Is Sparkling Ice Good for You? Ingredient Breakdown

Table of Contents

• Sparkling Ice Nutrition Facts
• Is Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar Good for You?
• How Much Sparkling Ice Is Safe to Drink?
• Possible Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Sparkling Ice
• Wrapping Up

As many people are trying to reduce their soda consumption, you may be wondering if sparkling water, such as Sparkling Ice’s offerings, is a healthy option. In particular, is Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar better than soda? 

In this article, we will do a deep dive into whether or not Sparkling Ice is bad for you by discussing its nutritional value, carbonation, artificial sweeteners, safe amount to consume, and more. 

Sparkling Ice Nutrition Facts

Sparkling Ice is a popular beverage brand advertising flavored sparkling water with zero sugar. 

You may recognize this colorful beverage brand by its tall cylindrical bottles and wide variety of flavors, such as black cherry, strawberry lemonade, and peach nectarine.

Let’s investigate whether Sparkling Ice’s ingredients are bad for you by analyzing the contents of the product using Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry as an example.

Calories

This beverage is available in a 17-fluid-ounce serving and contains five calories per serving. Thus, we can totally consider Sparkling Ice a zero-calorie beverage. 

It contains 1% juice, green tea extract, and no caffeine. However, Sparkling Ice has recently released a line of caffeinated beverages (more on this below).

With essentially zero calories, this beverage can be a great option if you are looking for a bubbly and flavorful alternative to sugar-sweetened drinks, such as sodas, sugary coffee drinks, energy drinks, lemonades, and/or juices. 

Vitamins

The bottle’s packaging claims the drink has vitamins and antioxidants, but what does that mean? 

Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry contains 135 mcg Retinol Activity Equivalent (RAE) of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that promotes eye health, immunity, reproduction, and more. Vitamin A also acts as an antioxidant that helps fight against the harmful free radicals that the body naturally produces. A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, which can contribute to chronic disease states. 

The National Institutes of Health recommends that men consume 900 mcg RAE of vitamin A and women consume 700 mcg RAE daily respectively. [1]

The nutrition label also shows the product provides vitamin D, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, and pantothenic acid. Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry provides about 15 percent of your daily needs for each vitamin listed above.

Therefore, Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar can be considered a good additional source of these vitamins. However, this beverage should not replace consuming fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet to get all your nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. 

Artificial Sweeteners

The primary sweetener in Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar is the artificial sweetener sucralose, which is commonly known as Splenda. 

You may have heard conflicting information about whether this non-nutritive sweetener is safe to consume.

A recent research study from 2022 found that sucralose intake was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. [2] Additionally, researchers have linked high sucralose intake to elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. [3] Despite these findings, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers sucralose safe when consumed in reasonable amounts. [4]

Therefore, sucralose in Sparkling Ice is potentially harmful when consumed on a regular basis.

Natural Colors

Sparkling Ice touts the use of natural colors. For example, the deep reddish purple color of the Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry comes primarily from vegetable juice. Therefore, this can be a good beverage option if you are looking to avoid artificial dyes and colors. 

Caffeine

Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry, as well as other flavors from this line, is caffeine free.

However, Sparkling Ice also has a line of caffeinated, zero-sugar sparkling water products. With flavors like cherry vanilla, tropical punch, and citrus twist, the Sparkling Ice + Caffeine beverages may appeal to those looking to replace a caffeinated soda or energy drink. 

A 16-ounce can of the Sparkling Ice + Caffeine Citrus Twist contains 70 milligrams of caffeine. The nutrition facts state that the caffeine comes from natural sources. 

While caffeine is considered safe, consuming too much of it can contribute to symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, increased heart rate, jitters, and more. According to the FDA, you should stick to no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (including caffeine from coffee, tea, chocolate, and more). [5]

Is Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar Good for You?

So, is this popular beverage healthy? Sparkling Ice is a zero-calorie drink free of sugar, fat, and carbohydrates. It provides noticeable amounts of vitamins, including vitamin A. However, it is important to note that Sparkling Ice is not necessarily healthy if consumed in large quantities — more on this below. 

Moreover, the Sparkling Ice beverages’ marketing and product packaging may be misleading because fruit is typically associated with health and nutrition. However, Sparkling Ice products contain very little to no fruit juice. 

It is important to note that Sparkling Ice also contains the preservative potassium benzoate. Researchers have linked high intakes of potassium benzoate with ADHD-like symptoms in college-aged students. [6] 

Since this beverage is carbonated, many wonder whether Sparkling Ice hydrates you. The answer is yes. Carbonation is dissolved carbon dioxide gas in water to provide that sharp bubbly sensation that many enjoy. No evidence exists to show that carbonated beverages are unsafe or dehydrating in any way. Therefore, Sparkling Ice drinks are a great way to stay hydrated.

Overall, this product can be included in a healthy diet but should not replace any part of a balanced and healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, and water. Sparkling and flavored waters, including Sparkling Ice and Propel water, can be a better alternative to soda but not to regular water.

Is Sparkling Ice Bad for You?

Although some of the ingredients in Sparkling Ice have been linked to health concerns, more research is needed. As of now, regulatory bodies such as the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority have found food ingredients such as sucralose and potassium benzoate to be generally safe. However, new research is emerging, and their results show that these ingredients do raise some health concerns.

Carbonated drinks may be a better alternative to sugary soda, energy drinks, and other sugar-sweetened beverages. However, regular water is always the best option and should also be included in your diet.

How Much Sparkling Ice Is Safe to Drink?

There is no indication that drinking too much Sparkling Ice, including having it daily, is unsafe or harmful. However, perhaps stick with just a bottle or two each day or every couple of days, and make sure to drink plenty of regular water to stay hydrated. 

Possible Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Sparkling Ice

While there is no conclusive research on a safe dosage of these beverages, it is important to be mindful of the potential impact of carbonation and artificial sweeteners when consumed in large quantities. 

Water Carbonation

If you consume too much carbonation, you may experience increased gas, burping, or other gastrointestinal symptoms. If you notice these symptoms, consider reducing your daily consumption of carbonated beverages. 

Artificial Sweeteners

While the FDA considers Sucralose to be safe, pay attention to any symptoms if you consume too much, such as gastrointestinal upset or gas. As mentioned before, high and constant sucralose consumption is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and elevated blood sugar levels, so portion control is essential for drinks with artificial sweeteners.

Wrapping Up

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from this article. 

• Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar is a flavored sparkling water brand that is calorie-free and sugar-free.
• The product contains natural colors, small amounts of some vitamins (such as vitamin D, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12), and may have a very small amount of fruit juice. 
• It also contains vitamin A, an antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. 
• The product is sweetened with sucralose, which is generally considered safe by the FDA. However, recent research has found a link between chronic sucralose consumption, high blood sugar, and cardiovascular diseases, which means that sucralose is potentially harmful to metabolic and cardiovascular health.
• The marketing of the product may be misleading because fruit is often associated with health, but the beverage only contains about 1% fruit juice, if any.
• Sparkling Ice also offers caffeinated beverages. Avoid consuming too much caffeine to reduce symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety. 
• The drink is potentially harmful when consumed regularly due to its sucralose and potassium benzoate content. Reach out to your healthcare provider to determine if a drink with artificial sweeteners is safe to consume, depending on your health status.