Also called carbonated water, club soda is actually a fizzy drink made by combining plain water and carbon dioxide. People add carbonated water to soft drinks to get that bubbly, effervescent effect that enhances the drinking pleasure. Since it tastes refreshing, many people drink club soda without adding it to any other drink. While club soda is popular, many people have health concerns about drinking too much of it. Are there any side effects associated with the idea of drinking club soda?

Is Club Soda Bad for You?

No, it’s not. Club soda is actually a bit different from other types of carbonated drinks in that it contains regulated amounts of different minerals, including calcium, sodium, zinc, and iron. The presence of these minerals makes it a healthier choice. There are some other reasons why you might consider adding it in your diet. For instance:

1.       It Contains No Calories

If you are looking for a calorie-free drink to quench your thirst, try club soda. It contains no calories or added sugar, which is the reason why you can consider it safe for your health. This feature makes club soda different from fruit-flavored drinks and sodas that contain liquid calories and affect your calorie intake, especially if you are having several drinks a day. You can cut calories by replacing those fruit-flavored drinks with club soda. It also lowers your risk of developing sugar related diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, cancer, and blood pressure.

2.       It Contains Minerals

Is club soda bad for you? No, considering the minerals it contains. A 12oz. serving of club soda provides you with absolutely no fat, calories, carbs, fat, sugar, or fiber. However, it provides you with 0.04mg of iron, 18mg of calcium, 7mg of potassium, 4mg of magnesium, 0.35mg of zinc, 75mg of sodium, 0.0004mg of manganese, and 0.021mg of copper. While it contains a negligible amount of some nutrients, it still has them. Therefore, it is a much better alternative to other sugary beverages.

3.       It Quenches Thirst

Unlike those sugar beverages that fail to quench thirst, club soda is quite effective in this regard and actually counts toward your daily intake of fluid. You need to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, normalize your body temperature, protect your spinal cord, keep your joint function properly, and flush toxins out of your system. You can go for club soda if you really love the bubble sensation of a soda and you do not have to worry about any side effects.

However, Do Take It in Moderation

Is club soda bad for you? No, it is not, so long as you are taking it in moderation. Drinking club soda in large quantities can increase calcium and sodium in your diet, which can cause several health complications. For instance:

Increasing Your Sodium Intake

Too much of sodium in the body can cause an imbalance of sodium and water. It could prove detrimental for the health of your kidneys – your kidneys will have to work harder to eliminate sodium from your system to maintain a balance. It can also increase your blood volume and cause cardiovascular problems.

Since club soda contains up to 75 milligramsof sodium, it is therefore important to ensure that you drink club soda in moderation. This becomes even important considering the fact that your body requires no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day.

Increasing Your Calcium Intake

Is club soda bad for you? No, but drink it in moderation. Just like sodium, excessive calcium intake can cause several health related problems. While your body really needs calcium to regulate certain functions, too much of it can cause complications. Therefore, you should drink club soda in moderation to ensure you are not increasing the levels of calcium in the body. Research shows that too much of calcium in the body can cause cardiovascular problems.

The recommended daily amount of calcium is 1,000 mg of calcium. A can (474g) of club soda contains about 24 mg of calcium. As other foods you eat also contain calcium, it is important to limit the club soda you drink.