Weight loss may be helped by drinking sparkling water, study suggests

Water is known to be a great resource for good health — but sparkling water could also offer unique benefits.A new report published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health suggests that carbonated water may support weight loss by enhancing glucose uptake and metabolism in red blood cells.The researchers aimed to analyze the physiological effects of carbonated water, as it has been found to induce satiety (feelings of fullness) and gastric motility (movement of food through the body), both of which could reduce hunger.In analyzing a study from 2004, the team found that carbonated water may support weight loss by converting to HCO3 – a byproduct of metabolism – in red blood cells and increasing energy production.But the effect of this is “so small,” the researchers concluded, that it is “difficult to expect weight loss effects solely from the CO2 in carbonated water.”So the researchers noted that sparkling water should not be used on its own as a weight-loss solution — and should instead be “integrated into a broader strategy of healthy living.”Study researcher Dr.Akira Takahashi, head of medicine at Tesseikai Neurosurgical Hospital in Osaka, Japan, conducted the original research 20 years ago.In an interview with Fox News Digital, Takahashi said this new report underscores how carbonated water impacts weight loss by promoting the sensation of fullness, which can reduce food intake and lower overall calorie consumption.Carbonated water burning calories through CO2 absorption is “insufficient to make a significant difference,” the researcher noted.“For instance, during hemodialysis, even with a continuous supply of CO₂ for four hours, only about 9.5g of glucose is consumed,” he said. “It would be extremely challenging to drink carbonated water continuously for that duration.” (Hemodialysis is a treatment that filters waste and water from the blood for people whose kidneys are not functioning correctly.)“Therefore, I believe ...