The Health Biz

Soda Water is a good, refreshing drink for health and fitness, because it is always totally free of carbohydrates and sugars.

Soda water, or carbonated water, is plain water to which carbon dioxide gas has been added; it is also called sparkling water by many people. It is the most dominant ingredient of most “soft drinks.”. This process of carbonation forms carbonic acid which is soda pop.

By using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide, soda water (also called club soda) was produced in the past in the home. Club soda may be virtually the same as plain carbonated water; however, a small amount of table salts and/or sodium trace minerals may be present. Such additives could possibly make the taste of home made soda water a bit salty. Carbonated mineral water often results from the process, which occurs naturally in many areas.

It is thought that sparkling mineral water may sometimes cause a little dental decay. Sparkling water’s potential affects on dental problems are somewhat greater than with normal water, but not dramatically so. Tooth decay occurs at a much higher rate for users of regular soft drinks versus users of sparkling water. Dental decay may, in fact, not be greatly affected by carbonated drinks since the rate is so low.

Water that comes from the ground - usually from artesian wells - and filtered among layers of minerals containing some form of carbonates may absorb the carbon dioxide gas released by the carbonates. The result? Natural sparkling water. On occasions when the water picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor to the water, it becomes sparkling mineral water.

Basically, soda water equals water plus carbon dioxide. Carbonation produces naturally-occuring substances, such as sparkling mineral water. In 1794, a jeweler made a device to produce a carbonate artificial mineral water.

In a taste test of several carbonated drinks, it was determined that Perrier, a sparkling natural mineral water, kept its fizz the longest.

For consumers who believe seltzer to be a bit harsh, club soda provides a more gentle fizz. In the taste test, club soda seemed to be milder and a little sweeter tasting than standard carbonated water.

Since club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water have no calories, this makes them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water.

The mixture of water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine produces a type of carbonated drink called tonic water. Originally, quinine was used as an additive to tonic water to help cure or prevent malaria. Today it is often mixed with gin and lemon or lime for an alcoholic drink.

These are some of the basic facts about soda water.

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