Tap water, bottled water, demineralized water, reverse osmosis water, distilled water, filtered water, ionized water: as consumers, we are faced with an ever-growing range of drinking water choices. But what criteria should we use to make the best choice for our health?
First of all, it is important to remember that it’s not only the quantity of water we drink daily, but also the quality of the water we choose that can impact our health. Let’s explore how two characteristics of drinking water—chlorine and dissolved minerals—can interact with our bodies.
Chlorine is an Oxidant
Chlorine is a highly effective disinfectant that acts as an oxidant to kill viruses and bacteria present in water. Without this disinfectant, we would not be able to drink tap water without risking illness. However, the chlorine in municipal water also acts as an oxidant inside our bodies, which is less desirable, as it contributes to the increase of free radicals and accelerates the aging of our cells.
Moreover, chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in the water and produces trihalomethanes (THMs), chlorination by-products that are associated with an increased risk of cancer.
If you drink tap water, continue to do so, as it is a much more eco-friendly practice than drinking bottled water! However, if you live in a city, make sure to get at least an activated charcoal filter, which will allow you to remove chlorine and THMs from your municipal water before consuming it.
Even better, whether in the city or the countryside, install a multi-cartridge filtration system, which will allow you to remove many other types of contaminants present in the water, such as pesticides, nitrates, heavy metals, coliform bacteria, sulfur, and phosphates.
Demineralized Water = Acidic Water
Water is a universal solvent. As such, it always contains dissolved minerals in its natural state. Essential alkaline minerals for our health found in water include calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. However, two commonly used water treatment systems on the market, reverse osmosis and distillation, remove all minerals present in the water.
Additionally, if you carefully read the labels on bottled water available in stores, you’ll notice that many companies also offer treated and demineralized water. When we remove the naturally dissolved alkaline minerals from water, we make the water more acidic. Typically, demineralized water has a pH of around 5, meaning it is 100 times more acidic than tap water, which has a neutral pH of around 7.
Another danger associated with drinking demineralized water, as confirmed by a report published in 2004 by the World Health Organization, is that this water has the potential to rob our bodies of essential minerals needed for our health. Indeed, water devoid of minerals has a much greater dissolving power and can dissolve and eliminate these alkaline nutrients through urine and other natural elimination pathways.
If you regularly drink water treated by reverse osmosis, distilled water, or demineralized bottled water, it’s essential to compensate for the acidifying effect of this water, either by remineralizing it before drinking or by increasing your daily intake of minerals through diet or supplements.
To Learn More…
Drinking water is a complex field that requires not only technical expertise in filtration but also an understanding of the effects of different types of water on health.
To learn more about water and your health, visit www.aquahealthproducts.com or call us at 1-877-411-AQUA (2782). We would be happy to answer your questions and advise you on products that will be suitable for your particular situation.
