Is Carbonation Itself the Villain?
Despite popular belief, carbonation alone likely isn’t the culprit behind bone health issues. Take sparkling water as an example. It doesn’t appear to negatively affect bone density. A small clinical trial compared two groups of healthy postmenopausal women. One group drank about one quart of non-carbonated mineral water daily. The other consumed the same amount of carbonated mineral water. After eight weeks, tests for bone turnover showed no difference between the groups.
Manufacturers create carbonation by dissolving carbon dioxide in a liquid under pressure. “This creates that characteristic fizz when you open a carbonated drink,” explains one source. Scientists haven’t linked carbonation itself to bone problems. Many mineral waters contain carbonation while providing rich calcium and mineral content. Some offer 150 mg or more of calcium per liter, potentially supporting bone health rather than harming it.