Trendy Sparkling Water Will Actually Give You Just As Much Hydration As Boring Old Water

Whenever your mom told you to drink more water growing up, did you groan and say, “But it tastes boooooring?” Yeah, us too. Look, the fact is this: Water — while absolutely not an acquired taste — is just not on the top of anyone’s list of beverages. Flavored water or bubbly water? Well, that’s a different story.

A carbonated bevvie provides snaps, crackles, and pops, making the whole hydration experience a little less hum-drum. Throw a little “natural flavoring” in there, and bam — you’ve basically got a nation hooked on your brand (looking at you, La Croix!).

When the summer heat turns up and we go looking for ways to stay healthy during our workouts or crammed commutes, it’s necessary that we get enough hydration. Seriously, dehydration isn’t just about being parched. It’s dangerous. But can carbonated drinks — like bubbly waters, not sodas — actually hydrate you?

The answer seems to be, thankfully, yes! If you’re a fan of chugging carbonated fruity waters or plain seltzer waters, you’re not just getting a one-way ticket to Burp City — you’re also going to get to Hydration Station. (Sorry, enough of the dad jokes.)

Some seltzers (which are made from just two ingredients — water and carbon dioxide) do contain sugar or sodium — but very little or none at all.

These may be your best bet next to plain old H2O. When it comes to La Croix, though, none of us are exactly sure what their “natural essence” is made of, so if you’re into knowing your ingredients, this may be one to skip. (It probably doesn’t help to know La Croix is run by a bunch of jerks who maybe sell cockroach water?)

Anyway, enjoying a bubbly water is still going to add to your hydration and keep you healthy during the dog days of summer.

How do we know? Because according to an article in Refinery 29, Dr. Ron Maughan, professor at St. Andrews University’s School of Medicine, says so.

Dr. Maughan actually conducted a study in 2016 that shows sparkling waters and boring plain waters fall on the same point in the “beverage hydration index.” Plus, the gas in seltzers can’t really affect you, he explained.

You could go with a super-trendy CBD-spiked sparkling water.

CBD, if you’re wondering, is the non-psychoactive sister of THC. It promotes a general sense of calm and is a go-to for anyone who wants to skip drinking alcohol (but still wants to feel great).

Then again, plain old seltzer does the trick.

Pop a can and chug it — you’ll quench your thirst and the full-belly feeling can help stave off cravings for any unhealthy sweets or snacks.

Make some summer magic with a dash of rose water, some muddled cherries, and seltzer. Bonus: This one is Instagram-friendly.

For a kick, cut up some limes and pop them into a glass with seltzer. Squeeze a half lime into the cup for extra tang.

For a more earthy taste, grab some mint from your local grocery and crush a few mint leaves at the bottom of a glass. Pour seltzer and you’ve got a delightful drink.

You can also add *certain* essential oils to your seltzer, along with a few fruits. Raspberries are perfect because they’re small enough to fit into the cup — and you can eat them afterward! Want to learn how to ingest essential oils safely? Check this out.

Kick up your vitamin C levels by popping a few orange slices into a mason jar full of seltzer — and voila!

Hungry? Pop some cotton candy on top of that bad boy and go to town. (Or, you know, just take a pretty Instagram photo and skip the candy — since that sort of goes against the whole idea of healthy beverages.)

With SodaStream, you can make your very own naturally-flavored bubbly waters. Look at all those flavors! Plus, you’ll save money in the end.

This Canadian brand was so beloved it was resurrected from the dead after people demanded it come back. And it comes in a fancy glass bottle!

In the end, you should be drinking eight 8-ounce glasses, which comes out to about a half a gallon per day. Whether you’re getting it from the tap, creating beautiful bubbly drinks of your own, or popping open a sparkling water can, you’ll want to keep hydrated — especially during the warmer months.