Is Your Water Safe,
Pure and Plentiful?

Water is the most important element to all life on Earth. Without it, plants, animals, insects, soil, and humans would die. The human body is made up of 70% water and every cell depends upon it

Did you know that although our planet contains over 70% water, only 1% of it is suitable for drinking?

Well, if it smells bad, tastes bad and isn’t clear – it's bad, so don’t drink it!

Seriously though, stop for a minute and think about what has to happen when you turn on the tap (unless you have a well). This simple liquid we can't survive without, travels on a journey being taken through miles of pipes containing organic and inorganic matter, plumbing systems that may be in good condition or may have rust in them, and it's subjected to chemicals and numerous other contaminants.

The treatment plants put a solution of chlorine into it's natural state to kill anything that would be harmful to humans. It may be killing the bacteria, but there are many other contaminants left untouched, like chemicals and hormones from prescription drugs.

Drinking tap water with chlorine and flouride can lead to the signs of a thyroid problem. Both chlorine and flouride block iodine receptors in the thyroid and can lead to hypothyroidism. Epidemiological studies have also linked chlorine by-products with increased cancer risks.

Pure water is what your body needs the most. Heat and chlorine do kill most of the bacteria in tap water, so these processes are better than drinking out of a stream or a well.

One of the most popular home filtering options is to use a reverse osmosis system. Fresh water is pressure forced through a membrane that stops contaminants and minerals from passing through resulting in a reasonably pure source.

The electrodialysis (ED)filtering treatment was developed in the 1950's. It's a membrane desalination process wherein the positive and negative ions from the salt and other ionized species are removed by electric current and series of membranes.

There are many other types of home filtration systems available from many manufacturers. Some are quite expensive so make sure you do your homework before investing in one. Cost doesn't always determine quality.

Distilling is when water is heated and all debris is removed from the liquid state as it becomes steam, and what you have left is the purest form of water. Although keep in mind that the minerals have been removed as well. So you'll want to supplement with a good mineral supplement.

The benefits of distilled and reverse osmosis include the removal of the inorganic matter and chemicals and can aid in the ability to digest nutrients.

If you rely on a well, there are obviously no regulatory protections in place, so you might want to consider having your water tested to see what you are actually consuming.

Good water is odorless, tasteless and has no calories, a plus if you're trying to lose weight. However, be careful with those sports, fitness and health beverages on the market today. Many of them contain additives like caffeine, sodium, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and artificial food color dyes and other unnecessary materials in an effort to make your life "healthier".

They may taste good but they shouldn't be a replacement for good old H2O. If you want a little flavor, a squeeze of lemon is a healthy choice. It will be tasty and lemon also helps to alkalize the water.

The health benefits of drinking water are important because it:

It’s easy to see why it’s the most important element to the human body.

While we usually think of consumption by drinking, we need to remember that our skin is also an organ and it absorbs whatever it comes in contact with. So remember to make healthy choices when choosing cleaning products and personal care products.

How much water to drink will vary depending on the individual. Generally speaking you should try to drink 5-10 eight-ounce glasses a day. If you are heavier, exercising, or out in the heat, you will want to drink more.

Another way to figure out a ratio is to drink half of your body weight in ounces, (example: weight 160 pounds = drink 80 ounces ) and vary it based on temperature and your activity. There is such a thing as drinking too much and it is not advised to drink in excess of eight liters a day.

When on the go, try to take your own source with you in a BPA free reusable container, that way you can drink better quality and be more environmentally friendly.

Water helps to carry nutrients to your body's cells and to help eliminate waste matter. In fact water is critical to your entire digestive process. You may be able to live weeks without food but you will only last days witout water.

So you want to make sure you're getting enough water so you don't get dehydrated. One of the signs that you need more water is hunger. Try drinking some water before you eat and see if that satisfied your hunger. If you're dehydrated your body will have a hard time eliminating acids.

Potential signs of dehydration include:

In summary, make healthy choices when consuming water, make sure you get enough and use some type of home filtering system for purity and your body will thank you for it with better health!

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