Is Sparkling Water as Healthy as Plain Old Water?

Hi folks, it’s Kristen in New York. This week, a reader inquires about whether seltzer water is actually healthy. But first…

Is seltzer water bad for me? If so, how bad? — Cynthia, New Jersey

This particular question has been a recent point of debate on Bloomberg’s health team. Some of my colleagues, on Team Sparkling Water, maintain that it’s just as good as the non-fizzy variety of H2O. I’ve argued it’s not as thirst-quenching. On a hot day, or after a workout, I find nothing satisfies me better than a cold glass of plain old water.

It turns out, though, that my argument fell a little, well, flat.