What are the differences between sparkling mineral water and soda?
Sparkling water, as Healthline describes it, gets its bubbles naturally from a spring or well and contains natural minerals; plain versions have no sugar or calories. Regular soda is a sweetened drink, so it contains sugar or sweeteners and calories. The word soda can also mean club soda, which is plain carbonated water with added minerals and also has zero calories.
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In this article
What is the difference between sparkling mineral water and soda?
The main difference is what is in the glass besides bubbles. Sparkling mineral water carries naturally occurring minerals and has no sugar or calories. A sweetened soda carries sugar or sweeteners. The confusion comes from the word soda, which people use for both sugary soft drinks and club soda or soda water.
Comparison of common fizzy waters
| Drink | Bubbles | Minerals or additives | Calories and sugar (12 oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling mineral water | Natural bubbles from a spring or well (per Healthline) | Calcium, sodium, magnesium from the source | 0 |
| Club soda | Carbon dioxide injected | Added salts such as sodium bicarbonate | 0 |
| Seltzer | Carbon dioxide injected | Generally none added | 0 |
| Tonic water | Carbonated | Added minerals and quinine | About 124 calories and 32 g sugar in one reported example |
Healthline notes that the minerals in club soda and sparkling water mostly affect taste and are unlikely to give health benefits at those amounts.
Is sparkling mineral water healthier than soda?
Plain, unsweetened sparkling water has no calories or sugar, so it is an easy swap for sweet soda. Sweetened soda adds sugar and calories. Do not assume health benefits beyond that; claims about digestion, weight or disease are not established by the sources checked here.
How to choose
- Read the ingredients: plain mineral water lists only water, carbon dioxide and sometimes minerals.
- Check flavored waters for sugar or sweeteners.
- Choose club soda or seltzer as a cocktail mixer; tonic water is sweet and bitter, so it changes a drink more.
Common mistakes
- Treating tonic water as a zero calorie mixer.
- Assuming every drink labeled sparkling is unsweetened.
People also ask
Does sparkling mineral water have sugar?
Plain sparkling mineral water has no sugar or calories. Flavored versions can, so read the label.
Is club soda the same as sparkling mineral water?
No. Club soda is carbonated water with added salts for taste. Sparkling mineral water gets its minerals from its source.
Which fizzy water has calories?
Tonic water. Plain sparkling mineral water, club soda and seltzer have none.
Sources
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