New study suggests sparkling water may help curb hunger

According to its recent report, Fox News highlights that experts are suggesting that while carbonated water may have some potential benefits for weight loss, it should not be relied upon as a sole solution. 

Water is widely recognized for its health benefits, but sparkling water may provide additional advantages.

A recent study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention, and Health indicates that carbonated water could aid in weight loss by improving glucose uptake and metabolism in red blood cells.

The researchers sought to examine the physiological effects of carbonated water, finding that it helps promote satiety (feelings of fullness) and gastric motility (the movement of food through the digestive system), both of which could contribute to reduced hunger.

In reviewing a 2004 study, the team discovered that carbonated water could aid weight loss by transforming into HCO3, a metabolic byproduct, within red blood cells, potentially boosting energy production.

However, the researchers concluded that the impact of this process is "so small" that it would be "difficult to expect weight loss effects solely from the CO2 in carbonated water."

The researchers emphasized that sparkling water should not be relied upon as a standalone weight-loss solution, but rather "integrated into a broader strategy of healthy living."

Dr. Akira Takahashi, the head of medicine at Tesseikai Neurosurgical Hospital in Osaka, Japan, and the original researcher behind the study conducted 20 years ago, shared insights in an interview with Fox News Digital. He explained that this new report highlights how carbonated water influences weight loss by increasing feelings of fullness, which can help reduce food intake and overall calorie consumption.

However, Takahashi pointed out that the calorie-burning effect of CO2 absorption in carbonated water is "insufficient to make a significant difference."

"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 it is unlikely that carbonated water alone could lead to weight loss," Takahashi said.

Further research is needed to fully understand the effect of carbonation on weight loss due to fullness, according to the researcher.

Carbonated water should be incorporated into a "broader strategy" of healthy living, according to experts.

"Water in general is great for you, but if interested in losing weight, there is more to it," Dr. Kathleen Jordan, chief medical officer and weight management specialist for MediHealth in California, told Fox News Digital. 

Dietary choices and activity levels are more likely to be impactful, the expert said, and medications can be "hugely helpful" for those who struggle to manage their weight.

By Naila Huseynova