5 Benefits to Owning a Soda Machine
Making Carbonated Water At Home Is Easy
If you love to drink carbonated water as much as I do, then you have probably looked into getting your own soda machine and making it in the comfort of your own home. There is no doubt that carbonated water makers are gaining popularity as the trend toward drinking sparkling water continues to grow around the world.
As more people realize the benefits of making their own soda water, I expect water carbonator sales to increase. This past Christmas there was a soda machine under our Christmas tree, and it is without doubt our family's favorite gift. I suspect that there were a lot of soda makers given as gifts this year. This will make no one happier than "Mother Nature", due to the impact that discarded plastic water bottles are having on our environment. The benefits are more than just environmental, although reducing the impact on our environment just may be the most important.
Benefit #1 - Saving Money on Bottled Water
In tough economic times, many people are watching their wallet and paying more attention to what they spend their money on. Name brand sparkling water can be expensive when purchased from the stores. A one liter bottle can cost several dollars, and this cost can add up very quickly if you drink as much sparkling water as I do.
A soda machine uses a CO2 canister to make carbonated water. These canisters will typically make around 60 liters of soda water, depending upon the level of carbonation that you add to your water. If you don't factor in the cost of the initial purchase of your soda machine, then the cost of making carbonated water at home can be as little as 25 cents per liter.
This cost savings can offset the purchase of your soda machine very quickly, and help to keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.
Benefit #2 - Lighten Your Environmental Footprint
Did you realize that over 80% of the bottles in the United States do not get recycled and end up in our nation's landfills? Americans spent approximately ten billion dollars on bottled water in 2005, and this has increased year over year. So just imagine the number of bottles that have been discarded as trash, and the number that will end up in landfills for years to come.
Discarded bottles are not the only impact that the bottled water craze is having on our environment though. The Container Recycling Institute reported that the energy consumed to make bottled water in the United States only is equivalent to 17 million barrels of oil.
When you factor in the plant emissions for manufacturing the plastic and glass bottles, the emissions from the bottling plant, and the emissions generated from transporting this bottled water to the stores, the impact on the environment is much bigger than initially anticipated.
The CO2 canisters used in home soda machines are recyclable. When one is empty, you simply exchange that canister when you purchase a full one. The reusable glass or BPA-free plastic bottles that come with your soda maker will reduce trash in our landfills and lessen your environmental footprint.
Benefit #3 - It is a Healthy Choice
Americans drink way to many sugared soft drinks. There are many medical studies that link colas to obesity, which is a serious problem in the United States. People drink soft drinks for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and throughout the day. Just read the ingredients on the back of your pop bottle and it is easy to see how heavy consumption of sodas can lead to health issues.
Colas are high in sugar and carbohydrates. Water is 100% pure and contains no calories, carbohydrates or sugars that your body will end up storing as fat. Depending upon your age and activity level, it is estimated that people should consume anywhere from 1,600 - 2,800 calories per day. The lower caloric intake is typically for older persons, or those who have a more sedentary lifestyle. The higher caloric intake is for those who are typically younger, more active, and exercise frequently. Please note that these numbers vary, but the point is that a standard 20 ounce bottle of a popular soda contains 240 calories. It also contains 3% of your recommended sodium intake, and 22% of your recommended daily allowance of carbohydrates. If you drink multiple sodas per day, you can quickly see how this will add up and possibly have a negative impact on your health.
By using soda water as an alternative to soft drinks, you are drinking 100% pure tap water with just CO2 added. You can flavor your soda water with natural flavoring from a slice of citrus fruit to have a healthy (but tasty) drink.
Benefit #4 - It is Convenient
If you own a home soda maker, then you can make your soda water in a matter of seconds. You simply fill the reusable plastic or glass bottle with water from your tap, insert it into your soda machine, and press the lever a few times to add carbonation. It is very simple.
So you never have to worry about running out of sparkling water. You don't need to worry about lugging those heavy bottles of water home from the grocery store. You don't need to worry losing space in your pantry to bottles of water. You make it on demand, any time you wish.
Benefit #5 - You Are in Control!
When you make your own soda water, you have complete control over the finished product. If you like your sparkling water with more fizz, then you simply add more CO2 to it when making it. If you like less fizz, then you add less CO2 to it. You are not limited to how a bottling company decides create their bottled waters. You are in control.
You are also in control of the taste. If you decide to create your own flavored carbonated water, then you get to control the ingredients that go into it. There are bottles of concentrated flavoring that can be added to your soda water to create your own soft drinks. These contain about 1/3 of the carbohydrates, calories, and caffeine as the store-bought sodas do.
You can also use fruit juices or a slice of real fruit as a healthy way to add flavor to your sparkling water. Citrus fruits like lemon, lime, or orange work great for this.
