[tame]

Don't drink anything carbonated. It's bad news.

I'm interested in why you say that. Is carbonation in itself bad (outside of the apparent gas problem)?

[annyokie]

I have good friend who has been heavy since childhood. She was diet Coke freak and when she quit drinkning it she lost 20 pounds in one month. Apparently, there is something in the carbination that makes you pack on the pounds.

[Freedom2specul8]

Carbonation could drain calcium from your bones.

"The researchers, (from the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University), found that excess urinary excretion of calcium occurred only when the carbonated beverages consumed contained caffeine. At least one earlier study had suggested that caffeine consumption can have a deleterious effect on bone health if not counteracted by sufficient calcium. The Creighton researchers found that the caffeine effect they say was balanced by less excretion of calcium later in the day so that the net result was only a negligible loss of calcium. This led them to conclude that any effect on bone associated with carbonated drinks would stem from lowered calcium intake due to displacement of milk as a beverage. Incidentally, this study was sponsored by the dairy industry, which would have had an interest in the opposite result."

http://health.yahoo.com/health/expert/drweil/archive/confused_about_carbonation_.html