Does Sparkling Water Count As Water Intake? Does It Keep You Hydrated Like Like Water?

Sparkling water is another name for carbonated water. All brands and varieties of sparkling water will add to your overall hydration.

Simple changes to your drinking habits can have significant impacts on your overall health. In general, water is always a better alternative to sugary drinks like soda. 

But there are lots of different kinds of water on the market. You’re not alone if you find yourself wondering, does sparkling water hydrate you, and are all types of water equally good for your health? Although all types of water hydrate you, they’re not all equally good for you. Do your research before committing to a new brand.     

The bottled water industry generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. Many different types of water exist, and you can find multiple brands for each variety. 

In most parts of the country, you can safely drink regular water from your tap. Companies also bottle and sell regular water. 

Sparkling water is the main alternative to regular water. Sparkling water is another name for carbonated water. Carbonated beverages contain dissolved carbon dioxide bubbles that are trapped by high pressure in the product’s can or bottle. The gas bubbles start to escape when you crack the lid and release the pressure. 

Carbonation adds a tangy taste to water along with the sparkly bubbles. Different kinds of sparkling water include: 

• Seltzer: This is another name for basic sparkling water. A true seltzer only contains water and carbon dioxide. It shouldn’t have any calories or sugar on the nutrition label. 
• Flavored sparkling water: These products are essentially seltzer with added ingredients. Depending on the brand, they may contain added flavors, sweeteners, or caffeine. 
• Spring: Some natural springs produce water that’s already effervescent, or carbonated. People originally created seltzers because they were trying to mimic these naturally occurring springs. 
• Tonic: This is a special type of sparkling water that contains a variety of additives — like sugar and salt. Make sure to check the nutrition label for the source of sugar and the presence of other additives. 
• Club soda: This is another specific kind of sparkling water product. Despite the word “soda” in the name, this type of beverage is better for you than dark colas and most actual sodas. But some brands come with plenty of unhealthy additives, like sugar. 
• Hard seltzer: This is a seltzer with added alcohol and often other flavoring ingredients. It should only be consumed in moderation by people who are legally old enough to drink.  

Any beverage that contains water is able to hydrate you to some extent. All brands and varieties of sparkling water will add to your overall hydration. This means that sparkling water is an excellent alternative to soda in terms of keeping you hydrated without harming your health. 

The only exception is in the case of hard seltzer. Hard seltzer does contain water, which will technically hydrate you. But alcohol is a diuretic and causes you to urinate more often. This will dehydrate you. You should never use an alcoholic beverage to stay hydrated.  

Your body thrives when it gets the right amount of water each day. In fact, every cell in your body relies on water to function — so you’re at your healthiest when you’re hydrated. 

Specific benefits of hydration include: 

• Keeping your energy levels high
• Improving digestion
• Preventing constipation
• Helping with weight loss — drinking sparkling water can help you feel full
• Regulating your blood pressure

Plus, you become dehydrated when you don’t get enough water. Dehydration is associated with a number of serious health problems — especially when you don’t get enough water over a long period of time. This is called chronic dehydration. 

Dehydration is a significant health concern among older adults. Chronic dehydration happens in 17% to 28% of older adults in the U.S. It’s a common cause of hospital admissions.  

Health problems that are associated with dehydration include: 

• Muscle spasms
• Kidney problems
• An increased risk of bladder cancer
• Death

Luckily, dehydration is easy to treat and prevent — just make sure that you’re getting the right amount of water each day. Sparkling water is a fantastic hydrating alternative if you don’t find tap water appealing. 

The amount of water that you need each day varies from person to person. It depends on your body’s specific needs. Factors that affect the amount of water you need include your: 

• Age
• Gender
• Weight
• Amount of daily physical activity
• Environmental conditions — like the temperature and humidity

When you drink water can also matter. For example, some sources recommend that you begin your day with three full cups of water before eating or drinking anything else.  

Find the amount of water intake that’s best for you. Remember to drink more than normal when you exercise or when it’s hot out. If you’re struggling to get enough water each day, try mixing up the variety. 

Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist if you’re concerned that you’re not getting enough water. 

With so many different brands of sparkling water on the market, it can be hard to find the one that’s right for you. In general, the healthiest option for sparkling water is a pure seltzer. These products don’t have any unhealthy additives, so their nutrition labels should have zero calories and zero sugar. 

Other sparkling waters have a variety of additives. These include: 

• Sugar: Any amount of added sugar makes sparkling water less healthy for you than regular water. If there’s too much sugar, the drink will be closer to a soda than water. 
• Artificial sweeteners: You should try to limit the number of artificial sweeteners — like aspartame — in your diet. But small quantities should be OK. We need more research to fully understand their effects on your health. 
• Artificial flavors: These are fine for your health in small quantities. Look for brands that use natural fruit juice for a healthier alternative. 
• Sodium: Some types of carbonated water can have 100 to 200 milligrams of sodium per can. This can become a problem if you drink a lot of these products.  

Always check the nutrition label before deciding on a new regular brand of sparkling water. Even the worst of them will still be healthier than most types of soda — but it’s still good to know exactly what you’re drinking. 

The main health concern related to sparkling water is that it may increase gas and bloat in certain people. You should avoid sparkling and carbonated drinks if you have intestinal problems — like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — or if you often experience acid reflux. This includes people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

If you fall into either of these categories, then you may want to stick to uncarbonated beverages like flavored water. But everyone's body is different. You’ll ultimately need to see for yourself whether or not sparkling water is right for you.