Sparkling water may be a healthier alternative to sugary soda, but is it actually healthy? Here’s why experts say it’s critical to do your homework before purchasing sparkling water.
You know you should drink a lot of water (especially considering how much you exercise) but let’s be honest: water can be boring. That’s why you’re probably turning to sparkling varieties to keep things interesting while staying hydrated.
We’re sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but doctors have revealed that the sparkling water brand, Sparkling Ice is causing major problems in your entire body.
Sparkling ICE is a carbonated beverage made in the United States that comes in a variety of fruity flavors. Sparkline ICE is quickly gaining popularity in the United States, but as with anything we consume, knowing whether or not it is healthy is critical. Here are some things to keep an eye out for.
Is Sparkling Ice Healthy?
So, is sparkling ice healthy? The short answer is no.
Sparkling ICE is a carbonated beverage that is bottled and sold in the United States. It’s essentially juice mixed with vitamins, antioxidants, carbonated water, and sucralose, an artificial sweetener.
The beverages are packaged in 17-ounce plastic bottles. Popular flavors include black cherry, cherry limeade, and pink grapefruit, among many others.
What are the Ingredients in Sparkling Ice?
Maltodextrin, food coloring and an artificial sweetener are among the hazardous elements in Sparkling ICE. Maltodextrin can trigger allergic reactions, weight gain, and bloating, while food coloring has been connected to hyperactivity issues.
Artificial sweeteners are appealing since they do not influence blood sugar levels instantly or include calories; nonetheless, they have numerous negative side effects.
The artificial sweetener used in Sparkling ICE beverages is sucralose, which is sold under the brand name Splenda. It includes chlorine, a poisonous chemical that should not be consumed.
Chlorine is not hazardous at small levels since the kidneys, intestines, and liver can filter it out of the body. Daily intake, on the other hand, can have serious implications, such as cancer.
The Wall Street Journal breaks it down for us, pointing out the major flaw in Sparkling Ice drinks: Sucralose. Sucralose is a sugar substitute that is 600 times sweeter than regular sugar.
Sucralose is difficult for the body to metabolize, therefore much of it is excreted. It’s linked to increased hunger and eliminating the healthy bacteria in your stomach, according to health expert Frank Lipman, MD.
Sucralose has been related to blurred vision, Gastrointestinal tract issues, leaky gut, allergies, blood sugar surges, increased hunger, and weight gain as a result.
It’s worth noting that sparkling ice can wreak havoc on a variety of existing Gastrointestinal issues, including worsening of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn, and irritating existing stomach ulcers. It can irritate the digestive tract of others, in addition to bringing discomfort to people who already have
Gastrointestinal issues. Because your body can not absorb enough water to rehydrate, sparkling ICE is not a good beverage for restoring electrolytes after exercise.
Caffeine, as we all know, is an excellent way to improve your energy levels. Caffeine does, however, pose some health risks. Too much caffeine, according to experts, can trigger anxiety, insomnia, digestive difficulties, addiction, fast heart rate, and other problems.
Each can of Sparkling Ice includes 70mg of caffeine. If you drink coffee and tea throughout the day, bear in mind that the daily suggested maximum is 400mg.
Is Sparkling Ice bad for your teeth?
Sparkling water might cause some damage to your teeth but not the same as soda and caffeinated beverages do. However, there is a risk of tooth erosion after having sparkling ice regularly.
Sparkling waters that are high in sugar can cause tooth decay. Plain sparkling water has a slight impact on your teeth. It is advised to maintain a good oral hygiene routine for further tooth decay.
Here is why Sparkling Ice is bad for your teeth:
- When carbonated drinks are devoured, the carbon dioxide converts to the carbonic acid in the mouth which is harmful to dental health.
- The pH level of Sparkling Ice is around 3. Drinks with lower pH levels are acidic and detrimental to the teeth.
- Malic acid (an ingredient in Sparkling Ice) breaks down tooth enamel and directs to dental decay, According to Health Services at Columbia University.
- Potassium benzoate is used as a preservative along with artificial sweeteners and food dyes in Sparkling Ice are harmful to tooth enamel.
How Many Times a Week Can You Consume Sparkling Ice?
There are different conditions and factors associated with sparkling ice that determines how much sparkling ice you should consume each day.
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Here is some prescribed dosage for sparkling ice in different conditions;
- You should consult your doctor about your actual suggested caffeine input if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or otherwise taking medication.
- Children aged 12 and under ingest not more than 45 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day.
- Children aged 13-19 should not consume more than 85 mg per day. Adults should limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg per day.
Can You Consume Sparkling Ice With Alcohol?
It is not advised to ingest sugar-free beverages with alcohol because it will lead to dehydration, which can provoke a hangover and drive you to feel sick. The only mode you can safely drink Sparkling Ice with alcohol is to combine drinks individually and then add in the mixer of your preference.
Drinking alcohol on empty stomach can increase the risk of hangover notably. It is advised to eat anything first before drinking sparkling water and alcohol together. However, it is not recommended to have it in combination.
Sparkling ice holds caffeine correlated to raised blood pressure when devoured alongside a drink. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke if not carefully observed. It could worsen the condition of the person who is already suffering from high blood pressure.
It might cause an irregular heartbeat and other symptoms associated with hypertension such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
Can toddlers drink Sparkling Ice?
Sparkling ice is not a healthy beverage for a growing child. It is quite fine to treat your toddlers once or twice with sparkling ice but regular consumption could make your toddler addicted and cranky to it.
The carbonation in Sparkling Ice is not suitable for the thin gut linings of a toddler. Its consumption can induce irritation and gastrointestinal problems.
However, artificial sweeteners and food colors are absolutely not things to feed into a toddler’s system. Additionally, it is a misstep to invite dental issues with Sparkling Ice blow during the teething stage of little tots.
Can Sparkling Ice cause weight gain?
According to studies carbonated and sparkling water can cause weight gain. The carbonation in sparkling water induces some people to experience gas and bloating. If you see extreme gas while consuming sparkling water, your finest move is to switch to plain water.
The journal, Obesity Research, and Clinical Practice has shown that carbonation can cause weight gain. It turns out that carbonated water has a high dose of ghrelin, the hunger hormone.
New research indicates that sparkling water may even be driving you to feel empty, urging you to eat more than you would otherwise.
The carbon dioxide which provides the drink its fizz can activate a hunger hormone, provoking us to consume more food as an outcome.
However, maltodextrin the food color and artificial sweetener used in Sparkling Ice also causes bloating and weight gain.
What Effects Does Sparkling Ice Have On Your Body?
You should know it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more without high fructose corn syrup or artificial ingredients. In fact, it’s so packed with good stuff that it can help you out in some surprising ways. Here are just a few of the benefits of drinking Sparkling Ice:
Sparkling water can improve digestion:
A study from the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that fizzy water provides comfort from indigestion (dyspepsia) and constipation and that it actually improves the clarity of the gallbladder.
Sparkling water can help weight management:
Sparkling water can help with weight control and even contribute to healthy weight loss.
According to an article from the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, drinking water helps you to lose weight however when sparkling is consumed along with food the bubbles keep scoffing in the stomach for longer.
Some other benefits include;
- Give energy to the body.
- Boost your immunity.
- Feel more alert.
- Sparkling Water Can Improve Swallowing Ability.
What Healthy Flavors can be added to Sparkling Water?
Healthy and good savors from fruits and herbs can be added to sparkling water. First, select sparkling water with no added sweeteners, fruit pieces, and frozen or fresh, which can naturally flavor the water.
The most flavorful choices include pineapple, berries, and peaches. Cucumbers can offer a refreshing taste. Herbs such as rosemary or mint are added and even paired with fruits for a strengthened boost.
How Much Sparkling Water Is Safe for Your Health?
Sparkling water in the same dose you drink of still water is safe for your health so long as you do not have any health conditions which are aggravated by carbonation.
The ideal amount of fluid consumption per day by healthy individuals is between 2.7 and 3.7 liters per day according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Summing Up:
When the contents and negative effects of Sparkling ICE are added together, the result is a drink that is no better than diet coke.
Drinking Sparkling ICE as a treat (rather than rehydrate after exercise) is unlikely to hurt the body, but doing so on a frequent basis can be harmful to your health, especially if you have gastrointestinal problems or stomach ulcers.