Is mineral water healthy when you drink it frequently? It is if you believe what ads for bottled water tell you, using terms like natural mineral water H20 that draw your attention and interest. However, it is possible that these products can do more harm than good.
Thousands of years ago, people discovered natural mineral water H20 in hot springs and cold around the world. They found the mineral water healthy for a variety of conditions. They establish baths for bathing and wells for drinking.
These baths and wells were the birthplace of many cities: Spas were constructed and modern modes of tourism took hold. Study a world map and you will notice many towns whose name includes the words bath, hot springs, and similar terms in one language or another. The question remains, though. Why was mineral water healthy enough to inspire past generations?
In past cultures, waters were drawn from their source and sent to some privileged households through natural clay pipes that made use of broad flanges and gravity’s pull. Not until the end of the 1800’s did the average person have plumbing in their house.
A hot bath was a luxury. Hygiene was very poor and that resulted in many diseases and illnesses. Simply bathing in a hot spring filled with natural mineral water H20 could wash away bacteria, germs and viruses. Some of the elements have natural antibacterial activity, so sores might heal more quickly and the hot springs would feel wonderful on rheumatic and arthritic joints.
Nutritional deficiencies were also wide spread among the poor and wealthy alike. Most illnesses and diseases arising from nutritional deficiencies are practically unheard of today, but in previous generations, they were quite common.
If a person was ill due to dietary deficits and they drank natural mineral water H20 from a well, their health would improve. They would likely consider the mineral water healthy for everyone, from the day that they began to feel better.
What about in the present? Can we still call mineral water healthy to drink? Mineral water is more wholesome to drink than something that has had minerals filtered out by distilling them or using reverse osmosis. But if bottled water is consistently your water of choice, you might be at risk for some health problems for several reasons.
You know the saying “too much of a good thing”. It is possible to get too much of a specific vitamin or mineral. Excessive manganese consumption, for example can damage the kidneys and liver. Some companies “fortify” their beverages with specific minerals and if they are consumed often enough, as a person’s main source of liquids, they can cause health problems.
Brand-name beverages aren’t tightly regulated, and might not always be tested at all. Sometimes a purification method isn’t even used, since it could change the water’s content. That means that you might be ingesting chemical and environmental impurities. Since any liquid stored in plastic absorbs some of the compounds over time, the bottle itself can also cause harmful impurities.
Although natural mineral water H20 was healthful in former times, nowadays people should have pure water as their main source. One way of filtering out chemical impurities and equalizing mineral levels is by getting a home purifier. It is the wisest choice for keeping yourself hydrated. If you had questions at the beginning, we hope you have found answers as to why people consider mineral water healthy, and if it is advisable to drink it regularly.
Entries (RSS)