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Weight loss may be helped by drinking this, study suggests

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Weight loss may be helped by drinking this, study suggests

Water is known to be a great resource for good health — but sparkling water could also offer unique benefits.

A new report published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health suggests that carbonated water may support weight loss by enhancing glucose uptake and metabolism in red blood cells.

The researchers aimed to analyze the physiological effects of carbonated water, as it has been found to induce satiety (feelings of fullness) and gastric motility (movement of food through the body), both of which could reduce hunger.

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In analyzing a study from 2004, the team found that carbonated water may support weight loss by converting to HCO3 – a byproduct of metabolism – in red blood cells and increasing energy production.

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But the effect of this is “so small,” the researchers concluded, that it is “difficult to expect weight loss effects solely from the CO2 in carbonated water.”

Carbonated water that is high in sodium has also been shown to lower blood glucose levels, the report noted. (iStock)

So the researchers noted that sparkling water should not be used on its own as a weight-loss solution — and should instead be “integrated into a broader strategy of healthy living.”

‘Extremely challenging’

Study researcher Dr. Akira Takahashi, head of medicine at Tesseikai Neurosurgical Hospital in Osaka, Japan, conducted the original research 20 years ago.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Takahashi said this new report underscores how carbonated water impacts weight loss by promoting the sensation of fullness, which can reduce food intake and lower overall calorie consumption.

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Carbonated water burning calories through CO2 absorption is “insufficient to make a significant difference,” the researcher noted.

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“For instance, during hemodialysis, even with a continuous supply of CO₂ for four hours, only about 9.5g of glucose is consumed,” he said. 

“It would be extremely challenging to drink carbonated water continuously for that duration.” 

(Hemodialysis is a treatment that filters waste and water from the blood for people whose kidneys are not functioning correctly.)

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“Further research is necessary to better understand [sparkling water’s] long-term effects and optimize its role in dietary interventions,” the report said. (iStock)

“Therefore, I believe it is unlikely that carbonated water alone could lead to weight loss,” Takahashi said.

Further research is needed to fully understand the effect of carbonation on weight loss due to fullness, according to the researcher.

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“The sensation of fullness when drinking carbonated beverages is thought to result from their physical properties,” he told Fox News Digital. 

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“Carbon dioxide released from the bubbles fills the stomach, stimulating stretch receptors. These receptors then signal the brain via the vagus nerve, creating a sensation of fullness.”

“Water in general is great for you, but if interested in losing weight, there is more to it.”

Carbonated water should be incorporated into a “broader strategy” of healthy living, according to experts.

“Water in general is great for you, but if interested in losing weight, there is more to it,” Dr. Kathleen Jordan, chief medical officer and weight management specialist for MediHealth in California, told Fox News Digital. (Jordan was not part of the research.)

Dietary choices and activity levels are more likely to be impactful, the expert said, and medications can be “hugely helpful” for those who struggle to manage their weight.

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Experts agree that weight loss involves many different factors beyond drinking one type of water. (iStock)

New York-based certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco agreed that more data is needed on what individuals should pair with soda water for weight management.

“As the study points out, there is no one general way to lose weight across the board,” DeCicco, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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Weight loss can occur when people engage in increased physical activity, decrease their caloric intake and eat a healthier selection of foods, which includes minimizing ultraprocessed, fried and sugary foods, the nutritionist said.

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Carbonated consequences

While bubbles in carbonated water can create a full feeling, there are also consequences of overindulging, according to DeCicco.

“I can see how drinking carbonated water can make people less hungry because the bubbles do create a feeling of more fullness,” she said. 

“With that being said, people may skip a snack if they’re drinking seltzer, thus reducing caloric intake for the day.”

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On the other hand, DeCicco cautioned, carbonated beverages can make individuals feel bloated and gassy, and can aggravate reflux issues.

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“Therefore, it’s not a suggestion of mine to recommend bubbly drinks for anyone with chronic bloating, acid reflux, hiatal hernia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or other stomach sensitivities.”

The researchers emphasized that carbonated water consumption “should be integrated into a broader strategy of healthy living rather than relied upon as a primary weight-loss tool.” (iStock)

DeCicco highlighted that the new study only refers to seltzer water and does not include sweetened beverages such as sodas or artificially flavored seltzers, which may be “linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and increased sugar cravings.” 

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She added, “People want an easy ‘1-2-3 fix’ for weight loss — and I know it’s not the popular statement to make, but long-term weight loss doesn’t stem from doing one thing (like drinking seltzer).”

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“It is individually based, and requires consistency and a change to habits and behaviors for long-term health.”

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I Lost 215 Lbs and Transformed My Health Without GLP-1s and Only Mindset Shifts—Here Are My Biggest Tips

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I Lost 215 Lbs and Transformed My Health Without GLP-1s and Only Mindset Shifts—Here Are My Biggest Tips


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4 anti-aging approaches revealed in 2025 that may help Americans live longer

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4 anti-aging approaches revealed in 2025 that may help Americans live longer

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On average, Americans want to live to be 91 years old, according to a recent Pew Research survey — a goal that has driven a focus on longevity-boosting practices.

Over 60% of U.S. adults use supplements and most prioritize long-term health and wellness behaviors as part of an anti-aging approach, research has shown.

In 2025, researchers revealed the following anti-aging discoveries that may help you live a longer life.

COMMON DAILY VITAMIN SHOWN TO SLOW AGING PROCESS OVER 4-YEAR PERIOD

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1. Vitamin D could slow the aging process

A study by researchers at Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia discovered that taking vitamin D supplements may protect against biological aging.

Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2025 found that supplementing with daily vitamin D3 can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging.

Vitamin D3 supplementation can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging, research has shown. (iStock)

Three months later, researchers at Harvard confirmed this correlation with their own study published in the same journal.

Daily vitamin D3 supplementation was found to prevent the shortening of telomeres, the protective ends on chromosome strands, which is a hallmark of aging.

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2. Meditation practices may boost longevity

An April 2025 study by Maharishi International University (MIU), the University of Siegen, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences found that transcendental meditation can significantly alleviate stress and slow down aging.

The long-term meditation practice involves silently repeating a mantra in your head to achieve deep relaxation.

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The study, published in the journal Biomolecules, found that participants who practiced transcendental meditation had lower expression of the genes associated with inflammation and aging.

“These results support other studies indicating that the transcendental meditation technique can reverse or remove long-lasting effects of stress,” co-author Kenneth Walton, a senior researcher at MIU, previously told Fox News Digital. “Lasting effects of stress are now recognized as causing or contributing to all diseases and disorders.”

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Those who practiced transcendental mediation had a lower expression of genes associated with aging. (iStock)

3. GLP-1s are linked to reduction in mortality

A September 2025 study discovered that GLP-1 drugs, which are designed for diabetes and weight loss, could significantly reduce mortality for Americans.

Researchers at Swiss Re, a reinsurance company in Zurich, Switzerland, estimated that GLP-1 drugs could lead to a 6.4% reduction in all-cause mortality in the U.S. by 2045. In the U.K., more than a 5% reduction in mortality was projected over the same 20 years.

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Obesity is one factor that has “stalled progress in life expectancy,” as it is linked to 70% of the leading causes of death in high-income countries, according to the researchers.

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4. Creativity and socialization could extend lifespan

In October 2025, various research investigated the impact of social engagement on longevity.

A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity found that social relationships can slow cellular aging.

A September 2025 study discovered that GLP-1 drugs could significantly reduce mortality for Americans. (iStock)

Researchers at Cornell University explored the long-term benefits of social connections on biological aging.

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“We found that strong social ties can literally slow down the biological aging process,” lead study author Anthony Ong previously said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Strong social ties appear to work in the background over many years, building a more resilient body by reducing the chronic, low-grade inflammation that is a key driver of accelerated aging.”

Social connection is a major player in extending longevity, research has shown. (iStock)

A similar study was published the same month, revealing that creative activities such as music, dance, painting and even certain video games may help keep the brain biologically younger.

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Researchers from 13 countries — including teams at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and SWPS University in Poland — analyzed brain data from more than 1,400 adults of all ages worldwide. Those who regularly pursued creative hobbies had brain patterns that appeared younger than their actual age.

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Even short bursts of creative activity, such as a few weeks of strategy-based video gaming, had noticeable benefits.

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Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Bardolf and Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.

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Hidden factor in cancer treatment timing may affect survival, researchers say

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Hidden factor in cancer treatment timing may affect survival, researchers say

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The time of day patients receive cancer treatments could have an impact on the outcome, a new study suggests.

New research published in Cancer, the official journal of the American Cancer Society, found that patients who received standard immunochemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) earlier in the day saw “significantly greater benefit” compared to those who got the same treatment later in the afternoon.

In the study, researchers from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine at Central South University, China, analyzed data from nearly 400 patients who were treated between May 2019 and October 2023.

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All patients had ES-SCLC and received first-line immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab) along with chemotherapy, according to a press release.

“Our study found that patients who received immunochemotherapy before 3:00 PM had substantially longer progression-free survival and overall survival,” lead study author Dr. Yongchang Zhang, medical oncologist and chief director at the Hunan Cancer Hospital in Changsha, China, told Fox News Digital. 

The time of day patients receive cancer treatments could have an impact on the outcome, a new study suggests. (iStock)

“After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, earlier administration was associated with a 52% lower risk of cancer progression and a 63% lower risk of death.”

“It was quite surprising that simply changing the infusion time could lead to such substantial survival benefits for patients,” he added.

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The findings align with the idea of chronotherapy, which suggests that the body’s natural daily rhythms affect how the immune system works and how drugs act in the body. 

This means cancer treatments may be more effective at certain times of day, likely because immune activity and drug processing change over the 24-hour cycle, the study suggests.

“This study should not prompt patients to delay treatment or panic about appointment times.”

Based on the findings, Zhang recommends scheduling immunotherapy infusions in the early part of the day.

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“Research across multiple cancer types has shown that patients receiving immunotherapy earlier in the day experience longer survival,” he noted. “Our findings in non-small cell lung cancer, supported by both multicenter retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials, confirm this pattern.”

NEW CANCER THERAPY HUNTS AND DESTROYS DEADLY TUMORS IN MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH STUDY 

Gilberto Lopes, M.D., chief of medical oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, noted that previous, similar studies in non-small cell lung cancer have shown better outcomes when immunotherapy is administered earlier in the day, reinforcing the idea that the immune system follows circadian rhythms that influence treatment response. 

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“In that sense, the results are biologically plausible and consistent with a growing body of evidence across cancers,” Lopes, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “What is striking is that this signal now appears in small cell lung cancer, a disease where outcomes have been notoriously difficult to improve.”

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All patients had ES-SCLC and received first-line immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab) along with chemotherapy. (iStock)

The study did have some limitations, as detailed in the published study. Most notably, the study was retrospective and observational, meaning it could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between timing of treatments and outcomes.

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With this type of study, Lopes said, “investigators start with an idea and go back and review patient records.” In this case, other factors can have an impact on the outcome, according to the oncologist.

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“For instance, did patients who come early in the day have a better quality of life, performance status and socioeconomic status and that is what made the difference?” he asked. “Or something else we don’t know? These results need to be confirmed prospectively to eliminate known and unknown sources of bias.”

“The next step is prospective testing, but until then, this research invites us to rethink something medicine usually ignores: timing itself,” an oncologist said. (iStock)

Zhang also pointed out that this was a single-center study including only Chinese patients. “To obtain more definitive evidence, prospective clinical trials conducted across multiple countries and diverse populations are needed,” he told Fox News Digital.

Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct randomized trials to confirm these preliminary findings and pinpoint optimal treatment windows based on individual patients’ chronotypes (internal body clocks).

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“This study should not prompt patients to delay treatment or panic about appointment times,” Lopes cautioned. “But it raises an important, low-cost question for oncology systems: If scheduling flexibility exists, should earlier infusion times be preferred?”

“The next step is prospective testing, but until then, this research invites us to rethink something medicine usually ignores: timing itself.”

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