Carbonation is a process that has been done for ages. It is what gives the carbonated soda or beer its fizz. Without this process, no matter how delicious your beverage is, it just won’t give the same kind of satisfaction.
You can easily carbonate your drinks at home if you have the carbonation tools in hand. There is one company selling their own carbonation setup. It’s a little bit pricey but great for newbies who want to give this carbonation a try at home. It’s a great alternative to the not-so-healthy soft drinks that we have grown to love for years but minus the excess calories and additional chemical additives.
Millions of people crave for their favorite soft drinks. We can’t blame them. Because soft drinks can get a bit addictive and it’s sought after especially when we need a bit of refreshment for a hot day. Decades ago, these soft drinks were branded to be good for you and there is one even that was commercialized as a great substitute for water even on infants. Now we know better and we try to keep kids away from soft drinks as much as possible because they are actually not very healthy. If you drink soft drinks every now and then it’s fine. But if you consume several cans of it a day, most likely you are starting to have a weight problem. Carbonation of your favorite juices would be a better alternative if you really want that fizzy feeling you get out of soft drinks and here’s how carbonation works.
Carbonation is a process where carbon dioxide is squeezed into the liquid. Of course gas and liquid don’t really like to blend together and are called “insoluble” with each other. But in carbonation you take into account the pressure that will keep the carbon dioxide blended well with the liquid. By checking the partial pressure of CO2 in its environment then you would know how much of the CO2 has already dissolved in your liquid. For this, you would need to follow a chart and make sure you don’t go over the required pressure to avoid adding too much of the gas in your tank or container. If too much is added, the possibility of it fizzing up excessively is very high and worse, it can explode.
This CO2 can be added to your liquid either forcefully (called force carbonation) or naturally (with the help of sugar and yeast). Either way you will be able to get that fizz or sparkle you get when you open a can of your favorite soft drinks or beer.
You can also simply add a seltzer to your juice and watch it sparkle and gives you the same effect. It’s very quick and easy and works all the time
Do take note that in carbonation, temperature is also a factor. The higher the temperature, the least amount of CO2 would dissolve in the liquid. Because it just hates hot temperature. Cold liquid is more preferred to make the process effective. If you do natural carbonation, make sure you put the carbonated bottles or tank in cold temperature, in your refrigerator for instance, to stop the carbonation process by keeping the yeast in hibernation mode. This way, the yeast won’t eat too much of the sugar and will leave your drink taste less appealing and also, to avoid too much carbon dioxide in the drink and less of the by-product of alcohol.
Carbonated drink, minus all the added chemicals and excess sugar, is not bad for you. You are simply digesting carbon dioxide which is one of the most common gas molecules around us. Stay refreshed without gaining weight.