Popular opinion seems to be that carbonated drinks are by definition unhealthy. But could this, in fact, be a misconception?

In the United States, we call our favorite flavored carbonated drinks soda pop. Why does soda pop “fizz?” Carbonation. 

It is the amount of dissolved CO2 that produces carbonic acid in drinks, and this in turn affects the quality and different tastes of various carbonated drinks, including soda pops and soft drinks.  Click here for more carbonated water information.

Carbonation is the process that gives many soft drinks their distinctive taste. Diluted carbonic acid is what causes the fizzy taste, not the bubbles.

Carbonated water, also known as sparkling water, is plain water into which CO2 gas has been dissolved, and is the main ingredient of most “soft drinks” or “soda pop”.

In the past, these drinks were made at home by combining water in a seltzer bottle with CO2. Club soda is usually identical to plain carbonated water, but it could sometimes contain a small trace of salt or other minerals. Home-made soda pop could taste more salty than normal because of these trace ingredients. If you add some drops of concentrated flavors now you have soda pop.

With enough mineral content, the drink is called sparkling water. A large assortment of calorie free flavors to flavor sparkling water to great taste is sold at allfreightfree.com. Instead of drinking a greater amount of soda pops, this might be a great option for your family.

Carbonated drinks made into soda pop can be a calorie-free way to make sure your family drinks plenty of water; after all, we all know that the better drinks taste, the more kids will drink, and the more your kids drink, the healthier it is for your family.

If anyone in your family is involved in sports, this flavored drink will also make sure they stay properly hydrated while exercising. This has been an extremely hot summer; in spite of the heat, two-a-day football practices have already started for college and high school players. Football mom, you might consider providing the team with flavored carbonated drinks and make sure everyone drinks the amounts that they need and stays well-hydrated.The kids will love you and perhaps the coach will too. This could be a good project for your football booster club to take on.

The extreme temperatures made it a dangerous summer even for Texans, who are used to hot summers; and has made drinking water extremely important. Most of us, however, are not accustomed to day after humid day of 100-degrees-plus temperatures; infants and the elderly are especially vulnerable.

It is plain that not all so-called soft drinks are the same. Flavored carbonated drinks, then, are a good option for you and your family, and perhaps for your elderly neighbor, too. We must see ourselves as our brothers’ keepers.