The Major Benefit Of Drinking Sparkling Water During Summer
While any one of us is prone to dehydration at any time of the year, that risk can significantly increase during the summer. More time spent outdoors in the sun coupled with increased sweating from hot temperatures and before you know it, your fluids need replenishing yet again.
Out of all possible beverages, water is your best option when it comes to staying hydrated overall. This is especially critical for those who work outside during the summer months. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person should drink one 8-ounce glass of water every 15 to 20 minutes on workdays spent out in the heat. Don't wait until you're feeling parched before reaching for a water bottle. Instead, be prepared and stay ahead of dehydration.
However, if still water is just a bit too boring for you, consider shaking things up with sparkling water instead. Not only will it keep you sufficiently hydrated, but science shows that it may come with another perk as well.
Sparkling water may give you a summer mood boost
That sudden tingling sensation you feel on your tongue after taking a swig of carbonated water is enough to wake anyone up. But, along with being physically stimulating, drinking sparkling water in the summertime may gift us with an extra benefit in the form of a welcome mood boost. A 2022 study published in Physiology & Behavior compared the effects of carbonated and non-carbonated drinking water on mood, cerebral blood flow, and other physiological heat responses in 17 healthy adults at rest in a 98.6-degree Fahrenheit environment.
Increased cerebral blood flow was observed in relation to both beverages, although more so with carbonated water. While no changes were seen in some of the other physiological heat responses, such as heart rate or perspiration, carbonated water yielded greater increases in motivation and feelings of exhilaration over still water. Furthermore, carbonated water was also more effective in lessening feelings of participant sleepiness. Overall, the research findings showed that drinking cold, carbonated water while at rest in hot environments may raise blood pressure, improve cerebral blood flow, heighten mood, and increase wakefulness.
Sparkling water vs. still water
Who doesn't love a good mood boost while replenishing your body with the fluids it needs? Talk about a two-for-one deal! In fact, some research shows that sparkling water may satisfy your thirst even better than still water. In a 2016 study published in PLoS ONE, researchers looked at the thirst-quenching effects of different beverages on nearly 100 liquid-deprived adults. The beverages varied in temperature, cooling sensations, sweetness, carbonation, and more. Thirst satisfaction was measured based on how much still water participants drank from a provided jug after drinking their assigned beverage.
When it came to carbonation, researchers compared room-temperature still water with room-temperature carbonated water. Carbonated water proved to be more satisfying, as individuals drank far less jug water afterward than those who initially drank still water. This remained true even when the researchers factored in temperature changes. Participants still drank less jug water after drinking a cold, carbonated beverage than they did after consuming cold still water.
Based on all the available research, you may want to try popping open a bottle of sparkling water the next time a hot day rolls around. In doing so, you'll likely be setting yourself up for a refreshing, hydrating, mood-boosting season all summer long.