What You Need to Know About the Water You Drink     

Water makes up almost 75% of your body. Amazingly, without it you would not exist. It is a proven fact that water is more important for your body’s survival than food. You can live without water for approximately one week, yet survive without food for more than a month. Your body utilizes water in several ways: it cushions and lubricates joints; nourishes and protects the brain, spinal cord and other tissues; keeps the body’s temperature normal; helps remove waste and transports nutrients.  People are advised to drink more liquids if they are physically active. The best way to determine if you are getting enough water is to observe the color of your urine. If it is a pale straw color, you are probably drinking enough. If it is dark yellow, you may need to drink more. Some experts recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day. On the contrary, Dr. Heinz Valtin of the Dartmouth College Medical School reported in  “American Journal of Physiology,”  that there is no scientific evidence supporting consumption of eight glasses of water daily. Although a review of studies dealing with the healthy benefits of drinking lots of water concluded that, people who exercise and are in hotter climates would  benefit from increased fluid intake.
With all of that said, the question still remains…..”What type of water should you drink?” It’s easy to get confused about which types of water are really best for your health. We know that water is good for us, but the task is determining what type of water is the most ideal for optimal health. I courageously accepted the challenge and went on a mission to find out what’s the most ideal water for us to consume based on the research and expert advice. I came across some interesting information during my search for the ultimate drinking water.  Take a look at what I unearthed about what many refer to as “the elixir of life.”  Here are the most commonly consumed types of water.
See what the experts had to say about the water we drink.

Tap Water
It looks harmless, but beware; hidden danger lurks!  Yes, it’s convenient and easily accessible, readily available through your kitchen faucet, yet it’s one of the worst types of water for consumption. According to research from the Environmental Working Group, It’s filled with tons of pollutants, such as arsenic, aluminum and chlorine which have been determined to increase your risk of serious health problems.You might elect to use an independent lab and find you don’t need a home purifying system. State and local health departments often do free tests for bacterial contamination, but to find out about toxic substances, you’ll need the services of a private testing lab. Testing for a wide range of common contaminants can cost about  $100, but a worthwhile investment if saves you the cost of a purifying system.

Distilled Water and Deionized Water
Unfortunately, these two types of water lack essential minerals that are necessary for good health. Mineral deficiency has been proven to lead to high blood pressure, heart irregularities, migraines and insulin resistance. In addition, deionized water is not a recommended drinking source based on the fact that its processing does not remove bacteria or viruses.the  ionized impurities and minerals removed from it but not bacteria or pathogens. Making both of these options an inferior choice to mineral or spring water.Alkaline Water
I was eager to delve into researching Alkaline water. More recently, I’d heard it was the drink of choice for fitness buffs. In light of what I’d heard, I was baffled by the results of my exploration.  One resource documented an interview with Houston Tomasz a water filtration expert. He reported several potential problems with alkaline water. The main issues revolved around its detoxification factor. His report indicated that some people experience an initial “high” when they start drinking alkaline water which is most commonly attributed to detoxification, and as a result it is expected to be more hydrating.  The benefits of alkaline water’s detoxification properties are linked to short term use (one to two weeks). According to Tomasz, long-term use of alkaline or ionized water can disrupt your body’s natural digestive process by reducing the acid needed to properly break down and absorb food. On the contrary, an additional scientific research study on the physiological effects of alkaline ionized  water indicated that alkaline water was safe and did not identify digestion side effects linked to alkaline consumption. It did document slight noticeable changes in hydration, but they could not determine with certainty that it was a result of alkaline water.  Based on what I found, the verdict is still out on alkaline water. If you’ve been considering it, I think it would would definitely recommend exploring it a little more.

Bottled Spring Water
The best water out there, NOT! Many people drink bottled water as a healthier alternative to tap water. Admittedly, I am one of the many bottled water consumers or should I say “was” one of the many bottled water drinkers. Although bottled water is better than tap, research shows that is is not environmentally sustainable. In actuality, in the case of bottled water, it’s not the water that is most harmful, it’s the plastic packaging that poses the biggest threat.Dangerous toxins from some plastic water bottles can leach into your water. In addition, like tap water, bottled water is often tainted with fluoride, chlorine and other chemicals. Additionally, the production and shipping of bottled water is speculated to use an inordinate amount of resources and is said to contribute to pollution. You can find a few brands of spring water available in glass bottles, which is proven to be a healthier option, but not as easily accessible as its plastic counterpart.

Fresh Spring Water
Although  it is not the most practical water to collect, many experts have determined fresh spring water to be one of the best sources of water. If it is obtained directly from an uncontaminated source and stored in glass, it may in fact be the best water to drink. Spring water is rich in minerals and naturally filtered. It is also known to have phenomenal healing properties. FindASpring.com is an excellent website that can help you locate a spring near you.

Water Filters
One of the best options around. Purchasing a high-quality home water filter is probably the most affordable and practical solutions to obtaining the most ideal water for your health. It will be essential for you to do some research before buying one. There are several types of filters on the market. The selection process can be tedious and perplexing. Based on my extensive research, the solid block carbon filter appears to one of the more popular options, as well as the reverse osmosis filter.  They all have their pros and cons. You may find it helpful to read  The Best Water Filter Option to get some great tips on how to select an ideal filter.

You might be wondering what  option I selected. It’s been a tough decision, but I narrowed it  down to having my water tested and potentially investing in a high quality filtration system.  It seems that finding a high-quality water filter can be a daunting, costly , yet beneficial task in the long run.  However, in the meanwhile, I plan to reduce my usage of plastic bottled water; ideally, I’d like to abandon them all together. For now, I’ve started purchasing glass-bottled spring water and transporting it into bpa-free water container for drinking during the day and use at the gym. It’s not the most cost conservative option, but thankfully it’s eco-friendly and  a feasible option for me in the time-being.

What’s your favorite type of water?
Please share what you drink and why
in comments below.