The 8 Best Sparkling Waters, According to a Dietitian

good and gather sparkling water ingredients
good and gather sparkling water ingredients

How We Selected

When choosing the best sparking water, we looked at a variety of products with majority minimal to 0 grams added sugar and natural flavors. In addition, we chose products based on taste, price, and convenience.

What to Look for in a Sparkling Water

  • Flavor: Some sparkling waters are flavorless, while others have additives for flavor. A vast majority of sparkling water companies use “natural flavors” to flavor their beverages. Natural flavors are any substance with plant or animal origins, and their main function in food or drinks is to add flavor, not provide any nutritional value. Natural flavors are considered safe for consumption but are derived through some level of processing. If you’re keen to limit the amount of processed ingredients in your diet, choose plain sparkling water, mineral water, or one flavored with real fruit (like Spindrift).
  • Type: There are different types of sparkling water, including seltzer water, sparkling water, and mineral water. Depending on your ideal bubby beverage situation, you may have preferences toward one or the other. Mineral water is naturally carbonated from a spring and, therefore, has more gentle, lighter bubbles and a slight mineral or salty flavor. Sparkling water and seltzer water are artificially carbonated, so they generally have more robust bubbles and a neutral water flavor.

Consumption Recommendations

Most sparkling waters, especially flavored ones, taste best when served chilled, so be sure to stick your cans or bottles in the fridge before consuming.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Alex Aldeborgh, MS, RD is a writer for Verywell Fit and a registered dietitian with her own private practice. Alex spends her time developing healthy recipes and nutrition content for her successful blog and Instagram page, Daisybeet. Through her blogging work, Alex inspires readers to get in the kitchen to prepare healthy, inexpensive, and simple recipes. Through her experience taste-testing in recipe development, she has also developed a keen taste for different flavored drinks.

Additional reporting contributed by Shushy Rita Setrakian, MS, RDN

Shushy Rita Setrakian, MS, RD, is a writer for Verywell Fit and a Registered Dietitian specializing in both GI and women’s health. Shushy is passionate about converting nutrition science into meaningful dietary recommendations. She has an eye for spotting the latest nutrition trends and research and breaking down what that can mean for your supplement and food choices. She recommended drinks she buys regularly.