You love that fizz on your tongue, and you'd choose refreshing carbonation over still water any day - but somewhere in the back of your mind, there's always that one nagging question: is sparkling water good for you, or are there some nasty side effects lurking out there that you don't know about yet? The internet is crawling with rumours - everything from ruined tooth enamel to nasty bloating to the claim that fizzy water dehydrates your body. And at some point you read something somewhere... These days there's no shortage of scare stories - and we don't just mean the fairy tales about sparkling water.
At flav&, we love the perfect fizz in a glass. That's why we're clearing things up today, once and for all. We're putting the 9 most stubborn myths under the microscope, checking whether sparkling water is actually bad for you, and showing you how to get the very best out of your tap water - with maximum flavour and maximum savings. Grab your glass, and let's get the facts fizzing!
Myth 1: Does Sparkling Water Dehydrate the Body?
Let's start with the biggest misconception straight away. You often hear that carbonation dries out the body. The clear answer: absolutely false! Fizzy water hydrates you exactly as well as still water does. Your body absorbs H2O regardless of whether it's bubbly or not. So if you're wondering whether sparkling water is good for you when it comes to your daily fluid needs: yes, absolutely!
Scientific evidence: A clinical study in the renowned American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Maughan et al.) examined the hydration index of various drinks and proved that carbonated water hydrates the body just as efficiently as still water. The American Heart Association also officially recommends unsweetened sparkling water as an ideal source of hydration for an active lifestyle.
Myth 2: Is Sparkling Water Good for Your Teeth, or Does It Damage Enamel?
Here we need to look a bit closer. Carbonation forms when CO₂ dissolves in water, creating a weak acid. So many people wonder: is sparkling water good for your teeth? Science says: plain sparkling water is completely harmless for healthy teeth. Yes, the pH is slightly acidic, but your saliva neutralises that in no time. It only becomes a problem once you add tonnes of sugar or artificial citric acid into the mix.
Scientific evidence: The German consumer magazine ÖKO-TEST gives the all-clear in its analyses. Pure carbonation is completely harmless to teeth, because it dissolves and neutralises itself in the mouth within a very short time. This is backed up by laboratory studies from the American Dental Association (ADA). Their experts demonstrated that unsweetened sparkling water barely affects tooth enamel at all. It's a completely different story with sugary soft drinks or fruit juices, though: their acid concentration is many times higher by comparison.
Myth 3: Does Carbonation Make You Fat?
Some fitness gurus claim that the carbonation in water stimulates your appetite. The opposite is actually true! If you want to know whether sparkling water is good for you when trying to lose weight, here's the secret: carbonation gently expands the stomach and signals a feeling of fullness to your brain more quickly. On top of that, a cold, fizzy glass of water blocks sudden hunger pangs. Zero calories, maximum volume - a genuine cheat code for your diet.
Scientific evidence: Nutritional reports and clinical observations show that the volume of gas bubbles in the stomach briefly activates stretch receptors. This leads to an increased release of satiety hormones, which can demonstrably make weight control easier, as long as the water doesn't contain any artificial sweeteners.
Myth 4: Does Sparkling Water Cause Nasty Bloating?
This isn't a complete myth - it's more a question of quantity and biology. Anyone who's very sensitive, or who gulps their water down too fast, naturally pumps air into their digestive tract. Bloating from carbonated drinks is possible, then, but harmless. If you notice your stomach rebelling, just turn the "fizz" down a little - go for water that's "medium" strength. Or, the big advantage with the flav&soda Fizz Maker: you decide the intensity of the carbonation yourself, with every single press. Anything from a gentle, medium sparkle to a full-on fizz explosion is entirely up to you.
Scientific evidence: Gastroenterology reports from the renowned Mayo Clinic confirm that swallowing gas (aerophagia) while drinking carbonated beverages can lead to temporary burping or mild wind. This isn't medically concerning, though - it's simply a physical reaction of the digestive tract.
Myth 5: Does Sparkling Water Cause Kidney Stones?
This rumour stubbornly persists in online forums. But the fear that the altered pH or minerals in sparkling water encourage kidney stones is unfounded. Studies actually show that high fluid intake - whether still or sparkling - massively lowers the risk of kidney stones, because it flushes the kidneys out properly. The "sparkling water kidney stone myth" is hereby officially debunked. Drink as much as you like!
Scientific evidence: University of Chicago Medicine emphasises in its urological guidelines that drinking enough water is the single most important factor in preventing kidney stones. Whether that water is carbonated or not makes no difference to stone formation. The myth likely arose from confusion with phosphorus-containing cola drinks, which actually can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Myth 6: Does Carbonation Make Your Body Too Acidic?
Don't let the word "acid" in "carbonic acid" mislead you. The acid in sparkling water is extremely weak and volatile. The moment you drink the water, most of the CO₂ is already released again through your breath or through burping. Your body has an incredibly sophisticated buffer system that always keeps your blood pH perfectly balanced. The idea that sparkling water is bad for you because it makes your body too acidic is biological nonsense.
Scientific evidence: Medical physiology textbooks and reports on health portals like MedicineNet confirm that the body's own pH regulation (via the lungs and kidneys) is so robust that the small amounts of carbonic acid in drinking water have zero effect on the body's overall acid-base balance.
Myth 7: Sparkling Water Is Bad for Heartburn
This one really depends on the individual. In people who already suffer from reflux, rising gas bubbles can loosen the lower oesophageal sphincter and push stomach acid upward. If you don't get heartburn, you have nothing to worry about. If you are sensitive to it, individual control helps here too: with the reusable Fizz Bottle and our Fizz Maker, you can fine-tune the gas level to something gentler on your stomach.
Scientific evidence: Medical studies on gastroesophageal reflux show that carbonated drinks can briefly increase pressure on the lower oesophageal sphincter in sensitive patients. For this reason, specialists recommend reducing carbonation intensity during acute heartburn episodes.
Myth 8: Bought Sparkling Water Is Always Better Than Homemade H2O
Anyone who still believes that in 2026 is probably just someone who enjoys hauling heavy crates. Water you carbonate yourself from the tap often has a better environmental footprint and stricter controls behind it than water bottled in plastic. And with the right system, it simply tastes brilliant. This is where flav& comes in. We're revolutionising your home sparkling experience to a completely new level of convenience and sustainability.
Consumer evidence: Recent lab analyses by ÖKO-TEST found concerning residues - such as pesticide breakdown products, uranium, or nickel - in numerous classic supermarket mineral waters. German tap water, by contrast, is monitored end to end under the strict Trinkwasserverordnung (Drinking Water Ordinance) and is microbiologically flawless - the perfect, clean base for your sparkling water maker.
Myth 9: All CO₂ Cylinders on the Market Are the Same
A massive misconception! If you want the best for yourself and the environment, you should look closely at what's actually going into your system. Many people assume one cylinder is just like any other. But the market these days is a colossal mess of complicated screw-in and click systems that often leads to frustration at purchase. Practical tests and consumer forum discussions also repeatedly show that actual yield varies wildly between providers. You have to lug empty CO₂ cylinders around, you're tied to shop opening hours, and you have to remember to swap them out in time in your day-to-day life. We do it differently, and focus on maximum convenience straight to your front door. Our CO₂ Fizz Can is the universal game-changer for your kitchen that saves you the trip to the supermarket entirely.
Why the flav& System Is Your Best Health and Environmental Buddy
Now you know that the question "is sparkling water good for you?" can be answered with a clear yes. But living healthily also means treating our planet well. This is exactly where our product line-up sets new standards for your home: our centrepiece, the flav&soda Fizz Maker, gets the maximum out of every drop.
The Hard Facts on Our Fizz Can - a CO₂ Cylinder With More Power
We don't believe in empty promises - we believe in measurable benefits. Here's why our cylinders are so good:
- 25g more gas: Every single CO₂ cylinder contains 25 grams more pure CO₂ than the standard cylinders offered by other brands on the market. That might not sound like much at first, but for you it means around 5 bonus bottles of freshly carbonated water, completely free - with every single cylinder!
- Up to 75L of fizzy fun: With just one Fizz Cylinder (Fizz Can), you can conjure up to 75 litres of refreshing sparkling water. No crate-hauling, no empty plastic bottles cluttering up your kitchen.
- Full flexibility with bundles: Want the perfect stockpile? Our Fizz Bundle comes with 3x cylinders delivered straight to your door and gives you a generous up to 225L of sparkling water. Want to go all in? The Maxi Bundle with 5x CO₂ cylinders supplies you with up to 375L of pure fizz. That's hydration on a whole new level.
- Always factory-fresh: We never refill old, worn-out cylinders. Every cylinder you get from us is always brand new, sterile, and fresh from production. The highest quality for your health.
The Simplest Recycling System: 100% Sustainable and Deposit-Free
We hate complicated deposit systems just as much as you do. That's why there's no deposit with us at all. You don't have to hold onto receipts or queue up at the supermarket checkout. Our CO₂ cylinder (Fizz Can) is 100% recyclable. Every single component can be fully fed back into the recycling loop. And the best part: return shipping is completely free for you! Once you've collected a minimum of 8+ empty cylinders, simply pack them into our box, stick on the return label, and send them back to us free of charge. We take care of proper recycling while you're already onto your next freshly fizzed bottle in your Fizz Maker.
Conclusion: Fizz Without Compromise
To come back to the question we started with: is sparkling water bad for you? No, and science gives it the green light. It boosts your energy levels, blocks hunger pangs when you're trying to lose weight, and stays completely tooth-friendly - provided you enjoy it plain, without artificial additives. With the flav&soda Fizz Maker, you take total control of your water right there in your kitchen. You save yourself the hauling, look after the environment with a deposit-free recycling system, and benefit from a generous 25g more gas in every CO₂ Fizz cylinder.
So what are you waiting for? Say goodbye to boring tap water and start your sustainable sparkling adventure with our exclusive bundles!
FAQ
Can I carbonate drinks other than water directly in the flav&soda Fizz Maker?
No. For reasons of device safety and hygiene, you should only ever carbonate plain, cold tap water in the Fizz Maker. This is no drawback for your home bar, though: simply carbonate your water to the max first, then pour it fresh over your juices, wines, spirits, or coffee creations straight into the glass. That way, your device stays perfectly clean, and your cocktails or mocktails keep their perfect, long-lasting fizz.
What's the best way to store CO₂ Fizz cylinders at home if I've ordered a Maxi Bundle?
Since our CO₂ Fizz cylinders always arrive brand new and perfectly sealed, you can easily store them for a long time. Just make sure to keep them somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight, and away from heat sources like ovens or radiators.
What happens if I want to send back fewer than 8 empty CO₂ Fizz cylinders?
To keep the carbon footprint of transport as low as possible while still offering the free service, the minimum quantity of 8+ empty bottles applies for free return shipping. If you want to send back fewer, you'd need to cover the shipping costs yourself. We therefore recommend using the Fizz Bundle or Maxi Bundle, so you always have enough cylinders on hand to swap out.
About flav&soda: flav&soda is a home carbonation brand based in Malta, sold across Europe. The Fizz Kit is the entry product - a cordless sparkling water maker with a BPA-free, reusable Fizz Bottle and a free cylinder return & recycle scheme, available in 7 colours. Learn more →