How to Choose the Best Sparkling Mineral Water + Our Recs background image
May 03, 2022

How to Choose the Best Sparkling Mineral Water + Our Recs

Featured Product:

e-lyte

e-lyte

From £10.99 GBP
e-lyte

e-lyte

From £10.99 GBP

Key Points:

  • Minerals are essential for our cellular health and we usually don’t get enough through our diet. 
  • Sparkling mineral water can provide an additional boost of minerals in addition to whole foods.
  • Our pick for the best sparkling mineral water is Gerolsteiner. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: minerals are essential for your health. Minerals can not be synthesized in the body, so we must get them from our diet in our food and drink. Adding electrolytes to your beverages is an excellent idea, and we always recommend adding a splash of E-lyte to your plain old glass of filtered water. 

But sometimes, the day calls for something a little more… bubbly. Sparkling mineral water is just the ticket for changing up your water routine while still getting in your daily mineral needs. So out of the many brands out there, which should you choose? In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of sparkling mineral water and some of the brands we believe are doing it the best. 

Table of Contents:

Why Should You Drink Sparkling Mineral Water? 

Minerals are essential: our bodies rely on minerals for catalyzing dozens of reactions in the body, supporting muscle and bone structure, and even producing hormones. You can think of minerals like the spark plugs to the engine of the body’s systems — without minerals, nothing gets started. And most of us aren’t getting all of the minerals we need on a daily basis through our food and drink, because of: 

  • Simply not eating and drinking enough
  • Depleted minerals in our soils, which leads to depleted minerals in our food (even if you eat a completely whole foods diet!)
  • Stress, which uses up minerals like crazy (This includes physical and mental/emotional stress.)
  • Avoiding key minerals like salt even though real mineralized salt is extremely beneficial to the body
  • Food intolerances such as a dairy intolerance, which would provide a significant source of calcium, for example.

These are just some of the obstacles to getting all of the minerals you need on a daily basis — and ideally you’re consuming more than you technically need so that your body is functioning optimally, not just adequately. 

This is where small changes like drinking mineral water can make a big difference in your health, especially if you’re looking to optimize your health. 

Other sparkling mineral water benefits: 

  • Tightly regulated sourcing and manufacturing: mineral water must come from pure sources deep underground
  • Bottled right at the source due to natural carbonation
  • Tastes refreshing and clean (which your average tap water usually does not). 

Seltzer vs. Sparkling Mineral Water

Most of us have enjoyed a crisp LaCroix as a bubbly alternative to plain water. But your favorite seltzer is just water, carbonation, and typically some natural flavors (but sometimes real fruit juice, if you’re getting the good stuff). These aren’t necessarily bad for you, but they’re not providing much benefit either. 

Drinking sparkling mineral water instead provides the minerals your body needs to actually hydrate your cells. Without adequate minerals, the water you drink is likely going right through you, leaving your cells thirsty for more. In our opinion, that gives mineral water the advantage over seltzer. 

Sparkling Mineral Water Brands We Like

Gerolsteiner

Gerolsteiner might be the champagne of mineral waters. This bicarbonate-rich mineral water originates from the Volcanic Eifel in Germany, where the naturally purified water absorbs minerals and carbonic acid from the bedrock. 

Gerolsteiner boasts a significantly higher mineral percentage than pretty much any other mineral water, especially bicarbonate at 1,800 mg per liter. Bicarbonate helps regulate your body’s pH levels and especially helps lower acidity in the body. Gerolsteiner also contains 348 mg of calcium, 108 mg of magnesium, and 118 mg of sodium per liter, according to their mineral calculator tool.

In our book, this makes Gerolsteiner sparkling mineral water a top contender for providing serious mineral support in every bottle. 

Topo Chico

Topo Chico is one of those brands, somewhat similar to LaCroix, that is almost known more for the brand itself than the actual product. And, they make a pretty good mineral water. 

However, they have gotten some attention in recent years when their mineral water tested for higher than usual levels of PFAS, a class of industrial chemicals known for having a long breakdown period in the body (we’re talking several years).

PFAS are known to cause several types of cancers and chronic diseases in high doses. At 9.76 parts per trillion (PPT) PFAS in Topo Chico, according to a Consumer Reports study, Topo Chico came in at several degrees below the EPA health advisory of no more than 70 PPT. 

Still, this is a guideline, and we don’t have strict markers of what levels of PFAS are or are not acceptable for human health. Since that study was published, Topo Chico has further reduced their PFAS levels to an average of 3.9 PPT. This is a step in the right direction, but still a much higher PFAS content than many other brands.

If Topo Chico is your ride-or-die brand, maybe stick to one bottle a few times a week, as opposed to multiple bottles a day. 

San Pellegrino and Perrier

If you’re totally unfamiliar with sparkling mineral water, you still might have seen San Pellegrino and Perrier out and about at restaurants or stores. Though they have a much lower mineral content than Gerolsteiner, they still provide some minerals and a clean taste. 

Both brands were also tested in the Consumer Reports test on PFAS content; San Pellegrino was the third lowest tested at just .31 PPT, and Perrier was not far behind at 1.1 PPT. 

Should You Drink Sparkling Mineral Water if You Have Acid Reflux?

There is an interesting debate over whether or not you should drink sparkling mineral water if you have occasional issues with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

The standard recommendation for patients with acid reflux is to avoid carbonated beverages of any kind, the idea being that they would disturb stomach acid and the bubbly carbonation would push acid up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Certainly, this seems to be the case for many people. 

But mineral water, especially high quality mineral water like Gerolsteiner, should be providing an acid neutralizing effect due to the presence of bicarbonate. So if the problem is high stomach acid, sparkling mineral water may actually have a soothing effect on acid reflux. 

However, we suspect that most cases of acid reflux are actually due to low stomach acid rather than high. In this case, the warning to stay away from carbonated beverages, even ones loaded with minerals, may hold up. Still, everyone reacts differently, and you may find that the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to acid reflux. 

Drink Sparkling Mineral Water for a Hydration Boost

Sparkling mineral water can be an excellent, and dare we say fun way to add more minerals to your daily intake. Hydration is something we should all be more mindful of, and mineral waters provide an easy solution — drink up for your cells! 

Learn more about minerals and mineral balance in the body.

Related Articles

The Great Salt Debate: Is Salt the Villain or the Missing Link to Better Health?
Ashley Palmer | 06.20.2025

The Great Salt Debate: Is Salt the Villain or the Missing Link to Better Health?

For decades, we've been told salt is the enemy. From warnings about high blood pressure to vague advice about “eating clean,” sodium has become a popular scapegoat in modern health narratives.

But what if we’ve had it all wrong?

New research and ancestral wisdom alike are flipping the salt script. The truth is, not all salt is created equal. And the war on sodium might be leaving us depleted, fatigued, and less hydrated than we think. The real enemy? Mineral imbalance.

Enter: electrolytes—the essential charged minerals that regulate hydration, energy, nerve signaling, and cellular function. Two of the cleanest, most balanced solutions on the market today? BodyBio e-lyte and ReMineralize.* (Yep, we’re biased, and here’s why.)

Table of Contents:

  • The Truth About Salt: What You Haven’t Been Told
  • The Sodium-Potassium See-Saw: Why the Right Balance Is Everything
  • The Role of Processed Foods and Refined Salt
  • The Electrolyte Equation: Why e-lyte and Remineralize Are Different
  • Final Word: Salt Isn’t the Problem—Mineral Imbalance Is

The Truth About Salt: What You Haven’t Been Told

In 1977, U.S. dietary guidelines warned the public to reduce sodium intake due to a rise in cardiovascular disease. But the science behind that recommendation was flawed. Since then, salt has been demonized, despite mounting evidence that:

  • Low sodium intake is linked to increased cardiovascular risk
  • Hyponatremia (low blood sodium) is a common reason for ER visits
  • Salt depletion can contribute to fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, and anxiety

Salt isn’t the enemy. Rather, mineral balance is the hero we need for better health outcomes. And salt is a big part of maintaining healthy mineral balance.*

The Sodium-Potassium See-Saw: Why the Right Balance Is Everything

Sodium and potassium are biological teammates. They power the sodium-potassium pump—a mechanism that moves ions in and out of our cells to:

  • Maintain fluid balance
  • Initiate nerve impulses
  • Drive muscle contractions
  • Support glucose transport and protein synthesis

This pump uses nearly one-third (!) of your body’s total energy (ATP). Sodium is the primary extracellular ion, while potassium dominates inside the cell. When either mineral is out of sync, your cells—and especially your heart and muscles—struggle to function.

Unfortunately, most Americans consume three times more sodium than potassium—the opposite of what our biology prefers.

The Data Doesn’t Lie:

  • 90% of U.S. adults consume too much sodium (Cogswell et al., 2012)
  • Less than 2% get enough potassium
  • Ideal sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1:2 or 1:3
  • High sodium-to-potassium ratios are linked to:
    • Hypertension (Elliott et al., 1996)
    • Stroke (Ascherio, 1998; Larsson, 2011)
    • Kidney stones (Curhan, 2004)
    • Increased mortality risk (Yang et al., 2011

Even small improvements to this ratio can significantly benefit cardiovascular and overall health.

The Role of Processed Foods and Refined Salt

Most of the sodium in the American diet doesn’t come from the salt shaker—it comes from ultra-processed foods. These are often loaded with refined table salt (39% sodium) that has been stripped of naturally occurring minerals and laced with anti-caking agents.

Combine this with low intake of potassium-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, and the result is a daily mineral imbalance.

Women average just 50% of the recommended potassium intake; men average 81% (USDA, 2012). The optimal target? 4,700 mg/day. And that’s not considering counteracting deficiency, various states of stress, or different life stages such as pregnancy. In these cases, you may need more for optimal health. 

The Electrolyte Equation: Why e-lyte and ReMineralize Are Different

Many Americans consume sodium in the wrong form and miss out on key minerals like potassium and magnesium. That’s where BodyBio e-lyte and Remineralize come in.*

BodyBio e-lyte

Formulated without sugar, flavoring, or artificial additives, e-lyte mimics the body’s natural electrolyte ratio to support:

  • Hydration and healthy blood pressure regulation*
  • Muscle and nerve function*
  • Recovery from stress, workouts, illness, or heat exposure*

BodyBio Remineralize

Remineralize helps restore trace minerals lost from filtered and RO water. It enhances:

  • Cellular conductivity and hydration*
  • Zeta potential (electrical charge that keeps fluids moving)*
  • Electrolyte absorption and mineral synergy*

Together, these formulas promote mineral homeostasis—without sugar spikes, crashes, or synthetic ingredients.*

Final Word: Salt Isn’t the Problem—Mineral Imbalance Is

The truth is, salt isn’t the villain we’ve made it out to be. What really matters is balance—especially between sodium and potassium. When these key electrolytes are out of sync, hydration suffers, cells struggle, and your long-term health can take a hit.

Ultra-processed foods and stripped-down table salt give sodium a bad name, but your body actually needs high-quality salt and minerals to thrive. Instead of fearing salt, we should be asking: Are we getting enough of the right minerals—in the right forms—to support true hydration and cellular health?

With clean, balanced formulas like BodyBio e-lyte and Remineralize, it’s possible to restore that mineral harmony and hydrate smarter on a cellular level. 

Because hydration isn’t about cutting salt—it’s about upgrading your minerals.

Learn more about electrolytes and maintaining proper balance.

More articles on electrolytes and hydration: