Various Types of Water and Their Benefits
Feeling thirsty?
With record heat across the world, we are turning to our water bottles more than ever. There are so many brands of water, types of water, and sources of water that it can be overwhelming knowing what is best for us to drink.
The human body is made of up to 70 percent of water, much of which is lost through urine and sweat, which is the reason why experts and nutritionists emphasize the need to be always hydrated.
If you don’t know what percentage your body personally is water…stop by and ask to use our InBody machine for a complete body composition analysis.
Water carries out many important jobs such as flushing bacteria out of your bladder, aiding digestion, carrying nutrients and oxygen to the cells, preventing constipation, maintaining the electrolyte (sodium) balance, etc. Water and its importance have been emphasized for centuries.
We all know that water is essential to our survival, but what type of water is the best for us to drink for our health and wellbeing?
The 7 Most Common Types of Water Available!
1. Tap water is the water that you get directly from your faucet, it may or may not be suited for drinking purposes. It is widely used for household chores such as cleaning, cooking, gardening, and washing clothes.
This type of water is generally sourced from a dam or river, treated at a water treatment facility, stored in a reservoir, and then supplied to homes through water pipelines.
While the quality of tap water generally has to meet the government guidelines, and often does at the water treatment plant, intermittent supply through old distribution pipelines (which run parallel to sewage lines in many cities of India), can render this water unsafe, especially during peak summer and during the rainy season which is prone to flooding.
2. Mineral water naturally contains essential minerals. The reason is mineral water is obtained from underground sources which is the reason why it is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese.
Any further minerals can’t be added to the water, and it can’t be subjected to any further treatment. However, mineral water can be subjected to limited processes such as carbonation or iron removal before packaging.
3. Hard water happens when water percolates through several layers of limestone, chalk, and even gypsum which are high in calcium, magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfates. Another reason for increased hardness in some areas is the depleting level of groundwater due to over-extraction.
As a result, these compounds contaminate the water, increasing its hardness. Other elements in hard water may be compounds like iron, aluminum, and manganese which also add to hardness.
The extra mineral content doesn’t make this water good for your health. As per the IS 10500 standards of potable drinking water, there are limits to various contaminants of hard water and it is advisable not to consume water with mineral content beyond those limits. When such is the case, a RO+UV water purifier can help in bringing hardness under control and improving the taste while disinfecting it at the same time.
Hard water is identified in other ways too. When soap does not lather easily, one can safely say that the water is hard. Bathing in hard water can cause dry skin and dull hair. Also, merely having hard water pass through your plumbing fixtures can cause corrosion and irreversible damage, to prevent against consider installing a water softener.
4. Sparkling water, also known as carbonated water or soda water, is infused with carbon dioxide gas while under pressure. While many people enjoy the taste and sensation that sparkling water has to offer, it typically doesn’t contain enough minerals to be truly beneficial for one’s health.
If you’re a fan of sparkling water, make sure you’re mixing it up with other sources of water as well.
5. Spring water is where, in some places, rainwater accumulated underground tends to “leak” out at the surface as a spring, or puddle. Natural springs are not passed through a community water system and are yet considered suitable for drinking as it comes from under the ground.
Since water is collected right from the source it is generally clean, free from toxins, and other unwanted particles. In some cases, depending on the spring or glacier it is collected from, the water might even be infused with vital minerals.
If you get your spring or glacier water from authentic brands like Evian or Fiji, then you can rest assured that you are getting some quality drinking water from around the world. However, it is going to be very expensive compared to regular packaged water, let alone tap water.
6. Purified water may seem extremely pure and clean because of the name; it is usually just tap or groundwater that has been disinfected from harmful contaminants and bacteria. As such, because freshwater supplies are becoming more and more contaminated from pollution as the days go by, no disinfectant process is fully capable of removing all the harmful chemicals that the earth and waterways contain.
This means that the “purified” water that you drink might not be completely “purified.”
7. Alkaline water is a much-hyped term these days. While it goes without saying that you shouldn’t drink acidic water, many people have the idea that drinking alkaline water can help neutralize the acid in the body, which can then help slow the aging process and even prevent cancers.
However, there are some things to keep in mind – alkaline water can reduce stomach acids from effectively killing off harmful bacteria that you might consume with your food and drinking too much alkaline water can lead to metabolic alkalosis, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
The general rule of thumb would be to drink water that has a normal PH level. Drinking water all day that has an uncomfortably high PH (alkaline) level or too low PH level (acidic), can and will have detrimental effects on your body.
With all the types of water on the market, the best thing to do is try a variety of waters and see what you like!
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