This tree is native to central and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean and western parts of Africa. People have consumed quinine in tonic water to help treat cases of malaria for centuries. In this article, learn about what quinine is and what its side effects and possible benefits are. Doctors continue to use quinine as a part of malaria treatment.
Researchers cite the poor tolerability of the drug and difficulties complying with complex dosing routines as reasons to be concerned about regular medicinal use. Some people use tonic water to help treat nighttime leg cramps , but there is little evidence to suggest that this is effective. Tonic water is available for purchase online. Experts consider quinine safe to consume in small doses.
The FDA also specify that manufacturers must place quinine on the label for consumers to easily see. Some people may experience allergic reactions to quinine. If this is the case, a person should avoid tonic water and any other products that contain quinine. However, people with these risk factors should not take quinine supplements or medications unless a doctor prescribes it. Many people believe that drinking tonic water helps with nighttime leg cramps and restless legs syndrome.
However, there is no scientific evidence verifying this belief. In fact, the FDA have warned doctors against prescribing quinine to treat leg cramps or restless legs syndrome. Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink that may contain sugar and has little nutritional value. The quinine present in tonic water provides a distinctive bitter flavor. While not dangerous, tonic water does not have any benefits and could lead to an unnecessary increase in calorie consumption.
Quinine is very diluted in tonic water. The likelihood of a person experiencing any side effects from drinking tonic water is slim. However, side effects of quinine can include:. As a medication, quinine may have more severe side effects. We already know that too much sugar is bad news. A study showed that the more sugar-sweetened drinks we consume, the greater our risk of early death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, particularly among women.
Malik VS, et al. Long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and risk of mortality in US adults. In , researchers found a link between drinking syrup-filled beverages and a greater risk of heart disease. Stanhope KL, et al. Tonic water seems like it would be in a different class than the soft drinks we think of when we hear those kinds of statistics. Obviously, most of us consume Coke and tonic water differently — maybe drinking a whole can of the former but using just a few ounces of the latter to complement a cocktail.
Yang Q. In , researchers decided to test this theory. They had people replace their sugary drinks with diet varieties or water for 6 months. The conclusion? Piernas C, et al. Does diet-beverage intake affect dietary consumption patterns? A review noted that the long-term impact of sweeteners is not yet known. And they do little in the way of weight loss. In fact, the opposite may be true: Sometimes diet-beverage drinkers gain weight and have an increased risk of chronic diseases.
Club soda is carbonated water that has been infused with added minerals. Water is carbonated by injecting carbon dioxide gas, or CO2. The amounts of minerals added to club soda depend on the brand or manufacturer.
These minerals help enhance the flavor of club soda by giving it a slightly salty taste. Like club soda, seltzer is water that has been carbonated. Given their similarities, seltzer can be used as a substitute for club soda as a cocktail mixer. Seltzer originated in Germany, where naturally occurring carbonated water was bottled and sold. It was very popular, so European immigrants brought it to the United States. Unlike club soda or seltzer, sparkling mineral water is naturally carbonated.
Its bubbles come from a spring or well with naturally occurring carbonation. Spring water contains a variety of minerals, such as sodium, magnesium , and calcium. However, the amounts vary based on the source from which the spring water was bottled. According to the Food and Drug Administration FDA , mineral water must contain at least parts per million dissolved solids minerals and trace elements from the source from which it was bottled 2.
Interestingly, the mineral content of water may change the taste significantly. Some producers further carbonate their products by adding carbon dioxide, making them even more bubbly. However, tonic water also contains quinine, a compound isolated from the bark of cinchona trees. Quinine is what gives tonic water a bitter taste 3. Tonic water was historically used to prevent malaria in tropical areas in which the disease was prevalent.
Back then, tonic water contained significantly higher amounts of quinine 3. Today, quinine is only present in small amounts to give tonic water its bitter taste.
Tonic water is also commonly sweetened with either high fructose corn syrup or sugar to improve taste 4. Club soda, seltzer, sparkling, and tonic water are all types of carbonated drinks. However, differences in production, as well as mineral or additive content, result in unique tastes. Club soda, seltzer, sparkling, and tonic water contain very few nutrients. Below is a comparison of the nutrients in 12 ounces mL of all four beverages 5 , 6 , 7 , 8.
Tonic water is the only beverage that contains calories, all of which come from sugar. Although club soda, sparkling mineral water, and tonic water contain some nutrients, the amounts are very low.
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