The Type of Water You Drink Matters

Hydration is essential to a fully functioning body. As our bodies are mostly made of water, it takes water to keep your digestive systems working properly, to flush out toxins, to maintain or improve your skin’s moisture, and to allow your organs to function. The majority of Americans suffer from dehydration as many choose other, unnatural methods for temporarily quenching their thirst.

In a previous article, Ensure That Your Water Is Clean and Pure, I wrote about some of the contaminants found in tap water such as chlorine, a disinfectant to kill bacteria, and fluoride, a neurotoxin originally intended to prevent tooth decay. There are a number of methods to filter impurities out of your tap water so that you’re not consuming or bathing in these chemicals. However, what do you drink when you spend most of your time away from home?

Many people have asked me about the different types of water and which I prefer to drink when I’m traveling. As someone whose health had been severely compromised, I now look at water through a completely different filter (pun intended) than I did before I’d receive a cancer diagnosis.

Not all water is created equal. If you’re someone like me, who travels quite a bit, it may be a daunting task to find water that can best benefit your body. Do you know what should be in your water? Should there be a certain pH of  the water that you’re drinking daily?

In a perfect world, all drinking water would be free from chemicals, bacteria, and heavy metals, and rich in essential minerals, with a neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.0. The truth is, it’s not likely that you’ll find this high-quality water in your convenience stores when you’re looking to hydrate on the road. However, there may be some water that comes close. However, don’t be fooled by the labels of most big-branded waters. At least 40% of the water bottled for your consumption is merely filtered tap water. Be sure to check out the actual source of the water and have a few brands in mind when venturing out.

What are your typical bottled water types and how can they affect your body?

Distilled Water has gone through a heating process that turns the water into vapor in order to separate the contaminants from the drinking water. In this process, the water loses the minerals originally found in the water and thereby, becomes acidic. With this acidity, distilled water will begin to pull minerals from your body, a process called chelation. In this same manner, distilled water can pull contaminants from the container in which it is stored. Any contaminants with a lower boiling point than water, such as chlorine, can become more concentrated, making the chemicals even stronger than in the form it originally started as. Because distilled water can pull out toxins, it can be very effective in detoxifying the body; however, it is not recommended that this water be consumed on an ongoing basis for long periods of time.

Purified Water has gone through a process of filtering, such as reverse osmosis, to remove many contaminants and bacteria from the water. Because the purification process involves filtering, purified water is typically cleaner than distilled water as the filters are able to remove pesticides and other chemicals, without creating a more concentrated form. As some purification methods involve electricity or magnets to pull out contaminants, the water may actually gain a positive ionic charge, which may upset your body’s natural electrolyte levels, leading to energy loss. Therefore, it is helpful in knowing how your water is purified to ensure that it not only hydrates but energizes your body.

Mineral Water is bottled at the source. This water has traveled through many different layers of the earth, over and over rocks, where it has picked up naturally occurring minerals at the source. In order for water to be classified as mineral water, it must contain no less than 250 parts per million of trace minerals. The world’s richest mineral water sources are located in Europe and Asia, making this water a bit more expensive than other options.

Mineral water is typically unprocessed and is enriched with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium, having either a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. These additional minerals can supplement your diet, where you may not be taking in all of the minerals that your body needs. With the various salts found in mineral water, you will also gain a bit of energy as it contributes to your electrolyte count.

The drawback to drinking mineral water is that you may be getting more in the water than your body really needs or wants. If you’ve ever had too much magnesium, I’m sure you understand how too much of a good thing, may not such good results. When purchasing mineral water, be sure to pay close attention to the mineral content to ensure that your body is not taking in more than it can handle.

Another factor is that some bottled water is not mineral water, but mineralized water, where the bottling company has added minerals to the water. Know the source of your mineral water and whether or not it is mineralized naturally or at the bottling plant.

Spring Water, like mineral water, can also be rich in trace minerals, depending on the water source. However, spring water does not have to contain 250 parts per million of trace minerals. To be considered spring water, it only has to come from a confirmed spring source, usually an aquifier underground or in rock bed formations.

Because spring water is more widely available, it is usually an inexpensive option for bottled water. As sources of spring water vary, not all spring water contains minerals. The cleanliness of the water depends on the source and the facility at which it is bottled.

Spring water is safe for daily and long-term consumption as it is naturally clean water with accompanying minerals. It is best to research different types of spring waters so that you’re aware of the source and the minerals it may contain.

Alkaline Water has been touted as being the best water for those with compromised health conditions. This is because, in a slightly more alkaline environment, diseases, such as cancer, cannot exist. This water is great for detoxifying the body. However, it cannot truly adjust the body’s natural pH levels.

Some alkaline water devices pass tap water through a system of filters, then ionize the water by passing it over titanium or platinum plates. It is possible that using these metals can increase heavy metal toxicity in your body. Other devices filter the water through reverse osmosis, then add coral calcium, another source of heavy metals, to make the water alkaline.

Drinking water that is too alkaline for long periods of time can disrupt your digestive process by reducing your stomach’s acidity level. With a low acidity level in your stomach, your body will not be able to properly break down your food and absorb the nutrients. Therefore, you should only drink alkaline water for short periods of time for detoxification. It should not be your regular drinking water.

In addition to finding a good source of water to drink, you also want to make sure that your bottles are BPA free. Although many plastic bottles are BPA free, those with a resin code of 3 or 7 in the recycle triangle may still contain BPA. This is a hormone disruptor and is best avoided whenever possible. The best option is to find a water source that uses glass bottles; however, that option may not be readily available as you travel. Be just as mindful about your bottle as you are about your drinking water as you can still be contaminating your water with the container.

It’s not enough to simply ensure that you’re drinking water every day. You want to make sure that you’re drinking the right type of water every day. Although there are good reasons to drink water that can detoxify your body, such as alkaline or distilled, these waters should not be used as a long-term source of hydration. You want to make sure that your body is well hydrated with mineral rich, naturally cleaned spring water.

Drinking water is one of the easiest ways to maintain a healthy body. By knowing what to look for, you can be sure that you’re keeping your health a priority when you’re away from home.

Ready to make your health a priority? Contact me here to schedule your consultation.

Sources:

https://liveto110.com/what-kind-of-water-should-i-drink/
http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/drinking-spring-water.html
http://www.mercola.com/article/water.htm
http://all-about-water-filters.com/distilled-water-vs-mineral-water-vs-purified-water/
http://www.vitelwater.com.au/pros-and-cons-of-reverse-osmosis-water-systems/
http://www.onewater.my/news/bottled-spring-water-vs-bottled-mineral-water-what-difference.html