4. It Could Expose You to Harmful Compounds
Consumer Reports tested 12 carbonated water brands for four specific heavy metals and 30 PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The researchers didn’t detect any heavy metals in any of the carbonated water brands they tested.
But they did find PFAS in sparkling and seltzer water. PFAS are a class of chemicals also known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down and can build up in your body and the environment.
More specifically, the Consumer Reports tests detected PFAS in certain flavors of certain brands.
That said, the sparkling waters’ PFAS levels detected were all well below the voluntary limits put out by the EPA.
Can You Drink Too Much Seltzer or Sparkling Water?
The answer isn’t so simple. It depends on your body, your reaction to carbonation, and the type of fizzy water you drink.
Carbonation is not inherently bad for you, and it is not bad to drink a lot of sparkling water. But if you find that sipping seltzer leads to side effects like gas or bloating, you may want to scale back on fizzy drinks or opt for still water instead. What’s more, aim to drink beverages that don’t contain additives like sugar or caffeine.
The bottom line: Listen to your body.
5. You Might Get Overactive Bladder Symptoms
Drinking carbonated water is also linked with symptoms of overactive bladder. This condition affects nearly a quarter of the adult U.S. population, and it’s typically more prevalent in people assigned female at birth than in people assigned male at birth.
Symptoms of overactive bladder include urinary urgency, or a sudden urge to pee, that may or may not come with incontinence.
Drinking as little as one carbonated beverage per week upped the risk of urinary stress incontinence in middle-aged people, according to a review in Medicina that studied more than 6,000 people assigned female at birth. And drinking one a day doubles the risk of stress incontinence.
6. It Might Add Extra Sodium to Your Diet
In most cases, too much carbonated water is not bad for you. But some varieties may contain additional ingredients that aren’t so good for your health.
Take club soda, for instance. Often used as a mixer for alcoholic drinks, club soda usually has added minerals, including potassium and sodium, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Both minerals are crucial for your health, but it’s important to limit sodium. Some brands of club soda can have up to 100 mg of sodium per 12 oz, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
That amount may not seem like a lot, but most adults already take in too much sodium in their daily diets — more than 3,400 mg per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So if you drink several club sodas each day, that’s going to add a lot of extra sodium to your diet.
Taking in too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and is linked to the development of heart disease and stroke, according to the CDC. That’s why adults should aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, according to the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
7. It Can Harm Your Kidneys (if You Have Kidney Disease)
Similarly, the excess sodium in club soda is best avoided if you have an underlying kidney condition, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Too much sodium can build up in your body and cause further issues, including:
- Swollen ankles
- Puffiness
- Blood pressure spikes
- Shortness of breath
- Fluid buildup around your heart and lungs
That’s why it’s best to limit your sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day if you have a kidney disorder or high blood pressure, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
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