Don't drink distilled water; it will pull calcium from your bones and skull. Besides, distilled water tastes like spit.
If you buy bottled water, buy spring water that is pH balanced with minerals that give it good taste.
Don't use a Brita since bacteria can regrow in the water that has been filtered and is ready to pour. People don't know that they need to wash Brita with soap and water weekly. They don't read the instructions that come with Brita. And, if you have Brita, keep it in the refrigerator...not at room temperature.
Best bet is to have a carbon filter (either counter-top or under the sink). If under the sink, you need to have a unit that comes with a counter-top faucet mounted on the sink rim.
Don't buy or rent an RO (reverse-osmosis) since it filters out the minerals that are necessary to keep the water from becoming acidic, like distilled water.
More, if you like, email me at mailto:usawatermaster@gmail.com
and I can recommend good brands of carbon filters. Best one is Aquasana. See source reference below.
I am not associated in any way with that website.
I stand to gain nothing, no matter what you decide.
I am an engineer and have been water business for over 10 years.
Why Mineral Water is the Best Drinking Water:
Bottled Waters: Are All Created Equal?
Bottled water is big business. And it usually tastes better than what comes out of your tap. But is it "healthy water?" It depends. Ask yourself: "Is the water hard? Is it moderately high in TDS?" Most bottled water labels in the US do not give the information you need to know the answers to these questions. Request a complete water analysis from the company. Keep in mind many bottled waters are simply processed water using distillation, reverse osmosis, de-ionization or filtration. Frankly you can do this yourself and save money. With over 700 brands of bottled water available in the US, around 80% are processed water. Purchase only natural spring or artesian well waters that come closest to the "healthy water" criteria - hardness 170 mg/l and TDS 300 mg/l. References:(47)
Purified Water: To Drink or Not to Drink
De-mineralized water has little or no minerals. This is the result if you use a distiller, a reverse osmosis unit (RO), or de-ionization (ion exchange resins). However, the research on heart disease and cancer shows a healthy water is hard and moderately high in TDS (total dissolved solids). Why do people purchase these de-mineralized or water softening systems? Usually their thinking goes something like this. "I know I should drink water, but it's so polluted with chlorine, chemicals and toxic metals, that it's not safe. So I'll get rid of these harmful things and all will be OK."
Not really. Creating a "healthy water" means removing the harmful agents but keeping the beneficial minerals. "Minerals in drinking water are more easily and better absorbed than minerals from food," according to Dr. John Sorenson, a leading authority on mineral metabolism.
Purifiying devices remove everything from the water, harmful bacteria and beneficial minerals. This stripped water cannot sustain life even in a fish bowl. All fish require minerals to prosper, and if allowed to live in these types of water will perish. If this type of water is ingested for long periods of time, it can leach out valuable body minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium. Mineralized water is needed for all cellular functions and if there are no minerals in your drinking water your body will rob the minerals from somewhere in your body to satisfy its needs. One can take mineral supplements to replace them however, it is not easy to replace the minerals in our bodies in the same form that we lost them. References: (5), (7), (22), (44), (46), (50)
Animal Studies: The Compelling Evidence
The research presented in other sections from Healthy Water has been based mainly on human studies usually looking at large populations or epidemiological analysis. These numerous studies have lead me to advocate that a "healthy water" is one that contains moderate amounts of TDS, is hard, and has an alkaline pH. What do the animal studies reveal?
Most animal experiments use water that is made "hard" or "soft" to which various harmful substances like cadmium, lead, chlorine or fluoride, have been added. What is usually found is that animals drinking the hard water have less of the harmful agent in their tissues than the animals drinking the soft water.
The animal experiments dramatically and clearly support the main conclusions observed from the human studies. Namely, hard water is healthier than soft water. References: (1), (6), (19), (27), (32), (36), (37)
References:
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2. U.S. Water News. EPA Seeking to Expand Number of Drinking Water Contaminants to 34. August, 1990: 8.
3. Andelman JB. Inhalation Exposure in the Home to Volatile Organic Contaminants of Drinking Water. Science of the Total Environment 1985;47:443-460.
4. Armstrong BK, McCall MG, Campbell NA, Masarei JRL. Water Sodium and Blood Pressure in Rural School Children. Archives of Environmental Health 1982;37(July/August):236-245.
5. Banik AE.The Choice is Clear. Raytown, MI: Acres USA, 1975:
6. Borgman RF, Lightsey SF. Effects of Synthesized Hard Water and of Cadmium in the Drinking Water Upon Lipid Metabolism and Cholelithiasis in Rabbits. Am. J. of Veterinary Research 1982;43(August):1432-1435.
7. Bragg PC, Bragg P. The Shocking Truth About Water: The Universal Fluid of Death . Santa Barbara, CA: Health Science, 1977: v 8.Brown HS. Phone Conversation. July 16, 1986:
9. Brown HS, Bishop DR, Rowan CA. The Role of Skin Absorption as a Route of Exposure for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Drinking Water. American J. of Public Health 1984;74(5):479-484.
10. Burk D. Fluoridation: A Burning Controversy. Bestways, April, 1982: 40-44.
11. Burk D. Personal Communication. May 13, 1983:
12. Burton AC, Cornhill F. Correlation of Cancer Death Rates with Altitude and with the Quality of Water Supply of 100 Largest Cities in the United States. J. Toxicology and Environmental Health 1977;3:465-478.
13. Burton AC, Cornhill JF, Canham B. Protection From Cancer by 'Silica' in the Water Supply of U. S. Cities. J. Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980;4:31-40.
14. Carlo GL, Mettlin CJ. Cancer Incidence and Trihalomethane Concentrations in a Public Water System. Am. J. Public Health 1980;70(May):523-525.
15. Comstock GW. Reviews and Commentary: Water Hardness and Cardiovascular Diseases. Am. J. Epidemology 1979;110 (October): 375-400.
16. Conacher D. Troubled Waters on Tap: Organic Chemicals in Public Drinking Water Systems and the Failure of Regulation . Wash., D. C.: Center for Study of Responsive Law, 1988: 114.
17. Conforti PM, Kanarek MS, Jackson LA, Cooper RC, Murchio JC. Asbestos in Drinking Water and Cancer in the San Francisco Bay Area: 1969-1974 Incidence. J. Chronic Diseases 1981;34:211-224.
18. Donsbach KW, Walker M. Drinking Water . Huntington Beach, CA: Int'l Institute of Natural Health Sciences, 1981.
19. Elinder C, Stenstrom T, Piscator M, Linnman L, Jonsson L. Water Hardness in Relation to Cadmium Accumulation and Microscopic Signs of Cardiovascular Disease in Horses. Archives of Environmental Health 1980;35(March/April):81-84.
20. Epstein SS, Zavon M. Is There a Threshold for Cancer? In: Manners DX ed. Int'l Water Quality Symposium: Water, Its Effects on Life Quality. Wash, D. C.: Water Quality Research Council, 1974: 54-62.
21. Faust HS. Effects of Drinking Water and Total Sodium Intake on Blood Pressure. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition 1982;35(June):1459-1467.
22. Fry TC. The Great Water Controversy . Yorktown, TX: Life Science, N. D.:
23. Gottlieb MS, Carr JK, Morris DT. Cancer and Drinking Water in Louisiana: Colon and Rectum. Int'l. J. Epidemology 1981;10 (June): 117-125.
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25. Hallenbeck WH, Brenniman GR, Anderson RJ. High Sodium in Drinking Water and Its Effect on Blood Pressure. Am. J. Epidemology 1981;114:817-825.
26. Hoffman A, Valkenburg HA, Valkenburg GJ. Increased Blood Pressure in School Children Related to High Sodium. J. of Epidemology and Community Health 1980;34(1980):179-181.
27. Ingois RS, Craft TF. Analytical Notes-Hard vs. Soft-Water Effects on the Transfer of Metalic Ions from Intestine. J. Am. Water Works Assoc. 1976;68(April):209-210.
28. Jansson B. Seneca County, New York: An Area With Low Cancer Mortality Rates. Cancer 1981;48:2542-2546.
29. Leoni V, Fabiiani L, Ticchiarelli L. Water Hardness and Cardiovascular Mortality Rate in Abruzzo, Italy. Archives of Environmental Health 1985;40:274-278.
30. Maugh TH. New Study Links Chlorination and Cancer. Science 1983;211(February 13):694.
31. National Research Council. Drinking Water and Health. Vol. 1:447. Wash., D. C.: National Academic Press, 1977:
32. Neal JB, Neal M. Effect of Hard Water and MgSO4 on Rabbit Atherosclerosis. Archives of Pathology 1962;73(May):58-61.
33. Ohanian EV, Cirolla DM. Sodium in Drinking Water as an Etiological Factor in Hypertension. 1983: 28-36.
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36. Perry HM, Perry EF, Erlanger MW. Possible Influence of Heavy Metals in Cardiovascular Disease: Introduction and Overview. J. Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980;3:195-203.
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38. Puddu V, Signoretti P. Drinking Water and Cardiovascular Disease. Am. Heart J. 1980;99(April):539-540.
39. Robertson JS, Slattery JA, Parker V. Water Sodium, Hypertension and Mortality. Community Medicine 1979;1:295-300.
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42. Selikoff IJ. Asbestos in Water. In: Manners DX ed. Int'l Water Quality Symposium: Water, Its Effects on Life Quality. Wash., D. C.: Water Quality Research Council, 1974:
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44. Sharrett AR, Heyden S, Masironi R, Greathouse D, Shaper A, Hewitt D. Panel Discussion: The Relationship of Hard Water and Soft Water in CVD and Health. J. Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980;4:113-141.
45. Sigurdson EE, Levy BS, McHugh R, Michienzi LJ, Jagger H, Pearson J. Cancer Morbidity Investigations: Lessons from the Duluth Study of Possible Effects of Asbestos in Drinking Water. Environmental Research 1981;25:50-61.
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47. Studlick J, Bain R. Bottled Water: Expensive Ground Water. July, 1980: 75-79.
48. Tuthill RW, Calabrese EJ. Elevated Sodium Levels in the Public Drinking Water as a Contributor to Elevated Blood Pressure Levels in the Community. Archives of Environmental Health 1979;34(July/August):197-203.
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50. Walker N. Water Can Undermine Your Health. Phoenix, AZ: Woodside, 1974:
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Early Death Comes from Drinking Distilled Water
by Zoltan P. Rona, MD, MSc
During nearly 19 years of clinical practice I have had the opportunity to observe the health effects of drinking different types of water. Most of you would agree that drinking unfiltered tap water could be hazardous to your health because of things like parasites, chlorine, fluoride and dioxins.
Many health fanatics, however, are often surprised to hear me say that drinking distilled water on a regular, daily basis is potentially dangerous.
Paavo Airola wrote about the dangers of distilled water in the 1970's when it first became a fad with the health food crowd.
Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapour condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and, because of this, has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Studies validate the benefits of drinking distilled water when one is seeking to cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks at a time). Fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.
Distilled water is an active absorber and when it comes into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The more distilled water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Distilled water, being essentially mineral-free, is very aggressive, in that it tends to dissolve substances with which it is in contact. Notably, carbon dioxide from the air is rapidly absorbed, making the water acidic and even more aggressive. Many metals are dissolved by distilled water."
The most toxic commercial beverages that people consume (i.e. cola beverages and other soft drinks) are made from distilled water. Studies have consistently shown that heavy consumers of soft drinks (with or without sugar) spill huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals into the urine. The more mineral loss, the greater the risk for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally associated with premature aging.
A growing number of health care practitioners and scientists from around the world have been advocating the theory that aging and disease is the direct result of the accumulation of acid waste products in the body.
There is a great deal of scientific documentation that supports such a theory. A poor diet may be partially to blame for the waste accumulation. Meats, sugar, white flour products, fried foods, soft drinks, processed foods, alcohol, dairy products and other junk foods cause the body to become more acidic. Stress, whether mental or physical can lead to acid deposits in the body.
There is a correlation between the consumption of soft water (distilled water is extremely soft) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Cells, tissues and organs do not like to be dipped in acid and will do anything to buffer this acidity including the removal of minerals from the skeleton and the manufacture of bicarbonate in the blood.
The longer one drinks distilled water, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and an acid state. I have done well over 3000 mineral evaluations using a combination of blood, urine and hair tests in my practice. Almost without exception, people who consume distilled water exclusively, eventually develop multiple mineral deficiencies.
Those who supplement their distilled water intake with trace minerals are not as deficient but still not as adequately nourished in minerals as their non-distilled water drinking counterparts even after several years of mineral supplementation.
The ideal water for the human body should be slightly alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Distilled water tends to be acidic and can only be recommended as a way of drawing poisons out of the body. Once this is accomplished, the continued drinking of distilled water is a bad idea.
Water filtered through reverse osmosis tends to be neutral and is acceptable for regular use provided minerals are supplemented.
Longevity is associated with the regular consumption water high in minerals. Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of distilled water. Avoid it except in special circumstances.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Zoltan Rona is in private medical practice blending conventional and preventive medicine and is a consultant and lecturer. He holds a M.D.C.M. from McGill University and an M.S. in Biochemistry and Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. He is the medical editor of the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, a 1280 page reference book on complementary medicine that has been published by Alive Books. The book will feature the natural approach to healing over 300 medical conditions. Dr. Rona is a leading proponent of natural, harmless, health-building alternatives to conventional medical care. He has a general practice where he has provided preventive medical counselling for seventeen years and is a past president of the Canadian Holistic Medical Association. His books The Joy of Health: A Doctor's Cuide To Nutrition, Alternative Medicine, Fertility Control: The Natural Approach, Return to the Joy of Health, and Childhood Illness and the Allergy Connection, have been well received, as have his countless articles on natural health topics. Dr. Rona is also a consultant to the Motherisk Program of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children Department of Pharmacology and is known for his many public lectures and media appearances.
Selected Publications: Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. Burnaby, B.C.: Alive Books, 1997; editor; Childhood Illness and The Allergy Connection. California: Prima Publishers, 1997; Return to The Joy of Health. Burnaby, B.C.: Alive Books, 1996; The Joy of Health. Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1991.
REFERENCES
Airola, P. 1974. How To Get Well. Phoenix, AZ: Health Plus Publishers.
Baroody, Dr. Theodore A. Jr. Alkalinize or Die. California:Portal Books, 1995.
Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. The Complete Guide to Diet & Nutritional Medicine. Berkeley, California:Celestial Arts, 1992; p. 22.
Rona, Zoltan P. and Martin, Jeanne Marie. Return to the Joy of Health, Vancouver: Alive Books, 1995.
Rona, Zoltan P. Childhood Illness and The Allergy Connection. Rocklin, California:Prima Books, 1996.