Water is the elixir of life, a key element necessary for human survival. However, with the increasing variety of bottled water available, selecting the healthiest option has become difficult.
Purified water (tap water without nutrients that can be added later), liquids enhanced with minerals and electrolytes, alkaline water, and spring or natural water are also options.
There’s your standard bottled water, but there’s also a ton of health-related keywords to rank for. “We have the luxury of talking about the benefits of water when some people (don’t) have water,” says Caroline West Passerrello, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Jump to
- What is the healthiest type of water to drink?
- Do you need alkaline water to stay healthy?
- Is tap water safe to drink?
- What you need to know about drinking more water
What is the healthiest type of water to drink?
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When it comes to hydration, Caroline explains that water is water, “as long as it’s a safe option to drink and that you can afford and access, that’s what your (body) needs.”
More than the type of water you drink, it is essential that you consume enough water. According Carolinethat’s about 100 ounces daily for adults, or between nine and 13 cups daily.
You’ll get some water from other fruits and drinks you consume throughout the day, but water should make up between one-third and one-half of your daily water intake.
“If you don’t intentionally add water to your day, there’s a good chance you’re dehydrated,” says Caroline. Dehydration can cause fatigue, chills, constipation, dizziness, muscle cramps, confusion, migraines, and other health problems.
Water helps maintain regular body temperature, cushions joints, protects spinal cord and tissues, and has even been linked to fewer chronic diseases.
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However, if you have specific nutritional goals, enhanced water, such as mineral water, may help with a small portion of those goals. To many mineral waters, for example, sodium, potassium or calcium is added.
Electrolytes containing water may benefit athletes or those recovering from illnesses., according to Carolina. Not all improved waters are created equal; To determine the amount of additional minerals, consult the nutrition facts panel.
“If it’s something you want to include in your diet, aim for around 20% of the daily value,” adds Caroline. “If it’s something you don’t want in large quantities, you’ll want it to be less than 5%.” Bottled water typically contains only about 1% or 2% of the daily value for a mineral, but it’s a good starting point for comparing different brands.
However, Caroline advocates receiving Most of your vitamins and minerals come from foods rather than drinks. The foods will contain more and have a greater impact on your entire diet.
Do you need alkaline water to stay healthy?
Alkaline water has a higher pH than regular water, which some believe helps balance our body or hydrates us more. Good news: Your body is already adept at self-regulation and will go to considerable lengths to preserve homeostasis even without adding alkaline water.
Is tap water safe to drink?
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While the FDA regulates bottled water, the EPA regulates tap water. Based on the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has established criteria for contaminants in our water. These requirements differ from one municipality to another. In general, the EPA states that tap water is safe to drink. If there are toxins in the water, cities will often advise citizens to boil or not drink tap water.
“What should happen is for the municipality to say what’s inside and, if it’s not safe, there should be an alert so you know something is happening,” he explains.
However, Scientists are learning more about PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds known as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment and potential danger. They have been linked to several health problems, including cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and low birth weight.
According to research published in July by the U.S. Geological Survey, nearly half of tap water in the United States contains at least one type of PFAS. Urban Americans are the most vulnerable.
According to the EPA, it is dangerous to ingest any detectable amount of ISFAS. Millions of people in other parts of the country, primarily in rural communities of color, lack access to clean water.
What you need to know about drinking more water
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Drinking enough water regularly is crucial and Caroline recommends making it a habit. Years ago, he started attaching his house keys to his water bottle with a carabiner so he would have to take it with him every time he left the house.
“Find something you do every day that you can incorporate water into,” she suggests. “Adding a new habit is difficult, but adding a habit to an existing routine is less difficult.”
This might mean always having a reusable water bottle in the cup holder of your car or the side pocket of your backpack.
It could be as simple as drinking a glass of water before absentmindedly scrolling through social media. Maybe you could keep a full glass of water near your home workstation.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn