Bubly sparkling water is a healthy alternative to soda and other sweetened drinks. It contains only two ingredients: carbonated water and natural flavors. There are zero calories, no sugar, and no artificial sweeteners. That said, a few nuances around acidity and digestion are worth understanding before you make it your go-to drink.
What’s Actually in Bubly
Every can of Bubly, regardless of flavor, lists the same two ingredients: carbonated water and natural flavors. There’s no sugar, no artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose, and no artificial colors. The nutrition label reads zero across the board for calories, carbohydrates, and added sugars.
“Natural flavors” is a broad FDA term that covers extracts, essences, and oils derived from fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, and other plant materials. The key requirement is that the flavoring compounds come from a real food source rather than being synthesized from scratch. In Bubly’s case, these flavors provide taste without adding any calories or sweeteners.
Hydration Compared to Plain Water
Sparkling water hydrates you just as well as still water. In a study where participants drank either a liter of still water, sparkling water, or another beverage, researchers measured urine output after four hours and found no difference in hydration status between the carbonated and non-carbonated water groups. If plain water feels boring and Bubly helps you drink more throughout the day, that’s a net positive for your hydration.
The Acidity Question and Your Teeth
This is where Bubly deserves a closer look. All sparkling water is slightly more acidic than still water because dissolved carbon dioxide creates carbonic acid. But Bubly tends to be more acidic than many competitors. When CBC’s Marketplace tested popular brands, Bubly’s cherry, grapefruit, and lime flavors all had pH levels below 4.0. The grapefruit flavor measured 3.86, considerably more acidic than the same flavors from other brands tested.
Does that acidity damage your teeth? The American Dental Association points to research showing that plain sparkling water and regular water had about the same effect on tooth enamel. However, the ADA also notes that citrus-flavored sparkling waters carry higher acid levels, which does increase the risk of enamel erosion. Since several of Bubly’s most popular flavors are citrus-based (grapefruit, lime, lemon), this is relevant if you’re drinking multiple cans a day.
A few practical steps can minimize the risk: drink your Bubly in one sitting rather than sipping over hours, use a straw to reduce contact with your teeth, and avoid brushing immediately after finishing a can, since brushing while enamel is softened by acid can do more harm than good.
Bone Health Is Not a Concern
You may have heard that carbonated drinks leach calcium from your bones. This concern comes from phosphoric acid, an ingredient found in colas, not in plain sparkling water. Harvard Health Publishing reviewed the evidence and found that non-cola carbonated drinks were not associated with lower bone mineral density. A clinical trial published in the British Journal of Nutrition followed healthy postmenopausal women who drank about a quart of carbonated mineral water daily for eight weeks. Blood and urine tests showed no difference in bone turnover compared to women who drank the same amount of still water. Bubly contains no phosphoric acid, so this worry doesn’t apply.
Digestive Effects
Carbonation introduces gas into your digestive tract, which can cause bloating, burping, and discomfort in some people. If you have irritable bowel syndrome or a sensitive stomach, sparkling water won’t cause the condition, but it can trigger flare-ups. For most people, these effects are mild and temporary. If you notice consistent bloating after drinking Bubly, cutting back or switching to still water for a while is a simple fix.
Does Sparkling Water Affect Appetite or Weight?
The relationship between carbonated water and weight is more complicated than you might expect. Carbon dioxide bubbles stimulate stretch receptors in the stomach, which can create a temporary feeling of fullness. In theory, that could help you eat less. But the evidence doesn’t support this. Studies show that carbonated water leaves the stomach at the same rate as still water, so any sensation of fullness is short-lived.
More surprisingly, a study in rats found that sparkling water increased both weight gain and levels of ghrelin, a hormone that drives hunger. A parallel study in 20 men confirmed that carbonated water raised their ghrelin levels too, suggesting fizzy water could actually make people hungrier. The research is limited, and experts emphasize that carbonated water alone is unlikely to significantly affect weight in either direction. A zero-calorie drink replacing soda or juice is still a clear win for calorie reduction, even if the carbonation itself isn’t a weight-loss tool.
How Bubly Compares to Other Drinks
- Versus soda: A can of regular soda contains around 39 grams of sugar and 140 calories. Bubly has none of either, plus no phosphoric acid. It’s a dramatically healthier choice.
- Versus diet soda: Diet sodas use artificial sweeteners, which some people prefer to avoid. Bubly skips those entirely while still offering flavor and carbonation.
- Versus plain water: Nutritionally identical in terms of hydration and calorie content. The trade-off is slightly higher acidity, especially in citrus flavors.
- Versus other sparkling waters: Brands like Perrier and San Pellegrino contain trace minerals from their natural springs. Bubly doesn’t offer minerals, but it also tends to have a more consistent and stronger fruit flavor, which is why many people reach for it over plainer options.
For most people, Bubly is a perfectly healthy everyday drink. The only groups who should be cautious are those with acid reflux or IBS, where the carbonation and acidity could aggravate symptoms, and heavy drinkers of citrus flavors who want to protect their enamel long-term. If you’re using it to replace sugary beverages, it’s one of the simplest upgrades you can make.