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So now that we have all put down our carbonated waters lets look at the how and whys behind this study.

New research from Birzeit University in Palestine, published in the peer-reviewed journal Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, suggests that carbonated beverages make you feel hungrier. How? The carbon dioxide, which gives the drink its fizzy quality, triggers the hormone responsible for hunger, called ghrelin, that is released from the digestive system.

In humans, 20 healthy male subjects between the ages of 18 and 23 were given one of the four aforementioned drinks (tap water, flat soda, carbonated soda, and diet carbonated soda) an hour after consuming a light breakfast. Those who consumed sparkling water for breakfast had a ghrelin level six times that of those who had still water.

If the findings hold up, the conclusion of this study is significant because it's holding carbon dioxide responsible for the health decline associated with carbonated beverages and not sugar. But there are limitations to the research: The human trial only had young male subjects, racial diversity was likely not a variable, and the effect seen in rats might not be the same for humans.

This study tested carbonated beverages and not carbonated water in particular even though the carbonated water was found to be grouped with any other drinks containing carbonation.

Would this study deter you from drinking any carbonated beverages including carbonated water.

Source: Kitchn