Water, Water, Everywhere, but Which One Should You Drink?

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Everyone knows that water is a vital part of life and that without it, life would cease to exist. Water makes up about 70 percent of our body and it is critical for all processes in the body. If you go to your local supermarket, drug store, corner convenience store, or health food store, you will see seemingly endless aisles of water. With all these choices, it’s easy to become confused as to which is the “right” or even which is the “better” water to drink.

You know you need water, but on top of which water, do you know how much water you need? A simple method is figure this out is to simply consume half of your body weight (measured in pounds) in drinking water (measured in ounces). For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, then you should drink 80 ounces (about 10 eight ounces glass) of water each day.

That’s a lot of water, and it needs to be free from any contaminants, so we are back at square one. We are surrounded by water, but which is the best water?

Well, we are here to help clear things up for you. True, there are plenty of choices, but not all water is created equal. Much of the water you see for sale might come from a decent source but it gets contaminated and bastardized to the point that it’s really not worth drinking sometimes. Want some water you can trust? Keep reading and find out if you are drinking the best possible water, and if you aren’t which you should be.

1. Tap Water

In this great age of information, you would have to be living on a desert island (with no internet service!) to not know that almost all tap water is contaminated with dozens of pollutants and added ingredients that are harmful to your health. Some of the worst offenders that are probably in your tap water are VOCs (volatile organic compounds), chlorine, and fluoride. How much pollution could there be in your tap water? It has been estimated that there can be as much as 2,100 types of contaminants in the water from your kitchen sink.

Fluoride is the one that is getting the most attention lately, and with good reason. There have been multiple studies that show that fluoride has no real benefit when added to drinking water. In fact, just the opposite is true! Fluoride in drinking water has been shown to cause the following:

Accumulation in your tissues, which causes weakness and fatigue
Is stored in the brain and thyroid
Creates behavioral problems in children
Increases the risk of bone fractures
Increases cavities. Find out more dangers of fluoride in water.

Chlorine has been linked to numerous digestive problems as well as a rise in allergies, which points to a damaged immune system and compromised liver. On top of this, with all the industrial and modern farming practices, VOCs have contaminated almost all underground water systems.

So, even though you probably didn’t need to be told, skip the tap water unless you are lucky enough to have a private well that has been tested and shown to be a clean source of water.

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2. Distilled Water

Although this is a great temporary source of water, such as for a short term cleansing routine, or if there is literally no other water source available, then by all means, distilled water is better than no water or contaminated water, but this is not something you should drink on a regular basis. Distilled water is more acidic and has no nutrient or minerals that your body must have.

3. Bottled Water

Although it looks pretty harmless, and you can buy bottled water simply everywhere, it’s not always a good choice. If your only choice is bottled water or soda, of course, it’s a no brainer to choose the water, but plastic bottled water comes with xenoestrogens, which cause damage to your hormones and digestive system. Plastic bottles also contain Bisphenol A, which is a chemical that has been linked to obesity, and cancer. Other studies show that some brands of bottled water have been so “purified” that it’s closer to drinking distilled water than filtered water and that they are much more on the acidic side than you would want. Still other tests show that bottled water is simply tap water in a fancy bottle and they are often contaminated with the same pollutants, and sometimes more, than tap water.

Also, 9 out of 10 of the most popular brands of bottled water refused to identify the source of their water or the method by which they filter it. Perhaps it’s because the truth is that they don’t filter it and it’s simply municipal water right out of the tap?

Perhaps the worst thing of all about bottled water is the enormous energy and resources that go into the production of the plastic, most of which, sadly, is not recycled. Read this befire you reuse your water bottle. If you can, look for water in glass bottles.

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4. Filtered Water

By filtered water, we are referring to any water that has gone through some type of filtration system, usually either a pitcher type or sink mounted filtration system. This is the kind of system most people go for when they decide they want to stop the bottled water habit and clean up their tap water. This is usually a very good option as most filters get rid of a great deal of the toxins, but leave the minerals in the water. If you are shopping for a filtration system, be sure to check the numbers as all filtration systems are not created equal. Also, buy a few replacement filters when you buy your system, so you will have no excuse for not changing the filter when you need to.

5. Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water

Once thought to be the gold standard for purifying drinking water, recent studies show that this type of system falls short of expectations.

Although it is true that reverse osmosis systems do remove the usual contaminants in our tap water, like distilled water, it also removes all the minerals. Think of reverse osmosis filtered water as the ‘white bread’ of water. Fills you up but isn’t exactly good for you.

If you have a reverse osmosis filtration system and find that you or your family is plagued with constipation, this is most likely the reason why. Remineralize your water by adding a pinch of Himalayan salt to replace the lost minerals.

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6. Alkaline Water Systems

This is now considered to be the ‘holy grail’ of water filtration systems and although they do have tremendous benefits, there are some things you should be aware of.

Most alkaline water systems do offer exceptional high levels of active hydrogen and colloidal mineral content, which is a good thing, but some of these systems create water that is a little too alkaline to be good for your long term health. An ideal pH is between 8 and 9, but some of these systems come out with water that is in the pH range of 12 or 13! If the system you are considering is putting out water any higher than 10 on the pH scale, consider another brand. Read also how to alkalize water at home.

7. Spring Water

The most original and the purest form of water. This type of water has been almost forgotten about or thought of as extinct since bottled water has been so heavily advertised. Also, for people living in large cities, finding a source of spring water and finding a way to get it to the home is next to impossible.

Spring water, when collected from a pure source, is the most beneficial and hydrating water you can drink, hands down. It is loaded with oxygen, colloidal minerals are abundant, and it hydrates your body like nothing else. It also tastes like no other water and if you have ever had the chance to drink it, you will understand.

Think that there are absolutely NO fresh, uncontaminated springs near you? Well, that might be true, but you won’t know until you check. Check out www.findaspring.com and see if there are some natural, uncontaminated springs close to your area.

Sources:

Organiclifestylemagazine.com

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