Sparkling Water and Soft Drinks During Pregnancy

Unsweetened sparkling water can be safely consumed when you're pregnant, but soda during pregnancy can produce various health problems.

There are opinions going around that sparkling water and soft drinks during pregnancy are a bad idea because they cause a series of diseases and come to increase conditions that women may experience during this period. It’s also said that, for example, the refined sugar in soft drinks causes heartburn and makes you bloated.

As we know you’re concerned about keeping you and your baby healthy, we0ve decided to investigate this issue. And, as you’ll see, we’ll dispel some myths that are woven around this theme.

Dangers of sparkling water during pregnancy

Sparkling water is basically water with carbonic acid, in addition to some minerals, depending on the source it comes from. Despite these compounds, the myth that this drink is harmful during pregnancy is false. Here, we’ll explain why.

Carbonated water (sparkling water) isn’t recommended for those people, pregnant or not, who suffer from flatulence and aerophagia, as carbonic acid would increase the amount of gas in your body. But despite these two discomforts, there are no contraindications for pregnant women when it comes to drinking it. However, there is talk of some benefits that the compound could bring them.

Since carbonic acid enters the body, it favors the secretion of gastric juices and stimulates digestion, so drinking sparkling water could be a good way to alleviate heavy intakes during pregnancy and would work very well in those women who suffer from dyspepsia.

At the same time, compared to normal water, it has a higher number of minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, iron, and sodium.

The popular belief that carbonated water is highly caloric and that you shouldn’t drink it if you’re overweight is also false.

For all of these reasons, we can say that as long as it’s only water and carbonic acid, there’s no danger involved in drinking it.

Keep in mind that drinking water before meals, whether or not it’s carbonated, has been shown to increase the feeling of fullness. This reduces the risk of snacking between meals.

And in terms of hydration, it fulfills exactly the same function as normal water, but if you’re in an uncontrolled health situation, bottled water with or without gas will be the best option.

Soft drinks during pregnancy

Unlike carbonated water, soft drinks are harmful to health, whether or not you’re expecting a child.

You should know that these drinks could easily occupy the top positions in the category of “junk food”, as they contain high amounts of sucrose, fructose, artificial flavorings, and caffeine. These elements are capable of promoting obesity, according to a study published in Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

They also have many other compounds that increase body fat, are carcinogenic, cause damage to tooth enamel, cause cavities, and produce dependence.

These and many other factors are responsible for diseases such as:

• Diabetes
• Kidney diseases
• Obesity
• Heart diseases
• Cavities. It’s proven that the acid in these carbonated liquids affects tooth enamel.
• Osteoporosis

These are all conditions that, if you’re expecting a child, can endanger the health of your little one and lead you to be diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy.

Drinking soft drinks during pregnancy also works against good nutrition.

With regard to the caffeine found in carbonated soft drinks, caution is necessary. In high doses, this alkaloid is capable of precipitating a miscarriage, in addition to causing toxicity. It’s best to restrict its consumption during pregnancy.

The best liquid to maintain hydration is water

Although it’s possible to consume sparkling water during pregnancy, you must bear in mind that the best option will always be mineral water. In fact, it’s advisable to consume this slightly cool liquid given its ability to cause rapid and efficient gastric emptying. It doesn’t usually cause discomfort and guarantees a good state of hydration.

You should also note that it doesn’t contain sugars or toxic compounds among its ingredients. For this reason, it’s always recommended as a cornerstone in any diet.

Drink sparkling water, but not soft drinks

The human body is made up of water and needs this renewable natural resource (although some experts already consider it non-renewable) to perform all its functions; that’s why you have to drink water on a regular basis.

If you’re pregnant and you drink sparkling water because that’s your preference, perfect. There’s no danger in you drinking it if you don’t suffer from flatulence or aerophagia. But, listen carefully, limit your intake of carbonated soft drinks during pregnancy because they can cause you a number of health problems.