Water. Very important to drink it, our (adult bodies) are about 60% water. Most common type of water are distilled, spring, artesian, mineral, sparkling, and tap water. But now there are even more kinds of “trendy” water - coconut, alkaline, aloe vera water, electrolyte water, maple water, fruit infused water, and there is even a fat water (think keto) - no thank you!
Now, what kind of water you drink is a preference in taste & perceived health benefits - there are some things worth mentioning when comparing water.
Tap water. There are ways to find out if your cities water is safe to drink. Assuming it is, it’s a matter of taste as to whether you drink from the tap or not. Most US cities use water fluoridation in their tap water, which is credited to help prevent tooth decay. There are many people however, who are concerned with added fluoride and how it affects bones, teeth, and neurological development. Excessive exposure to fluoride has associated health risk including thyroid dysfunction, neurological problems such as ADHD, reproductive issues/infertility, bone cancer, osteoarthritis, acne, and high blood pressure to name a few. For this reason organizations such as the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology oppose the use of added fluoride.
If you are opposed to fluoride you can easily seek alternatives. Bottled water labeled as de-ionized, purified, demineralized, or distilled have be treated so that they have 0 (or trace) amounts of fluoride.
Let’s review some of the “trendy” waters, shall we? There is nothing wrong with any of these waters but here are some fun facts we wanted to share about a few of them.
Coconut water - Some people love the taste of coconut water and if so - drink away. But the health claims of coconut water may be overstated and if you don’t like the taste there is no need to force it down in an effort to reap any magical rewards. Coconut water is typically higher in potassium/lower in sugar and is advertised as a great sports drink alternative for athletes because of this. But it is also lower in sodium - a key electrolyte for athletes and endurance trainers to stay hydrated.
Alkaline water - Your body is a beautiful machine that has the ability to regulate its own PH. There is no scientific proof that drinking alkaline water benefits you in any real way AND they are usually more expensive. Save your money! Pure water has a PH of 7, on a scale of 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline) that means pure water is neutral - neither acidic nor alkaline. Water that passes over rocks and picks up minerals naturally (like spring water) has a more alkaline ph (8). There is no need to fall into the trap of thinking expensive, chemically processed alkaline, PH of 9+, water is better or healthier.
Aloe vera water - this one is weird to me as I find the consistency of it strange. One thing to mention is that aloe vera is a natural laxative. Drinking too much of this water can leave you with some abdominal discomfort and even diarrhea - so drink sparingly.
What is your go to water of choice?
