We have all been schooled in the importance of water consumption. We’re told too many times to drink about 8 cups per day, but too little about the quality of water we drink and how to ensure we’re getting healthy drinking water.
So even if we are getting enough water, we might not be getting enough hydration. In some cases, we could even be harming ourselves with the water we drink. Learn why you should avoid some waters and embrace others.
What Not To Drink
The following common drinking water options lack the minerals your body needs to properly hydrate itself and may even contribute to disease:
1. Tap water is treated, processed and disinfected by the local sewage treatment center. It is purified with chlorine and treated with fluoride. Tap water has also been linked to cancer.
2. Distilled water is water that has its impurities removed by boiling water and then condensation the vapor into a clean container. However, this process rids the water of important minerals.
3. Developed more than 40 years ago, reverse osmosis involves forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane, moving from a stronger saline solution to a weaker one. The membrane blocks the passage of salt particles and some contaminants. However, this process does not remove small contaminants and removes alkaline minerals from the water, leaving it relatively acidic, which is dangerous to the body’s acid-alkaline balance.
4. Bottled water is something you should avoid, and for very good reason. It is often simply purified municipal water and is devoid of essential nutrients. The plastic containers also leach toxins into the water. If drinking bottled water, make sure it comes from a natural source and is stored in a glass container.
What To Drink
For truly healthy drinking water, stick to water from a natural source that contains inherent, essential minerals. Well water, artesian or spring water, and mineral water are the most promising options. Well water comes from a hole dug deep in the ground that taps into a water source and then pumps it to the surface. Usually, if you don’t have access to city water, your source is from a nearby well. Natural spring water is bottled at the source while artesian and spring waters, albeit natural, are bottled off-site. Mineral water may be your best bet for healthy drinking water. It is derived from an underground source and has dissolved solids, much of which includes minerals and trace elements, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium. If buying bottled water, make sure that it is in a glass container to prevent toxins from plastic getting into your water.
Photo Credit: rwhgould