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Water is an essential ingredient to a healthy lifestyle, and yet it is often the most neglected. Doctors recommend we drink 6-8 glasses of water per day for optimum health, but this is often difficult when you don't like the taste or odour of your water, or are concerned about the quality of your drinking water. Next to air, water is the substance most necessary for human existence. Practically every living cell in the body depends on water to carry out essential functions. Sufficient amounts of water in the body can increase energy and endurance, help in body weight control, aid digestion and elimination, lubricate joints, and encourage a feeling of well being. It is not difficult to understand why drinking enough water is so extremely important when we realize that nearly 70% of the body's weight is made up of water. Water is so important that a minute reduction of body water (4-5%) will result in a decline of 20-30% in work performance. Breathing, digestion, elimination, glandular activities and heat dissipation can be performed only in the presence of water. This, combined with the role of water in dissolving the body's waste products and flushing out toxins explains why we cannot survive very long without adequate amounts of water. It makes common sense that with all the important functions that water has in the body, the quality of water you drink can radically affect your health and well being. That is why it is vitally important that you drink only pure water. What is pure water? It is simply H20 -- two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen. That's it. Not H20 plus chemicals, metals, particulate, minerals, salts, bacteria or any other contaminants. Unfortunately, nowadays it is virtually impossible to find "pure" water in its natural state anywhere on our planet.
Today, there are very few people who are not aware of the problems with our drinking water supply. There are news reports each week about yet another clean-up effort initiated on chemicals spills, improperly lined landfills, agricultural run-offs and sulfur dioxide emissions into the air. Toxic materials such as PCBs and heavy metals are rapidly leaching into our aquifers and contaminating our water supplies faster than government agencies can find solutions. Water, being nature's universal solvent, has the ability to dissolve almost anything with which it comes in contact. Hence, rain and melting snow carry pesticides, and fertilizers into our streams, rivers, lakes and wells. Nitrates from fertilizers used for agriculture and home lawn care can contaminate water supplies. Trichloroethylene and benzene, the most commonly found contaminants surrounding industrial waste sites, are both known to cause cancer. Municipal water that is chlorinated kills most bacteria and viruses; however, chlorine may be one of the most dangerous chemicals consumed by humans. Recent research studies indicate that chlorine combines with naturally occurring organic substances found in tap water to form carcinogenic compounds such as trihalomethanes and chloroforms. A study conducted by the Columbia University School of Public Health found that people who drink chlorinated water run a 44% greater risk of dying from cancer of the gastro-intestinal or urinary tract then those who drink unchlorinated water. This is just one example of what happens when chemicals combine. What other combinations are happening that we are not aware of? Less than 1% of all municipally treated water is used for drinking water and personal consumption. It stands to reason that it doesn't make economic sense to purify all municipal water when such a small amount is used for drinking. Who can afford the cost to purify water that is used for laundry, flushing toilets, fighting fires, etc? Even if municipal water was pure as it left the treatment facility, it may have to travel through miles of pipe to reach your home. And these pipes are guaranteed to be filthy. In homes and businesses a wide range of cleaners, detergents, solvents and chemicals are used every day. After they go down the drain, where do they eventually end up? Back out in the environment where they can eventually work their way into water supplies. Lead and other heavy metals can be dissolving into your water supply from piping, solder joints and brass fixtures. Lead, when ingested, can cause severe kidney damage and learning disabilities-particularly in children. Most people judge the quality of their drinking water by the way it tastes, looks or smells; however, the majority of chemicals and contaminants in water are tasteless, colourless, odourless and invisible to the eye. This dismal picture leaves many of us wondering just how wisely we're replacing this vital 70% of our own bodies. Clearly there is a demand for a safer choice.
Do we need Essential Minerals from Water? There are two forms of minerals, inorganic and organic. Inorganic minerals refer to non-vegetable or non-animal matter,i.e. not living. These include calcium, iron, and magnesium found in water. Since these components are non-living, our bodies find it difficult to make use of these minerals and our cells reject them. The result of ingesting inorganic minerals is an accumulation of debris in our bodies. Organic minerals on the other hand are living, and are found in vegetables, fruit, grains, meats and nuts which form our daily diet. These minerals are easily assimilated by our cells and are essential for good health. If you rely on water as a source of your required minerals, you will be greatly lacking. Over 95% of minerals ingested daily come from food and less than 5% from water. As an example, an 8 ounce glass of milk contains more calcium and magnesium than 5 gallons of water. Some inorganic minerals such as nitrates, cadmium and lead can be harmful to human health. Knowing this, doesn't it make sense to remove all inorganic contaminants, chemical, bacteria and other impurities from drinking water and rely on our foods for the useful minerals we require for good health? Is it Beneficial to Drink Fluoridated Water? This issue is surrounded by controversy. Numerous studies have been done to support both sides of the argument. Some studies conclude that adding fluoride to drinking water increases the resistance of tooth enamel, thereby reducing cavities. Studies have also shown that fluoride concentrations in drinking water above 2 mg/l may cause dental fluorosis a 'mottling' of the teeth showing as white patches or brownish-black discoloration. A positive link has been made between fluoride and skeletal fluorosis, cancer, kidney disease, and thyroid malfunction. The Food and Drug Administration advises children under 3 years not to consume fluoridated products because they are more susceptible to fluorosis as their teeth are still forming. Other things to consider is that fluorides can be a source of poison (fluorine is well known as a rat poison component, as an example). Purifing water by Reverse Osmosis or Distillation will remove fluoride. If you feel that fluoridation may be of benefit, it is best to consult your dentist about a topical treatment where necessary. What is the Importance of Water in Weight Loss? Water is
quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and
keeping it off. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid
retention. When the body doesn't get enough water, it perceives this as a
threat to survival and begins to store it. This shows up as swollen feet, hands
and legs. The best way to overcome this problem is to give your body plenty
of water. Only then will excess stored water be released. Water also helps
maintain proper muscle tone and prevents sagging skin by rehydrating the
cells, leaving your skin clear, healthy and resilient. In weight loss, the
metabolized fat must be shed. Here again, water helps rid the body of waste
by flushing it out. Water helps relieve constipation. When the body gets too
little water, it draws what is needed from internal sources, primarily the
colon. The result? Constipation. When a person drinks enough water, normal
bowel function returns. While six to eight cups of water is enough for the
person of average weight, an overweight person needs an additional cup for
each 25 lbs. of excess weight. When the body gets the water it needs to
function optimally, the endocrine gland function improves, fluid retention is
alleviated and more fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to
metabolize stored fat. Natural thirst returns, and there is a reduction in
hunger. |
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Copyright© 2002 Purely
Natural Water Products Inc. |
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