use Epsom salt as a laxative, be sure to drink plenty of water along with it. Overdo it, and you are opening yourself up to a magnesium overdose which can result in heart problems, coma, paralysis and even death.