If you like fizz in your water, you can thank English chemist Joseph Priestley. In 1767, he figured out how to add carbon dioxide to water, creating carbonated water, which is also known as club soda. While it is often used to make alcoholic beverages and is the basis for soda pop, club soda by itself is almost as good for hydration as plain water.
Calorie Free
When trying to balance your calorie intake for weight control, you need to be careful about the calories that come from the things you drink. Fluid calories may not fill you up as much as food calories, making it easy for you to drink too many. Club soda is calorie-free, so you can drink as much as you like, making it a better choice for the calorie and weight conscious.
Hydration
More than half your body weight comes from water. Staying hydrated is essential for good health. Your body needs water to help you maintain your body temperature, eliminate waste and improve joint movement. As carbonated water, club soda works as well as still water in helping you stay hydrated. Your daily fluid needs to stay hydrated vary. In general, most healthy people need 48 to 64 oz. of fluid a day. You may, however, require more or less depending on your activity level and health status.
Weight Loss
Drinking water in the form of club soda can help you lose weight. A 2010 study published in "Obesity" investigated the effects of drinking water before a meal on weight loss in a group of overweight and obese adults following a low-calorie diet for weight loss over a 12-week period. Participants were assigned to two groups, low-calorie diet with 500 mL of water before each meal, or low-calorie diet alone. At the end of the study, the water group lost an average of 2 kg more than the non-water group. As a carbonated water without calories, club soda can easily help you reduce your calorie intake if consumed before a meal to help aid your weight loss efforts.
Alternative to Soda
Soda is the number four source of calories in the American diet for all people over the age of 2, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soda offers no nutritional value. If you like the carbonation, club soda is a healthy, calorie-free alternative to regular soda. You can add flavor to your club soda by squeezing in some lime or lemon juice, or adding 1 to 2 oz. of your favorite fruit juice.
Source of Calcium
Although its not a significant source of calcium, a 12 oz. can contains 18 mg, meeting nearly 2 percent of your daily value. Calcium is an important mineral for bone health. It also is also necessary for blood vessel and muscle contractions.
References
- Enchanted Learning: Inventors
- MayoClinic.com; Energy Density and Weight Loss: Feel Full on Fewer Calories; January 2011
- FamilyDoctor.org; Hydration: Why It's So Important; January 2010
- U.S. Department of Agriculture; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010; Balancing Calories to Manage Weight
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Calcium; January 2011
- "Obesity"; Water Consumption Increases Weight Loss During a Hypocaloric Diet Intervention in Middle-aged and Older Adults; E. Dennis, et al.; February 2010
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