DrinksThe Truth behind Five Common Bottled Water Myths
The water we drink has a huge impact on our physical health. Pure drinking water gives us energy and provides our body and organs with vital minerals and nutrients. But opinions differ on what the best source for pure drinking water should be. Some think our tap water is probably the safest since it is state supplied. Others, which include a large majority, believe bottled water is the safest and the cleanest. This article includes five myths of bottled water and the truth about each one so the reader can make a better decision on how to obtain the purest drinking water.
Myth 1
Bottled water is the cleanest and the safest since the bottled water industry claims this in their ads and promotional campaigns.
The bottled water industry pushes heavy advertising campaigns to the public, falsely boasting that bottled water is pure water containing natural minerals. It creates an image of their product as being the healthiest water to drink, much like Earthò€™s natural spring water. Truth is that the bottled water industry has very few regulations and oversight. There are no strict tests to prove bottled water is clean, safe or healthy. There are no testing requirements to prove bottled water is cleaner, healthier or safer than tap water.
Myth 2
The plastic bottle that the water is sold in is perfectly safe and the water inside is protected from contaminants.
This is debatable.Ò Many experts claim that the bottled water gets contaminated with the plastic by-products. The plastic water bottles we purchase are often exposed to warm temperatures. When plastic is heated up it leaks a deadly by-product called Dioxin. The real question we should be asking ourselves is how much Dioxin is released into the water and how much is lethal.
Myth 3
Bottled water is eco-friendly (environment friendly) because the bottle can be recycled and re-used.
Reusing plastic bottles exposes the user to bacteria and other chemicals that can leak from the damaged plastic bottle. Itò€™s not just the reuse but the manufacturing of the plastic bottle that is hazardous. The resources and pollutants to manufacture and deliver plastic bottles include natural gas, crude oil and the transport trucks and train used for distribution.
Myth 4
Bottled water is better than tap water.
Contrary to the manufacturersò€™ claims there are no testing requirements to prove bottled water is cleaner, healthier or safer than tap water. To add to our confusion tap water and bottled water are regulated by two different agencies. The Food and Drug Administration regulates bottled water while the Environmental Protection Agency regulates tap water. Tap water, i.e. municipal water supplies are much better regulated than the bottled water industry as a whole.
Myth 5
Bottled water has added minerals and vitamins and is therefore better for your health.
Although tempting, there are no actual facts to support the claim of adding minerals and vitamins in bottled water. Water in its natural form provides our body with the minerals we need. The added minerals are not significant enough to make an added difference to our body.
These five myths are not the only misconceptions of bottled water that people have. However the bottled water industry is a multi billion dollar industry and any bad image is quickly disputed by them.
It is a huge industry with very little regulation and monitoring. It is up to us to make informed decisions and not get mislead by the false information provided to us by these money-making labels.
In our view, the most effective and purest source for drinking water is alkaline ionized water, water that has gone through a water ionizer.
Normal water has a neutral pH level of 7.0. Alkaline water has a pH level that is higher than this neutral level. Our body is 70% water. When the pH level in our body gets too low (less than pH7) it causes low energy, fatigue, excess weight, aches, pains, acidity in the stomach and more serious health problems. The most favorable pH level is said to be slightly on the alkaline side that is pH 7.3.
The best way to make sure our body has a healthy pH balance and an optimum energy level is by drinking alkaline ionized water. It is electrically charged, has power antioxidant properties, washes toxins and neutralizes excess acidity in our bodies.