Hard seltzers are made from a mixture of alcohol, carbonated water, and fruit flavoring. Unlike regular alcoholic drinks, hard seltzers tend to contain less alcohol, carbohydrates, and calories. They have gained a lot of popularity in America. Because of the packaging, they are convenient, ready to drink, and easy to carry.
Hard seltzers contain 5 to 7 percent of alcohol content, and this is less than what is found in most beers, wines, and mixed cocktails. Because they have less alcohol, the calorie count is also low. This is primarily why more individuals are choosing them over other conventional alcoholic drinks.
However, is it safe to drink too much hard seltzer? Do we know the long-term impact consumption has on our bodies?
What Effects does seltzer have on the Body?
Just like everything else we consume, hard seltzers affect our bodies. When you drink hard seltzer over time, it will affect your body in specific ways.
1. Weight loss
If you’ve started taking hard seltzer in place of other conventional alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, you might lose some weight. This is because hard seltzer contains fewer calories. Most spiked seltzers contain about 100 calories, while a margarita or beer can have more than 200 calories per serving.
Weight loss is, however, not guaranteed because other factors determine the weight, such as diet and exercise. If all else remains constant, swapping out conventional alcoholic beverages with spiked seltzer results in a beneficial calorie deficit.
2. Teeth Erosion
Some of the spiked seltzers in the market have very low PH and, as a result, can cause tooth erosion. Drinks that have very low PH are more acidic, and this is why they erode teeth. If you take hard seltzer once in a while or a couple of times a week, you might not have to worry about teeth erosion. However, if you take several cans almost daily, you will likely start experiencing dental issues after a while.
3. Weight gain
Hard seltzers contain fewer calories than other alcoholic drinks, but they are not calorie-free. So if you consume too much seltzer, the calories will add up and result in weight gain. It is important to observe moderation in your intake to minimize the effects on your body.
4. Feeling gassy and bloated.
Hard seltzers are carbonated drinks. When drinking a carbonated beverage, you swallow pockets of air. Because air cannot be digested, the gas will have to leave your body by belching or releasing flatulence.
This means that the more hard seltzers you take, the gassier and bloated you’ll be. It is a very uncomfortable feeling that you would rather avoid.
Long term, you could develop other digestion issues from consuming too much hard seltzer because other than carbon dioxide. It also contains other chemicals and compounds that affect the body after long-term use.
5. Drunkenness
While hard seltzers contain less alcohol than typical drinks, it is still an alcoholic drink. Taking too much of it can make you drunk. If you drink too much on an empty stomach, you’re likely to get drunk faster. To prevent drunkenness, you can take water as you enjoy your seltzers.
6. Dehydration
Hard seltzers are flavored, and taking too much will cause dehydration. Dehydration can lead to headaches, nausea, and other unpleasant physical symptoms. Over time dehydration can lead to organ failure, especially the kidneys, which flush out toxins. It’s essential to take a glass of water for every can of seltzer consumed.
7. Digestion problems
Hard seltzer is made of alcohol, carbonated water, and fruit flavoring. When taken in excess, the carbonated water leads to bloating and discomfort. The sugar in the fruit flavoring can affect the pancreas efficiency and lead to stomach cramps or even runs. Excessive alcohol consumption eventually damages the liver and other organs. Taking too much hard seltzer could affect your bowel movement and cause extreme discomfort to your digestive system, especially when taken on an empty stomach. Long-term overuse can have a significant impact on your overall well-being.
8. Hangover
Because seltzer contains alcohol, when too much is taken, it can cause a hangover worse or similar to what you’d get from taking too much of any alcoholic beverage. Hangovers cause headaches, nausea, body aches, and fatigue. The more hard seltzer you take, the worse the hangover will be.
9. Addiction
Alcohol addiction occurs when you take so much of it that it leads to chemical changes in your brain. These chemical changes cause you to enjoy the feelings associated with alcohol intake, and as a result, you take more and more to chase the high. This is how alcohol addiction develops. While hard seltzer contains less alcohol than other alcoholic drinks, it still has alcohol, so taking too much can lead to addiction.
Taking Hard Seltzer Safely
Consuming too much of anything is not healthy. Like any other alcoholic drink, consumption of hard seltzer requires moderation. Drinking hard seltzer excessively is associated with some chronic illnesses, including diabetes, stroke, liver disease, high blood pressure, and cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, and breast.
Excessive drinking can also lead to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Short-term risks of taking too much hard seltzer include accidents, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries.
The safest way to take hard seltzer is drinking a couple of drinks at a time and spacing between drinks. It is also essential to take a lot of water in between the drinks. Ideally, it would help if you consumed a glass of water for each can of hard seltzer taken.
It would help if you also listened to your body because what is too much for one person might not be for another. Our bodies are different and respond differently to alcohol. If you start feeling any effects after taking a few cans, take a step back from drinking.