We all know we should be drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day, but what if the water we are drinking is actually not supportive of optimum hydration and internal fluid balance?
Most people are aware of the dangerously high levels of chlorine in our water supply, which disrupts our balance of healthy bacteria required for metabolism and assimilation, yet few realise the dangers of other chemicals in our water.
Humans are composed of about 75 per cent water, and this is because water is required for our bodies to undertake many key functions, such as maintaining a stable internal environment for all our cells and metabolic processes, and allowing us to acquire nutrition and aid elimination of wastes. Therefore, the water we consume needs to be clean and supply all the naturally-occurring electrolytes, minerals and trace elements to enable these bodily functions to occur efficiently an effectively.
So how does our water supply fare today?
The truth is that municipal water systems are repositories for millions of tonnes of chemicals, medicines, waste products, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides from water run-off. And these toxins often find their way into our food supply. Chlorine is added liberally to kill the bugs and is useful to prevent contamination; however, chlorine and its by-products are not suitable for human consumption.
Fluoride was introduced to 'reduce the incidence of tooth decay' in the 1940s, but this has never been proved true. Opposition to fluoridation has existed since its initiation.
Surprising to most, tooth decay has dropped at the same rate in countries with, and without water fluoridation. Some developed areas that stopped their practice of water fluoridation include continental Europe and Japan, due to these ill effects.
The bottled water industry has become the target of some of the largest corporations of the world. Millions of dollars are spent each week by water bottlers to give consumers the perception that their water comes from some pristine mountain spring or pure underground aquifer. At least 40 per cent of bottled water you buy though, is simply tap water with perhaps a few added salts!
Water filtration
Purchasing a water filtration system to minimise exposure to heavy metals, chlorine and other waterborne toxins can save you a lot of money, including on your health bill. The cheapest is a carbon water filter, which requires a filter change every two to six months (available from $30 to $50). If you are willing to pay a bit more, recommendations are PiMag or PiWater ceramic filters ($500 to $700) which Pi water filters use a combination of carbon filtration, magnetic fields and infrared energy to create water that is very similar to the water found within the body's cellular tissue. This makes pi water highly compatible to the body's existing homeostasis; this energized, structured water is said to have positive health benefits including antioxidant and immune-boosting properties.
Wellness Water filters (around $600) are another top brand, using a specially processed volcanic sand, granulated copper and zinc-based alloy and organic coconut and activated carbon to filter as well as retaining beneficial, acid buffering minerals magnesium, calcium and potassium.
Other filters include water Ionisers, which perform filtration to remove impurities but also causes the water to be electronically enhanced due to exposure to positive and negative electrodes; separating the water and the minerals into 70 per cent alkaline and 30 per cent acid water.
Many studies suggest that cancer cells can only grow in an acid environment. This theory seems to be supported by the fact that the areas where people live the longest most disease free lives are the areas that have the most alkaline water, water with the highest mineral content. Water Distillers combine steam distillation and coconut shell carbon filtration, resulting in the removal of all fluoride and 99.8 per cent of impurities from the water.
Reverse osmosis filters expose water under pressure to a semi permeable membrane, which rejects certain contaminants, but unfortunately also important minerals and trace elements. Because many synthetic chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides are smaller, molecularly, than water, a reverse osmosis system must also be used in conjunction with a carbon filter.
Confused? The above information is to help you decipher between the many different options. Personally, and with the global climatic and economic changes we are already seeing, setting up your own rainwater tank would be my choice. I'd also set up a built in filtration system if you are close to the city.
Adding minerals back to filtered water
Two very negative things happen when we consume water that has been stripped of its natural minerals. Firstly, demineralised water contains more hydrogen and has a pH below seven (acidic). Any time we consume an acid substance, our body will pull minerals from our teeth and bones to produce bicarbonate in order to neutralise the acid. Second, it has been proven that when our body fluids become more acid than alkaline the production of free radicals increases, causing increased cancer risks. Adding a pinch of natural sea salt (best bets are the pink Himalayan crystal salt or the grey Celtic Sea salt bought at natural health stores) or a bit of clay (organic clays bought in powder form from natural health stores such as Bentonite clay and Green Olive clays) which add deep sea minerals and also detoxify by drawing impurities and heavy metals out of the body.
Following the hydration principle
Store water in a dark, cool area and IN GLASS. If you are purchasing bottled water, the best brands with adequate minerals and trace elements include Fuji, Evian, Trinity, Volvic and Vittel. Take care to keep plastic bottles away from sunlight because they leak chemicals and phytoestrogens into your water (which ultimately disrupts hormonal balance). Never buy water contained in smoky plastic containers because the leaking factor is even worse, and often will not require sunlight exposure for this to occur!
How much water?
Everyone is different and the general six to eight glasses is not individually specific. Dr Batmanghelidj recommends a minimum of your body weight (kg) multiplied by 0.033 to give you amount of water (L) per day. If you are active or the weather favours particularly more water loss, the requirement will be greater. Again, he recommends adding a pinch of sea salt in each litre of water.
Adequate and proper hydration is paramount and you will be surprised how many health ailments can disappear solely with following this simple principle.
References
- Batmanghelidj, F. MD. Your Body's Many Cries for Water. Falls Church, VA: Global
- Health Solutions, Inc., 1992.
- Chek P. How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy. USA September 2004. p99.
- Martin B. (1989).The sociology of the fluoridation controversy: a reexamination. Sociological Quarterly. The Fluoride Debate: Question 34, Fluoride Debate web site, accessed 23 February, 2006.
- www.waterfiltercomparisons.com.au
Article by Michelle Drielsma, BAppSc (Ex&SpSc) AEP CHEK Movement and Lifestyle Coach Michelle's passion for health, fitness, nutrition and study, as well as an innate urge to help others have led her towards a career where wellness is achieved through movement and lifestyle coaching. Michelle is an accredited exercise physiologist and has trained under the CHEK Institute, which is recognised as a world leader in functional and rehabilitative exercise conditioning. She has participated in various sports performance and clinical projects including trials at the NSW Institute of Sport. Michelle is a regular contributor for fitness publications and can be contacted via michelle@studioevolve.com.au
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