Sparkling Water: Good, Bad, or Neutral?

Issue No. 6

Sparkling Water: Good, Bad, or Neutral?

image via Pinterest

The waiter approaches your table with a smile, flips open his notepad, and asks: “Still or sparkling?”

Without thinking, our answer is almost always sparkling. Not to bring Tim into this again (sorry Tim), but he loves sparkling. Sometimes I wonder if he exclusively drinks water with bubbles, or “spicy water” as some of my friends’ kids call it.

So when my friend Jen recently asked me, “Is sparkling water is good, bad, or neutral?” My initial answer was, “Good question!” I guess I had always blindly assumed it was good for you. It is water, after all. A quick Google search asking “is sparkling water good for you” yields wildly varied results, and, because the verdict wasn’t immediately obvious, I thought it warranted a little more investigation.

It turns out that there are some things to know about sparkling water. Most notably, carbonated water has been found to have higher levels of PFAs than its non- carbonated counterparts. A 2020 study from Consumer Reports found that many well-known sparkling water brands contained considerable amounts of PFAs, or polyfluoroalkyl substances. You might know these as “forever chemicals,” aptly given their name because neither our bodies, nor our environment, can break them down. So... they last forever? Yes. They have been found in our water, our blood, and even our breast milk. The list goes on and on. We don’t yet know exactly how harmful PFAs are for people and the environment, but another 2020 study linked exposure to PFAs with a host of health issues like infertility, thyroid dysfunction, and cancer. As of last March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began requiring utility companies to remove PFAs from drinking water but sparkling water brands are still not held to the same standard.

So, if you drink sparkling water daily, it’s worth looking for brands that have lower levels of PFAs. Here are some of the best brands to choose from:

And here are some of the worst offenders:

data via Consumer Reports

Beyond PFAs, there are some other considerations to keep in mind. The carbonation in sparkling water makes it more acidic, so extreme amounts can erode the enamel on your teeth. It can also bring on unwelcome symptoms if consumed in excess – gas! bloating! heartburn!

The point is not to be extremist, though. We are talking about water, after all. Like so many things, moderation is the answer. While it probably shouldn’t be our sole source of hydration, it’s absolutely healthy to drink. It is hydrating, naturally sweetener-free, and a better choice than 99% of the beverages you might choose otherwise. When you can, look for brands that have been shown to have lower levels of PFAs, but I wouldn’t stress too much either way. Enjoy your bubbles!

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