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Water, water everywhere, now what drop dare I drink?
By: Brigitte Synesael
Water, or "aqua vitae" is literally the "Water of Life".
All known life forms require water to live. Our bodies
are made up of approx. 70% of water. Water is involved
in every body process, including digestion, absorption,
circulation and excretion. Water is the natural way we
receive nutrients and minerals. The old adage of 8 glasses
of water every day is an absolute minimum requirement
for healthy bodies.
City water, well water, spring water, rain water, bottled
water? So many kinds of water, but for today we are going
to address the many new brands of bottled water on the
market. Is bottled water better than natural, are there
labeling restrictions, why is it better than regular tap water?
Is bottled water better than tap water? Well in most areas
this proves to be true. You can not be sure what is in your
tap water unless you have it tested occasionally. Regardless
of the source, lake, rain etc tap water can contain
undesirable substances such as fertilizers, asbestos,
cyanides, herbicides, pesticides and industrial chemicals.
They can leach into the water supply from the ground
or from your pipes. Even plastic pipes can produce
impurities and contamination.
So, you decide the safest course is to use bottled water.
I mean it comes in a bottle, it must be pure, Right? Wrong!
Bottled water comes in many kinds, and must be clearly
labled. It is usually classified as to its source type, spring,
spa, glacier, public water supply etc. There can be a lot
of confusion and overlapping in these labels, there are no
rules in place to govern appropriate labeling, so some
claims may be misleading or incorrect.
Mineral water is natural spring water. The word natural on
the bottle only means that the mineral content of the water
has not been altered from its original state. Make sure you
check that bottles labeled Natural spring water list the water
source on the bottle. In addition to containing minerals, the
water must flow freely from its source, it cannot be pumped
or forced from the ground and must be bottled directly at the
source. You need to be aware of the minerals in the water you
choose to drink. If you drink mineral water for therapeutic
reasons, and the water you drink contains minerals your
system doesn't require, you could be doing yourself more
harm than good.
Sparking Water is water that has been carbonated. Watch for
additives such as fructose and other sweeteners. Some are
so high in sugar content they are comparative to drinking
soda pop. If the bottled water is labeled "naturally sparkling
water, the source of the carbonationis from the same source
as the water. If the bottled water is labeled "Carbonated
natural water, the source of the carbonation is added to the
water. People with intestinal disorders or ulcers should
avoid drinking carbonated water as it may irritate the
gastrointestinal tract.
Then we have Distilled water. This bottled water comes from
the condensation of the steam after the water is boiled. This
is thought to be the safest type of water to drink. Most of the
bacteria, viruses, chemicals, minerals and pollutants are left
behind. Distilled water can be somewhat tasteless, but you
can add flavor by adding raw apple cider vinegar (from a
health food store). One or two tbsp per gallon. Lemon juice
is another excellent addition. You can add back the minerals
lost in the distilling process by adding mineral drops. Two
tbsps to every 5 imperial gallons.
So as you can see, finding safe, healthy water to drink is
no longer a given. Since you must have water, and if you use
tap water, have it checked regularly to ensure no
contaminants are present. Try one of the new filtration/purifiers
that fit on your tap, or filter in a container. Don't take it for
granted that if its in a bottle the water must be good for you.
Always check the labels and know the label definitions.
Many thanks to Dr. James F. Balch, MD and
Phyllis A. Balch CNC, authors of Prescription for
Nutritional Healing. (Second edition) which proved an excellent
source of reference.
Bio:
Brigitte Synesael founded Your Life-Your Choice in 1997, and is now recognized as an authority on Alternative Medicine Information. Her associations with governing agencies and certified practitioners ensure well researched, quality information. Her free newsletter, found
at http://www.Life-Choices.com is an excellent resource for various types of treatments.
Her latest release "You've Got Nothing To Lose But POUNDS!" was inspired by her outrage at society taking advantage of a frustrated, overweight population. It is always assumed that overweight people eat too much, and in many cases, that is simply NOT TRUE. This well researched book gives you more than 10 factors in your life that could be responsible for your weight problem besides overeating. This book is available
at http://www.diets-dont-work.com
Brigitte Synesael may be contacted at
yourlife@life-choices.com
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