Sparkling water could promote obesity

Who is to blame for obesity? Carbohydrates or fats? A metabolic disorder? The gluttony? Industrial food or simple sugars? Surely there is a bit of everything, but if your goal is to lose a few kilos to promote your health, it is worth it. take into account all possible factors… Not forgetting the sparkling water.

Have you thought about sparkling water? That’s right: carbonated drinks, even carbonated water without calories, they favor the accumulation of fat in the body, according to a study carried out by scientists from Birzeit University in Ramallah (Palestine).

Sparkling water stimulates the hunger hormone

The researchers, led by Dr. Johnny Stiban, set out to compare the effects on weight and liver values ​​of different beverages: tap water, lemonades, soft drinks, and still and sparkling mineral water.

The results showed that people who drank carbonated drinks tended to gain weight more than those who did not take them. And they also had increased liver values ​​that are related to excess body fat. The studies were carried out first with laboratory animals for a whole year and then with people.

The bubbles whose tickle on the palate we like so much are made up of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide has no calories, but it stimulates the appetite. According to the authors of the study, published in Obesity Research and Clinical Practice Journal, it does so by stimulating the secretion of ghrelin in the stomach mucosa. Ghrelin is the hormone that when it reaches the brain transmits a message: hunger.

expands the stomach

A high ghrelin level means being constantly hungry and hungry, but how does ghrelin mobilize carbon dioxide? According to the authors, carbon dioxide expands the stomach and exerts stimulating pressure on the cells that produce ghrelin. According to research, the production of ghrelin multiply by 6 in people who drink carbonated water.

Of course, you can’t put all the blame for excess appetite and obesity on bubbles. They are just one more small factor. But losing weight is not an easy goal, and if you’re trying, you might want to cut out carbonated drinks or moderate your consumption.

conflicting studies

The study will surely be controversial, since many previous investigations on sparkling water considered it suitable for weight loss being caloric, and it was supposed to promote the feeling of satiety.

Several scientists already have called for more studies to verify the effect discovered by Stiban’s team.