With the arrival of the Lixia solar term, summer has officially begun. Enjoying a refreshing soda on a hot day is delightful, but sodas are relatively expensive—ranging from over ten yuan to several dozen yuan per bottle. Regular consumption can be costly, prompting many to consider making soda at home. However, experts warn that homemade soda poses potential health and safety risks.Regarding the recently popular oxygen-enriched water, experts note that unless engaging in strenuous exercise, the body's oxygen demand is not significantly higher than what can be met through normal breathing. There is no need to deliberately consume oxygen-enriched water.Below, we detail common misconceptions about soda water:
No evidence that soda water improves physical condition
People with high uric acid or excessive stomach acid may benefit from soda water
Soda water refers to water containing baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Commercially bottled soda water typically has a pH level between 7.5 and 7.8, making it slightly alkaline.
Gout patients with elevated uric acid levels must not only limit high-purine foods but also alkalize urine to enhance uric acid excretion. Two primary methods exist: consuming alkaline vegetables and moderate sodium bicarbonate intake. Clinicians often prescribe sodium bicarbonate tablets for gout or hyperuricemia patients.Drinking soda water can achieve similar effects. However, note that soda water contains significant sodium, so individuals with hypertension should limit consumption or reduce salt intake when drinking it.
For gastritis patients with excessive stomach acid, soda water can help neutralize acidity and may be consumed in moderation. However, individuals with gastritis caused by insufficient acid secretion should avoid large quantities of soda water, as its acid-neutralizing effect may exacerbate symptoms resulting from low gastric acidity.
Homemade Soda Water: Concentration Difficult to Control
Making soda water at home is not recommended. First, the concentration is hard to control. If homemade soda water is made by dissolving sodium bicarbonate powder, it is indeed genuine soda water. However, if the alkalinity is too high, consuming it can cause the body to produce carbon dioxide, leading to adverse reactions like stomach bloating and abdominal distension in individuals with gastric conditions.Additionally, hygiene and safety risks exist during homemade production. Many commercial soda makers inject carbon dioxide under high pressure, producing carbonated water—not baking soda water—and thus lacking the aforementioned benefits. Particular caution is needed with some commercially bottled sodas: beyond carbonation, many add sugars, sweeteners, and flavorings to create soft drinks, which can be harmful when consumed in large quantities.
The claim that drinking alkaline soda water alters body pH is unscientific.Medically, there is no concept of an "acidic or alkaline body type." The pH levels of human blood, saliva, urine, and other bodily fluids vary significantly and cannot be judged by a single pH value. Moreover, the digestive, excretory, and respiratory systems precisely regulate acid-base balance. Attempting to alter the body's acid-base equilibrium by drinking soda water or consuming so-called alkaline foods is unscientific.
Oxygen-enriched water's oxygen supplementation effects remain unclear
Currently, many health-conscious individuals opt for "premium" waters like oxygen-enriched water. How does oxygen-enriched water differ from regular drinking water? Can oxygen in water actually be absorbed?
While animal studies have explored oxygen supplementation via the gastrointestinal tract, no direct evidence exists showing that human intestinal mucosa or skin can perform direct gas exchange.Numerous studies comparing two groups during short-term exercise found that drinking oxygen-enriched water did not enhance exercise endurance or performance.
Some research suggests oxygen-enriched water may improve high-altitude human tolerance to hypoxia and fatigue by increasing partial pressure and dissolved oxygen concentration, allowing partial oxygen absorption from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. I speculate this might result from compensatory increased oxygen absorption capacity in the gastrointestinal tract under hypoxic conditions.All carbonated beverages, including sodas, carry warnings against freezing. When frozen, gases accumulate near the bottle opening, creating extreme localized pressure. Many manufacturers have observed that frozen bottles can explode upon opening due to gas pressure reaching 70-80 kg. This necessitates clear labeling on packaging. Heating or freezing oxygen-enriched water reduces its oxygen content.Theoretically, during intense exercise, supplementing glucose should be accompanied by increasing the body's oxygen content. Glucose provides energy, while oxygen facilitates aerobic oxidation of glucose, potentially enhancing athletes' endurance and fatigue resistance. However, the effectiveness of boosting oxygen levels through oxygen-enriched water remains inconclusive and requires further research.In reality, for healthy individuals not engaged in strenuous exercise, the body's oxygen demand is not particularly high and can be fully met through respiration. There is no need to specifically consume oxygen-enriched water.