Water is more than just a liquid that quenches your thirst. It plays a vital role in keeping your body healthy and, well, alive. While the average human can last for around three weeks without eating any food. They can’t go three to four days without drinking any water. This is because it makes up 60 percent of the human body.
According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, water helps in these functions:
- Carrying oxygen and nutrients to your cells
- Flushing out toxins from your system
- Regulating body temperature
- Dissolving nutrients and minerals so it’s easier for the body to absorb
That’s just a few ways that water works in the body. You lose this resource every single day when you sweat, pee, poop, and even breathe. As such, it’s vital for you to consistently replenish your supply of it. For adults, it’s recommended that you drink about half a gallon of water every day. That’s about eight eight-ounce glasses.
Even if water is one of the simplest chemical compounds known to man, it’s one of the most important and most studied ones. It comes with a wide range of types, too. There’s good ol’ tap, purified, distilled, mineral and sparkling, among others. Know which one is best for you.;
Tap Water
This is the water that comes out of your faucet. Depending on your region, it’s mostly supplied by your government or a private firm. Tap water is great if you’re one a budget, as it’s the easiest and most affordable source of water. Its safety depends on your state.
Although agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have claimed that about 92 percent of tap water in the US is safe to drink, some studies say otherwise. According to a paper featured in Science Magazine, about 9 million to 45 million Americans may be drinking tainted tap water, with people living in low-income and rural areas being most at risk.
Drinking contaminated tap water has a wide range of consequences, from an upset stomach to neurological disorders. Before drinking tap water in a new home, check with your community’s water provider first. They should provide a consumer confidence report or CCR, which provides complete information about the quality of your area’s tap water. You could also have a household filter installed to get rid of even more contaminants.
Mineral Water
Companies who provide mineral water claim that their products come from natural springs and reservoirs. This type of water is enriched with a variety of healthy minerals like magnesium, calcium, fluoride sodium, and more. Mineral water is great for people who want to get the most health benefits out of their food and beverages.
Because it’s bottled at the source, mineral water may contain trace elements. But companies often abide by EPA regulations to ensure that these elements are safe to consume, at least in very few quantities. Some companies may also treat their mineral water to get rid of toxic substances like arsenic, all while keeping the healthy ones in.
Purified Water
If you’re in an area where tap water isn’t safe for you to drink, purified water is your best bet. This is filtered and processed to remove impurities like bacteria and chemicals from tap water. Examples of this include the drinking water delivered to your office, most bottled water in stores, and even water that comes out of your home filtration system. Different brands have different ways of purifying their water. Different methods include reverse osmosis, carbon filtration and ion exchange filtration.
Distilled Water
Distilled water is a type of purified water, but it’s given a category of its own, as its process is unique. This is essential steam from boiling water that’s cooled and returned from its liquid form. As such, some people say that distilled water is the purest one you can drink. In fact, experts use it in cleaning lab tools, like digital microscopes, lab tests and more. If you want to drink the cleanest water possible, this is for you.
It contains very little to no impurities compared to tap, purified, and mineral water. Unfortunately, the distillation process also gets rid of healthy minerals like calcium, magnesium and fluoride. Distilled water is also completely tasteless. It’s H2O and nothing more.
Water is one of the most important chemical compounds for human health. The body excretes this important resource consistently. As such, it’s crucial for you to replenish it every few hours. Your choice of water depends on your budget and preferences. If you want the best value for your money, tap is your best choice. If you want extra health benefits without fear of bacterial contamination, go mineral. But if you want water that’s completely pure, purified and distilled are for you. No matter your choice, just make sure you’re getting at least eight glasses of it every day.
