The Elemental Guide to Water

Seltzer and Your Health: All Your Questions, Answered

Everything you need to know about bubbly water and your body

This story is part of The Elemental Guide to Water, a five-part special report on the health benefits of water, the science behind seltzer, the truth about fancy H2O, the safety of tap water, and how much water you really need to drink.

Sparkling mineral water, seltzer, club soda — whatever you call it, carbonated water has permeated the market to the point of canned cocktails and anti-aging face wash. But how does it match up to regular water? Is it healthy for your body (or your skin)? Can you drink too much of it?

Health experts, for their part, aren’t complaining about your insatiable appetite for LaCroix — though they do wonder why nobody can muster as much excitement for tap water, arguably one of civilization’s greatest achievements. (Unless you live in, say, Flint, Newark, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, or Milwaukee.)

Anything that gets people drinking more water is a good thing, says Melissa Majumdar, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Seltzer is absolutely a good choice in moderation,” she says between swigs of a can of bubbly water made by a brand whose name…