Most people assume they know the difference between sparkling water and soda. One is fizzy water. The other is fizzy sugar water. End of comparison. But the actual picture — especially in the "zero sugar" and "diet" category — is considerably more complicated. Here's what the labels actually say.
What's Actually in Each Drink
| Drink | Sugar | Sweeteners | Additives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola (regular) | 38g | None | Caramel colour, phosphoric acid | High sugar |
| Coca-Cola Zero | 0g | Aspartame + Ace-K | Caramel colour, phosphoric acid | Sweeteners |
| Sprite | 30g | None | Citric acid, natural flavours | High sugar |
| Tonic Water | 18–22g | None | Quinine, citric acid | Still sugary |
| Flavoured sparkling waters (supermarket) | 0g | Often sucralose | Varies | Check label |
| LaCroix Sparkling Water | 0g | None | None | Clean |
The Carbonation Question
One concern that comes up frequently: is carbonated water bad for your teeth? The short answer is no — not meaningfully. Carbonated water is mildly acidic (pH around 5–6) compared to plain water (pH 7), but it's far less erosive than soda (pH 2.5–3.5) or fruit juice (pH 3–4). Research consistently shows that plain sparkling water causes negligible enamel erosion compared to acidic beverages.
Flavoured sparkling waters like LaCroix have a slightly higher acidity than pure sparkling water due to the natural fruit essence, but still remain dramatically less acidic than any soda, juice, or sports drink.
The Sweetener Problem
The "zero sugar" soda category has exploded in popularity, but many consumers don't realise they're trading sugar for artificial sweeteners. The most common in Cyprus-available products: aspartame (Coke Zero, Pepsi Max), acesulfame-K (most "diet" drinks), and sucralose (many "diet" flavoured waters).
None of these appear in LaCroix. The ingredient list for a can of LaCroix Lime reads: carbonated water, natural lime essence. That's it.
Why It Actually Matters
If your goal is pure hydration with no compounds your body needs to process beyond water — LaCroix and plain sparkling water are the only flavoured fizzy options that deliver that. Everything else in the "zero sugar" category involves ingredients you didn't ask for.
For most adults in Cyprus, swapping one can of regular soda per day for LaCroix reduces sugar intake by around 35–40g daily — the equivalent of cutting the entire WHO recommended daily sugar allowance from your drinks alone.