Sparkling water could be hindering your weight loss

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The problem with drinking is not the amount of calories. It’s just that it can encourage you to eat more, according to research from the Birzeit University, in Palestine, which claims that gas (carbon dioxide) activates the production of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. But the conclusion is not a consensus: “The number of participants in the study is small”, claims nutritionist Elaine de Pádua, from São Paulo.

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But she advises against daily consumption of carbonated water for other reasons. “It has additives that favor fluid retention, and although some people claim they eat less because gas fills the stomach, what it really causes is muscle distension and flatulence.” This makes the belly bloated and visible. It is best to drink natural water, and up to 500 ml, away from meals.

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