Fizzy water might aid weight loss by boosting blood glucose uptake and metabolism-the rate at which the body uses and converts energy-but the effects are so small, drinking it can't be relied on alone to shed the pounds, concludes a brief analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. There are no quick fixes to slimming down and keeping off the weight, says the author: regular physical activity and a healthy balanced diet are still essential, added to which the long term effects of drinking large amounts of carbonated water aren't known. Because fizzy water is 'filling,' thereby helping to curb hunger pangs, and reportedly speeds up digestion and lowers blood glucose levels, it has been heralded as a potential slimming aid.
But it's not clear exactly how carbonated water might reduce blood glucose or how this might contribute to weight management, points out the author. To try and find out, the author compared the process of drinking fizzy water with haemodialysis, whereby blood is filtered (dialysed) to remove waste and excess water when the kidneys no longer can, drawing on previously published research. Haemodialysis turns blood alkaline, primarily producing carbon dioxide (CO2).
Similarly, the CO2 of fizzy water is absorbed through the stomach lining and is rapidly converted to bicarbonate (HCO3) in red blood cells. This alkalinisation process speeds up glucose absorption and use by activating key enzymes in red blood cells, explains the.
