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Sparkling Water vs. Still: Exploring Both Beverage Options

Glass of sparkling water with citrus fruit garnish beside glass of iced still water
Updated on July 25th 2023

In 2017, bottled water became the most popular beverage in America, and in the years since consumption of bottled water has continued to climb; from 14.4 billion gallons in 2018 to 15 billion gallons in 2019, to 15.3 billion gallons last year. Still water makes up the bulk of that, but sparkling water has been slowly gaining ground on its non-carbonated cousin.

Still water is the water we all know, the stuff that comes out of our taps and that most people buy in large bottles without thinking twice about it. Sparkling water is often considered more of a luxury than a necessity and can be anything from Perrier to our Sparkling CBD Waters. That is, it may be naturally effervescent like Perrier or it may be carbonated like CBD Sparkling Water.

In this post we’re going to look at the two different types of bottled drinking water, talk a little about their histories and go over the relative pros and cons of each. Still water first.

Bottled Still Water History

Still water needs no introduction. It’s the stuff we all need to survive and that humans have been drinking since humans first walked the earth. It's water without the salt found in seawater. Some still water is pulled from gigantic underground aquifers, in other places still water is sourced from rivers and lakes that are replenished by rain, and in other places still water comes from melting glaciers.

Bottled still water is a relatively recent phenomenon and owes its existence in no small part to the successful marketing of sparkling mineral water like Perrier in the 1970s. Once beverage companies realized people would buy water in bottles like they would buy soda, the bottled water industry took off like a rocket.

Still Water Pros and Cons

Even if bottles were never invented, we'd still need still water every day of our lives. What we’re talking about here is bottled still water, not the stuff that comes out of the tap. That said, let’s look at the pros and cons of still water.

Pros of Still Water

  • Convenience - If you pop a bottle of still water into your backpack before you go out you won’t have to worry about the enervating effects of dehydration.
  • Widespread availability - Some stores may not carry beer, some may not carry fruit juice, some may not even carry sparkling water, but they all carry bottled still water.
  • Ease of storage - People love to drink their bottled water cold when possible but the fact is you don’t need to put it in the fridge. You can store it anywhere and it doesn’t spoil.
  • Safety - One of the big reasons bottled still water took off is that people were becoming concerned with the quality of the water coming out of their tap.
  • Affordability - While it’s more expensive than tap water, bottled still water costs a lot less than other bottled beverages.

Cons of Still Water

  • Pollution - The world is drowning in plastic and the billions of water bottles produced and carelessly discarded every year are a big reason.
  • It contributes to climate change - That’s right. Those billions of plastic bottles are a petroleum product. Creating them all from oil sends vast amounts of CO2 into the air.
  • Potential health problems - Bottled water causes no problems for billions of people. But it is theoretically possible that certain chemicals could leach from older bottles into the water inside.
  • Lack of fluoride - Cities and towns add fluoride to their drinking water. While there are some some bottled water brands with fluoride in their products, other brands of bottled waters have none. This could increase the risk of cavities, particularly in children.

Sparkling Water Pros and Cons

While we all need still water the same can’t be said for sparkling water. Nonetheless, there are compelling reasons to drink sparkling water. Let’s look at some of them now.

  • It hydrates just as well as still water - Numerous studies have concluded that carbonated water like CBD Sparkling Water hydrates just as effectively as still water. Some say even better.
  • It tastes better - Almost everyone agrees sparkling water is a step up on the flavor scale from still water. That often makes a difference with people who don’t like to drink plain water.
  • By itself sparkling water has no calories - Unflavored, unsweetened sparkling CBD water has zero calories, just like still water.
  • It could help to alleviate constipation - There is growing evidence that sparkling water is more effective than still water at helping to relieve constipation.
  • It can help you feel full - People trying to lose weight often struggle with feeling hungry. Sparkling water like our CBD water can create a sense of being full and fight off hunger pangs.
  • It’s a great alternative to sugary drinks - Sugary soda is a leading cause of obesity and type II diabetes. Sparkling water is a smart alternative.

Cons of Sparkling Water

  • It’s not good for working out - You probably don’t want to bring sparkling water to the gym because bloating from the carbonation may interfere with your workout.
  • It’s more expensive - It costs money to add carbonation to water and that cost is passed on to the consumer.
  • Mineral water may contribute to kidney stones - While carbonated water like our CBD Sparkling Water poses no health risk, sparkling mineral water like Perrier may contribute to the development of kidney stones.

The Bottom Line

Both still and sparkling water will provide outstanding hydration, are widely available and have considerable upsides. Which one you choose will be up to you.