How Healthy and Refreshing is Lime Sparkling Water?
When it comes to staying hydrated, people are becoming more health-conscious and moving away from the sugary sodas and juices. Sparkling water has become a popular alternative, offering the same satisfying fizz without the sugar. However, not all sparkling waters are created equally. Some come flavoured like lime sparkling water, while others are plain. This raises an important question: is plain sparkling water healthier than its flavoured counterpart?
What Is Plain Sparkling Water?
Plain sparkling water is water with bubbles and nothing more. It contains no added artificial sugars, sweeteners, or artificial flavours, making it a clean, natural option for hydration. Many people opt for this type of sparkling water because it offers hydration benefits without any additional calories or harmful chemicals.
What Is Flavored Sparkling Water?
Flavoured sparkling waters, on the other hand, often contain additional ingredients to enhance the taste. These can include natural or artificial flavours, sweeteners both sugar- and sugar-free alternatives, and sometimes preservatives. While flavoured sparkling water may seem healthier than sodas, the extra ingredients could have unexpected health consequences.
Tips for Making Plain Sparkling Water More Enjoyable
Suppose plain sparkling water seems too bland for your taste buds. In that case, there are several ways to add natural flavours without the downsides of store-bought flavoured versions:
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Add Fresh Fruits: Squeeze some lemon, lime, or orange into your sparkling water for a refreshing twist.
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Use Herbs: Mint, basil, or rosemary can add a subtle and refreshing flavour to your sparkling water.
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Experiment with Cucumber: Thin slices add a cool, crisp taste to your sparkling water, making it feel more like a spa beverage.
Enhancing your plain sparkling water with natural ingredients allows you to enjoy the flavours without compromising your health. Plain sparkling water is a healthier option than flavoured sparkling water. It has no added sugars and fewer ingredients and is gentler on your teeth, making it a very smart choice for anyone looking to stay hydrated while protecting their health.
Sparkling Water vs. Other Carbonated Drinks
If you enjoy a carbonated beverage, you've come across several terms to describe this type of drink: sparkling water, seltzer, tonic water, mineral water, and also club soda. Explore what makes each of these varieties unique:
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Seltzer water: This type of carbonated water is usually considered the most similar to sparkling water; however, it may contain additional minerals for taste. This differentiates the seltzer water from plain sparkling water. However, if your sparkling water includes minerals, these beverages are essentially the same.
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Tonic water: Quinine is added to tonic water, providing a distinct flavour and making this alternative a good option to mix with the other drinks.
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Mineral water varieties: Unlike the sparkling water, mineral water is naturally sourced and contains the minerals and trace elements.
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Club soda: Club soda is distinguished from its sparkling water counterpart because it contains no added minerals like sodium bicarbonate, giving it a slightly salty taste.
Benefits of Drinking Flavored Sparkling Water
Flavoured sparkling water is popular for those seeking a unique experience beyond plain water. Suppose you drink several of them per week (or even per day). In that case, you may wonder if flavoured sparkling water is good for you.
Let's find out! These are three well-documented benefits that come with consuming flavoured sparkling water.
1. It Keeps You Hydrated
Everyone requires water to survive. The body requires fluids to function properly, just like an engine requires fuel to run smoothly. Including lime sparkling water in your diet is beneficial because it can help you to meet your fluid intake goal for the day.
Flavoured carbonated water is an excellent alternative for sugary sodas because it tastes very similar and is equally hydrating as plain water. Be mindful to seek carbonated water options that are minimal in sugar and calories. Avoid products containing salt, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, or sucralose, which are the artificial sweeteners and flavourings.
2. It Helps You Reach Your Fitness Goals
Natural flavourings, such as limes, strawberries, lemons, raspberries, ginger, mint, basil, etc., added to sparkling water make it a refreshing drink that satisfies your thirst without the artificially added calories and chemicals commonly found in sugary beverages.
A 12-ounce can of normal soda contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar as well as 125 to 180 calories. Based on the brand and sugar level, sodas can derail your individual plans to get in shape and improve your health and fitness.
By consuming one glass of flavoured sparkling water instead of a can of ordinary soda daily, you can save about 4,200 calories and 300 teaspoons of sugar. That's 14 pounds every year saved by not consuming the 50,400 calories in excess sugar. This number goes even higher with sodas, which contain more than 140 calories, which is most of them.
The cumulative impact of drinking soda over time is detrimental, but it should not be that way. Sparkling water with fruit flavourings provides the same experience. It's really simple, and the outcome will be transformative.
3. It Prevents Constipation
Some people have found that drinking carbonated water with natural flavours helps to alleviate constipation. In a study involving the elderly stroke survivors, the frequency of the bowel movements was nearly twice as high in the group given that carbonated water as in the group given tap water.
Better yet, the participants reported that their symptoms of constipation decreased by 58%. Another study looked at people with chronic stomach problems. After two weeks of daily usage, those who drank the carbonated water reported significant improvements in digestive problems and constipation.
There you have it! Even though flavoured sparkling water may offer several advantages, you should always check the ingredients in the readymade products, as sodium, sugar, as well as artificial sweeteners may all have negative effects on the body.
In Conclusion
Adequate hydration is key to good health, as it affects many bodily functions. You can keep hydrated and satisfy your daily needs with naturally flavoured water. If the flavour of plain water puts you off, try infusing it with fruit. Glucose control is unaffected by naturally sweetened flavoured water. A delightful method to remain hydrated is to blend your sparkling water with berries or a dash of citrus juice like lime or grapefruit.
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