Pure, basic carbonated water is still water and can help you keep hydrated, especially if you struggle to drink enough plain water throughout the day.
Carbonated water seems more appealing than still water because of its bubbly texture. Flavorings add the same effect.
Because of the CO2 in the water, drinking carbonated water causes you to take in more air than you would from eating or drinking anything else.
Carbonated water, with or without added sugar, has been linked in a few studies to weight gain and a higher BMI, although having zero calories.
Diet soda with no calories is just carbonated water that has been colored and sweetened with artificial sweeteners.
Indeed, drinking lots of unsweetened carbonated water can lead to cavities, albeit not as much as drinking lots of soda.
Plain water or carbonated water will both help you rehydrate when you've been sweating under the hot summer heat.
According to a research by Consumer Reports in 2020, some seltzers and carbonated waters contain possibly dangerous amounts of synthetic PFAS chemicals.