Fizzy water is gassed.
When the waiter or waitress at a restaurant says, "sparkling or still water?", it's hard not to opt for the bubbly variety. It just seems more invigorating.
But a new study is putting a dampener on the accompaniment. Sparkling water, often viewed as the healthier alternative to other carbonated soft drinks, could trigger a 'hunger hormone', according to scientists.
It's been suggested by researchers at Birzeit University in the Palestinian West Bank. They've been monitoring rats' behaviour and weight gain – rodents on a diet of sparkling water put on more weight than their still water counterparts.
The study says that carbonated water increases a key hunger hormone called ghrelin. When this spikes, we're susceptible to eating more than we would otherwise.
Birzeit also analysed humans. Those who had sparkling water at breakfast were found to have six times more ghrelin than those who'd refrained – and therefore had taken in more calories throughout the day. Is it why restaurants like to ply us with fizz? Perhaps.
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: “The Department of Health must now curb the use of any chemicals that impinge on health and that should include carbon dioxide if this effect is replicated in further studies.”
We must note that the study isn't conclusive. If you fancy some fizzy water with dinner, have some. And, regardless of anything, the drink is still a far, far better option than a can of Coke – if you're trying to lose weight.
It's unsurprising too that the director of the British Soft Drinks Association isn't too keen on the research.
Gavin Partington told the Mail : “There is no body of scientific evidence that carbon dioxide contained in soft drinks – or even beer – causes increased hunger or obesity.
“It is bad science just to assume an outcome from a study on rats will be the same for humans.”