Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Wisdom Wednesday: Mineral Water versus Tap Water
Mineral water comes from underground reservoirs. Unlike regular drinking water, mineral water does not undergo chemical processing. As the name suggests, mineral water contains high quantities of minerals, especially magnesium, calcium, and sodium. But is mineral water better than regular water, and what are its benefits?
This article discusses some possible health benefits associated with drinking mineral water.
All living organisms need water to survive. Not only does water support essential physical functions, it also provides vital nutrients that the body does not produce on its own. While most people in the United States have access to clean drinking water, many people choose bottled mineral water for its perceived purity and potential health benefits.
How does mineral water compare with regular water? Based on the current evidence, the differences are not very significant. The water in household taps comes either from surface or underground sources.
In the U.S., tap water must meet the Safe Drinking Water Act standards established by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These regulations limit the number of contaminants present in water supplied to homes. Public water suppliers move water from its source to treatment plants, where it undergoes chemical disinfection. The clean water ultimately gets delivered to households through a system of underground pipes.
Tap water contains added minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Hard tap water has higher mineral contents, which some consider more healthful. However, minerals in hard water form deposits that can corrode pipes or restrict the flow. Also, despite the efforts of public water suppliers, contaminants from rusted or leaking pipes can pollute drinking water.
Mineral water comes from natural underground reservoirs and mineral springs, giving it a higher mineral content than tap water. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), mineral water must contain at least 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids. The FDA prohibit these manufacturers from adding minerals to their products.
Minerals that are often present in mineral water include: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, iron and zinc. Unlike tap water, mineral water is bottled at the source. Some people prefer mineral water due to its perceived purity and the lack of chemical disinfection treatments. However, mineral water may undergo some processing. This can include adding or removing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas or eliminating toxic substances, such as arsenic. CO2 helps prevent oxidation and limits bacterial growth in mineral water. Naturally carbonated water gets its CO2 from the source. Manufacturers can also infuse their water with
CO2 after extraction.
Studies suggest that drinking mineral water may have health benefits, though little research directly suggests that it is better for a person's health than tap water. People who want to buy mineral water can find it in supermarkets or choose from brands online. Also, in the U.S., the EPA strictly regulates tap water quality to ensure that it is free from harmful microbes. Tap water also contains added minerals, making it a cheaper alternative to mineral water.
Drinking carbonated mineral water may cause some tooth erosion, but not to the same extent.
My Take:
This was a nine pages article that you can read in full a Medline. The article goes on to discuss the potential benefits of the five common minerals found in mineral water. What the article doesn’t discuss is that all these mineral in both tap water and mineral water are inorganic. Yes, the body can use these minerals if it can bind them organically. That is not an easy task.
I recommend getting your minerals from food, not water. All minerals in food are already organically bound and ready for the body to use. Imagine eating your car keys. Your body can leach a little of the iron out of those keys, but not very much. Now imagine burying those keys in your garden and growing spinach in the soil. Over time, the keys will begin to break down, the spinach will absorb the iron and organically bind it into the leaf. When you eat the leaf you get the benefit of an iron rich plant.
Bottom Line:
Drink distilled water, it’s clean, but also void of minerals. Eat food for your mineral intake and supplement as needed.
Source: April 9, 2019 NIH
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