Everything about water special part 2: Bottled water and purifying yourself?

1. Click below to read Part 1 Everything about water special part 1: Water, body and the purification process

1. If you have to believe the ads, the bottled water you buy is always better, healthier, and clearer than tap water. However, as you probably already knew, marketing people don't always tell the whole truth. Whether tap or bottled water is healthier depends on where the water comes from and how it is handled and stored

2. If you believe the advertisements, the bottled water is always better, healthier, and clearer than tap water. However, as you probably already knew, marketing people don't always tell the whole truth. Whether tap or bottled water is healthier depends on where the water comes from and how it is handled and stored

1. Bacteria, parasites and chemical contamination are all possible with tap water, which can affect our health. However, if the water is not stored properly or there are contaminants in the plastic containers, bottled water can also affect our health.

1. Sources of bottled water

2. Bottled water sources

1. Artesian water is collected through a deep well between layers of rock, sand and earth. Spring water flows naturally to the surface or is brought up through a borehole. Mineral water comes from a geologically protected underground source. Purified water is water from a well that has been treated to make it free of chemicals and microorganisms. In addition, much of the water we find on the shelves comes from a municipal water supply, in other words, it is just tap water.

2. Artesian water is collected through a deep well between layers of rock, sand and earth. Spring water flows naturally to the surface or is brought up through a borehole. Mineral water comes from a geologically protected underground source. Purified water is water from a source that has been treated to make it free of chemicals and microorganisms. In addition, much of the water we find on the shelves comes from a municipal water supply, in other words, it is just tap water.

1. Impurities

1. If your drinking water comes from a well or reservoir, it is important to check it regularly for bacteria, parasites and other contaminants. If you are simply getting water from the tap, please contact the municipality regarding the quality of the water if you are unsure. Using filters, you can make sure that tap water is safe at home, regardless of the source.

1. Read the label on water bottles or ask the manufacturer how the water is treated. When you buy bottles of water, make sure they are stored cool. Storing bottled water at or above room temperature can result in plastic contamination.

1. Chlorine and pipes

1. Water purification installations often disinfect with chlorine, which can leave a taste behind. But by using a filter it is possible to remove this flavor. Water from the bottle that does not come from a municipal water supply is disinfected using methods that do not leave any taste, such as ultraviolet light. Taste and purity are also affected by the source of the water, the minerals and, in the case of tap water, the pipes through which they enter our home.

2. Water purification installations often disinfect with chlorine, which can leave a taste behind. But by using a filter it is possible to remove this flavor. Water from the bottle that does not come from a municipal water supply is disinfected using methods that do not leave any taste, such as ultraviolet light. Taste and purity are also affected by the source of the water, the minerals and, in the case of tap water, the pipes that enter our home.

1. Ultimately, it just depends on what you like yourself. Unless you live in a town where drinking tap or spring water is not recommended, the tap water will most likely be just as healthy as bottled water. Ultimately, the most important thing is to drink enough healthy water!

2. Ultimately, it just depends on what you like yourself. Unless you live in a town where drinking tap or spring water is not recommended, most likely tap water is just as healthy as bottled water. Ultimately, the most important thing is to drink enough healthy water!

Purify water yourself?

1. You may have thought of buying a water filter yourself. If you drink water from the tap, does it make sense to purify your water or does it do little for us?

1. Since we in the Netherlands get our water from no less than 200 different sources, it is true that not everyone has the same water hardness. Hard water is water that contains excess minerals or metals such as calcium and iron. While hard water is generally safe to use, most people do not find hard water to taste that pleasant.

2. Since we get our water in the Netherlands from no less than 200 different sources, it is true that not everyone has the same water hardness. Hard water is water that contains excess minerals or metals such as calcium and iron. While hard water is generally safe to use, most people do not find hard water to taste that pleasant.

1. Iron in our water

1. Iron in our drinking water is not considered a health hazard, but it can make our water taste bad. Iron is usually not a problem in municipal water supplies, but for those who don't like their water, installing a water filter can remove the excess iron.

1. Water filters improve the aesthetic quality of the water. There are two types of iron, soluble and insoluble. Soluble iron leaves a reddish brown residue in glasses and wells. With insoluble iron, the water takes on a rusty red or yellow color, which makes it look unattractive. This residue usually has a metallic taste which affects the taste of the water.

1. For most people, filtering has nothing to do with the direct quality of the water. However, many people find the water tastes better when it is filtered. If you don't like something, chances are you don't drink it that much, while drinking water is just so important!

Be careful with salt, caffeine and dehydration

1. Doctors and other medical specialists have often warned against the drying effects of alcohol, caffeine, and salt. However, many people do not know how much salt and caffeine can dehydrate the body. The results are interesting.

1. Caffeine and Dehydration

1. Due to its stimulating effects on the nervous system, which in turn increase our cognitive performance, caffeine is one of the most common ingredients in drinks such as coffee, soft drinks and energy drinks . Despite its ability to keep us alert and improve our focus, caffeine can have a diuretic effect and increase the risk of dehydration.

1. So caffeine has diuretic properties, which means that it increases the speed of urination (how often a person has to go to the toilet). Diuretics increase renal glomerular filtration, which means that fluid that filters through the kidneys is also removed more quickly from the body. It does this by telling the kidneys to secrete more sodium. Theoretically, the more a person urinates, the faster they will lose fluid from the body. Recent studies have shown that caffeine is certainly not as dangerous for dehydration as alcohol, for example.

1. Salt and drying out

1. Sodium is an electrolyte that the body needs in small amounts. The kidneys are responsible for regulating the amount of sodium in the blood. However, in some cases the sodium level in the blood can become too low. This is a condition â € “hyponatraemia. This can cause muscle cramps, disorientation, coma and can even be fatal in the long term and in extreme cases.

1. Sodium levels are often increased in times of dehydration because there is less water to dilute the amount of electrolytes in the blood. However, hyponatraemia and dehydration can occur simultaneously from diuretics and laxatives, vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive sweating.

1. Your body needs sodium every day. However, while salt makes you thirsty, too much sodium in your diet will cause water retention, and thus will not cause dehydration. It can also lead to high blood pressure. When you become dehydrated, the amount of sodium in tissues and blood increases, so fluids need to be replaced, not salt.

How much water should we really drink

1. Eight drinks a day: This is the water drinking mantra that everyone has probably heard far too many times. When you see how many people walk with a bottle of water, it seems as if the "drink more water" message is getting through. But is it correct? You may be surprised to learn that there has never been any scientific evidence to support the “eight glasses of water a day”.

1. The first water recommendation we ever heard came from America when the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences published the Dietary Guidelines. But as we have noticed before with many other recommendations, individual needs can be quite different. Hence, the individual need for water can vary greatly. How can you determine exactly how much water you need?

1. How much water do you really need?

1. There is no doubt that drinking enough water is important. Water is an important nutrient. But saying that you should always drink eight glasses of water is making it too easy. There is no universal requirement for water absorption. The amount of water you need varies widely based on age, gender, body weight, health status, and how much exercise you get each day.

1. Many environmental factors, such as high temperature and humidity, also influence the amount of water the body needs. It is too easy to say that someone in the Netherlands (with a temperature of, for example, 12 degrees) would lose just as much water as if you put the same person in Dubai (with a temperature of 35 degrees).

1. In addition, people often forget that there is also water in the food we eat. And not just in fruits and vegetables. Foods such as yogurt, salmon, eggs, and potatoes are about 75% water. If the daily diet is full of water-rich fruits, vegetables, and animal products, then a person probably needs a little less water. For example, if you eat soup or stock, this should also be included in the daily fluid intake.

1. Depending on physical condition

1. Many healthy people get enough water in the foods and liquids that we take in. Our kidneys normally work well enough to regulate our need for water so that we retain and use enough water when we need it. For many people, it is enough to let their thirst determine whether or not they are getting enough water. However, for people who are taking medication or who already have health problems, this is often not the case.

1. Certain medications - such as those for cardiovascular disease, stomach ulcers or depression - can change our thirst mechanism. Certain diseases, such as diabetes insipidus, can do that too. The elderly also sometimes have a poorly regulated thirst mechanism.

1. Another group of people who may need more fluids are those who have problems with kidney stones or chronic urinary tract infections. For these people, it is even necessary from time to time to take in too much water as the excess water can flush their kidney stones or bacteria from their bladder. But in dialysis patients for kidney disease, it is again very important that they severely limit their fluid intake.

1. Athletes or people who work outside during the hottest part of a summer's day simply need more moisture than commonly recommended. But for most of us, it's a pretty easy way to gauge how well hydrated we're just looking at our urine. This one should be pretty clear. The moment it has a very dark yellow or even a bronze color, that is a clear sign that we should start drinking more water.

Conclusion

1. It is quite strange that some people know the importance of getting enough water every day, but do not get out of it. Our body needs water, without water it is impossible for our body to function. Although more and more people realize that water is important to them, it is nice to see that when someone drinks enough water, they do not often stop. The positive benefits of drinking enough water are so obvious, and so easy to do, that many people don't want to live without it anymore. If you're not convinced yet, try drinking more water for two weeks and you'll see how much better you will feel.