Last Updated on November 9, 2023 by Fasting Planet
Can i drink sparkling water while i’m fasting? On an average day, you sip a refreshing bottle of sparkling water. You greatly enjoy the pop and buzz of the beverage and how refreshing it feels as it hits your throat. When intermittent fasting, do you have to quit your carbonated beverage habit or can you still drink it?
If your carbonated water is zero-calorie and only uses natural flavoring, then you can safely consume sparkling water without worrying about breaking your fast.
In this article, we’ll discuss more about this, why it’s safe for a fast, and whether mineral H2O is also acceptable. Keep reading, as you’re not going to want to miss it.
What Is Sparkling Water?
First, let’s explain carbonated beverages in more detail.
Also referred to as fizzywater, sodawater, or carbonatedwater, sparklingwater is standard H2O with carbon dioxide gas within. Some sparkling water manufacturers add the carbonization through geological processes while others will inject the gas using pressurized means.
This gives it bubbles and fizziness much similar soda or diet soda. The acidity of carbonated beverages is also higher compared to drinking a standard glass of non-bubbling water. That said, the acidity shouldn’t damage your teeth, as your saliva can neutralize its effects. You don’t get that same benefit if you sip on soda.
Can I Drink Sparkling Water While Fasting? What about Fasting?
Perhaps you’re a La Croix drinker, or maybe you fancy Perrier or San Pellegrino better. Either way, you always have a bottle or glass of carbonated beverage with your meals, as the beverage livens up any dish.
Whether you have to quit your favorite carbonated beverage for a time depends on the type you favor.
Can i drink sparkling water while i’m fasting?
La Croix says on their website that they don’t use any artificial ingredients, sweeteners, or sugars in their carbonated beverages. The flavors have natural essences instead. A can also contains zero calories, zero sodium, and zero sugar. That makes it safe to drink on an intermittent fast.
The same is true of Perrier’s carbonated beverage, especially their unflavored variety. However, if you wanted to sip something from the Perrier & Juice line, you would not be in the clear. The Peach & Cherry beverage contains 60 calories a can, 12 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of carbs.
Why is this a bad thing?
When you’re intermittent fasting, you’re trying to deplete your body’s supply of glucose. To do this, you need to stop providing glucose through caloric foods and beverages, especially those with a lot of sugar and carbs. You also have to burn through your body’s glucose supply, which can take days depending on how much leftover sugar is stored in your liver.
When you go through all that glucose, your body switches to burning fat for energy instead. This will help you trim your body so you not only lose weight, but fat as well.
Ingesting calories can break your fast, especially if it’s more than say, 30 or 50 calories a day. The sugars and carbs in a beverage like Perrier & Juice can cause an insulin response that makes your liver release glucose. Now your body is back to burning glucose instead of fat, stalling your weight loss efforts. That does not help your body.
That’s why you’d want to avoid a carbonated beverage line as Perrier & Juice so you can stay on track to meet your fasting goals. That said, drinking regular Perrier, La Croix, or other brands of zero-calorie carbonated beverage with no artificial sweeteners will not break your fast.
Sparkling Water and Fasting
What if you’re trying a stricter type of intermittent fast such as a fast?
On a fast, you’re permitted no food so you don’t break your fast. You drink primarily H2O, but you can also augment your consumption with low-calorie choices such as green tea, black tea, or black coffee. Can you add carbonated beverage to the list of acceptable beverages?
The same rules as above apply. If you can stick to a brand of carbonated beverage that has no calories, carbs, or sugar, then it should be permissible to savor a glass or two on a fast and not break your fast.. The carbonation of your beverage will almost make it feel as you’re drinking soda but without the sugar and calories.
Also, if you particularly enjoy carbonated beverage, the sense of satisfaction you get from drinking it when combined with the temporary feeling of stomach fullness that the drink can bring will make getting through your fasting period easier.
Is Mineral Water OK to Drink for Fasting?
What if you’re more of a fan of mineral water than sparkling? Mineral water is that which comes from a mineral spring that contains natural sources of sulfur compounds, salts, and other minerals. These minerals remain in your bottle, hence the name of this mineral-based beverage.
You can buy your mineral H2O with some sparkle or without depending on your preferences. The beverage is calorie-free, but per cup, you’re ingesting 5 milligrams of sodium, 2 percent of calcium, and 1 percent of magnesium.
Magnesium doesn’t break a fast, nor does calcium. Salt or sodium is good to ingest, especially if you exercise during an intermittent fast, as it renews lost electrolytes.
Overall then, mineral H2O, like other carbonated beverages, is a safe beverage choice for intermittent fasting.
Conclusion
Sparkling H2O has carbonation like soda but none of the calories, sugar, or carbs. That makes it a reliably safe beverage choice in intermittent and longer-term fasts.
That said, do make sure your carbonated beverage has no added sweeteners and no calories to avoid an insulin response.