Underground reservoirs are the source of mineral water. Mineral water is not treated with chemicals like tap water is.
Mineral water is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, and sodium, as the name implies. Is mineral water superior to tap water, and what are its advantages?
Possible health benefits of drinking mineral water are discussed in this article.
Comparing mineral water and tap water
Mineral water is popular because of the belief that it might improve health.
Water is essential for the survival of all forms of life. In addition to helping the body perform its many necessary mechanical tasks, water also supplies it with nutrients it needs but cannot synthesize itself.
Many Americans choose to buy bottled mineral water because of its perceived purity and possible health benefits, despite the fact that most Americans have access to clean drinking water.
Exactly how different is mineral water from tap water? Evidence thus far suggests that differences are minor.
They are both processed minerals, so the difference is mostly cosmetic. Mineral water, however, is defined as water that contains a specific amount of minerals and is bottled close to the point where the water was originally sourced.
Underneath, we’ll contrast regular municipal water with the more expensive mineral variety.
Home faucet water Home faucet water originates from either aboveground reservoirs or underground aquifers.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that all public water systems in the United States adhere to the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (EPA). The number of contaminants that can be in tap water is capped by these rules.
Water is transported from its original location to a treatment facility, where it is chemically disinfected. Ultimately, the purified water is piped to homes through a network of underground pipes.
Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium are infused into the municipal water supply. Some people believe that drinking hard water is better for them because of the higher mineral content. Nonetheless, the minerals in hard water deposit in pipes and cause corrosion or flow restrictions.
In addition, contaminants from rusting or leaking pipes can contaminate drinking water despite the best efforts of public water suppliers.
Drinking mineral water
Mineral water has a higher mineral content than regular tap water because it comes from underground reservoirs and mineral springs.
Mineral water, as defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), must have a total dissolved solids concentration of at least 250 parts per million. They are not allowed to include minerals in their products due to FDA regulations.
Mineral water typically contains the following minerals:
calcium
magnesium \spotassium
sodium \sbicarbonate \siron \szinc
Mineral water, in contrast to municipal water, is bottled close to its original location. Mineral water is preferred by some because of its untainted taste and the fact that it does not undergo any chemical treatment to make it safe to drink.
On the other hand, mineral water may be treated. As an example, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas can be added or removed, and poisons like arsenic can be gotten rid of.
In mineral water, carbon dioxide (CO2) acts as an antioxidant and inhibits the growth of bacteria. The carbon dioxide gas used to create the carbonation in naturally carbonated water comes directly from the environment. After CO2 has been extracted, manufacturers can add it to their water.
In the following sections, we’ll look at five advantages of drinking mineral water.
As a magnesium-rich food source
Some magnesium can be found in both bottled mineral water and regular tap water. The regulation of blood pressure, glucose levels, and nerve function can all be attributed to the presence of this nutrient.
Magnesium content varies widely depending on the source. Magnesium levels in water can vary from less than 1 mg/l (milligrams per liter) to well over 120 mg/l (milligrams per liter) depending on the origin.
The following is the magnesium RDA for each day:
Credible Source:
For mature women, the recommended dosage ranges from 310-320 mg.
400-420 milligrams for grown men
Most Americans get less magnesium than they need, says the Office of Dietary Supplements (a reliable source).
Some signs of magnesium deficiency include:
tiredness and loss of appetite
Deficiency in muscle strength
stomach ache and puke
Some of the following may manifest in the face of a severe deficiency:
muscle spasms, aches, and tingling
Changes in mood, heart rate, and seizures caused by low calcium or potassium levels.
Secondly, it reduces blood pressure
Low magnesium levels have been linked to an increased risk of hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmias.
Thus, magnesium-rich mineral waters may help reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
Drinking 1 liter of mineral water daily has been shown to reduce blood pressure in a small 2004 studyTrusted Source involving 70 adults with borderline hypertension and low magnesium levels.
Modifying the flow of blood
Calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are sometimes found in high concentrations in mineral water, are all beneficial to cardiovascular health.
Strong bones can’t be built or kept in good condition without calcium. Rhythm and rate of heartbeat are also controlled by it.
Building stronger bones
Mineral water contains calcium, which may have a bone-building effect.
Calcium, which is found in many types of mineral water, is beneficial for bone health. The body replaces old bone with fresh bone as needed.
During this time, adolescents have a net gain in bone mass because new bone is deposited at a faster rate than old bone is resorbed. However, bone loss can begin to outpace bone formation after age 20, potentially leading to brittle, weak bones.
Bones can be strengthened and bone loss can be halted with regular exercise and calcium-rich diets.
Reporters of 2017 research
Credible Source compared the calcium absorption rates of milk, calcium supplements, and mineral water. They came to the conclusion that drinking mineral water rich in calcium can increase the amount of calcium in the body.
In addition to helping maintain healthy bones, magnesium is an essential mineral. According to the findings of a large-scale cohort study conducted in 2014,Trusted Source older women who consumed more than 422.5 mg of magnesium daily appeared to have higher bone density than their counterparts who consumed less of the mineral.
5. Boosting Digestion
Constipation can be avoided and digestive health can be enhanced with a diet rich in magnesium.
Magnesium helps the bowels absorb water, leading to looser stools. It aids in the regularity of bowel movements by relaxing the intestinal muscles.
In a randomized controlled trial, participants who drank mineral water with magnesium sulfate and sodium sulfate had fewer instances of constipation and a higher quality of life.
Risks
It’s usually fine to drink mineral water. There is little evidence that drinking plain mineral water is immediately harmful to your health.
Carbonic acid, which is found in carbonated mineral water, can trigger gas and tummy trouble.
However, certain contaminants may be present in mineral water and other types of bottled water. Mineral water, by definition, must have some amount of microorganisms in it.
Because it is bottled at the source, mineral water does not go through the same disinfection process as municipal water, so it may contain a different set of microorganisms.
Dangers of Plastic
Bisphenol A (BPA), which can be found in many plastic containers. Chemicals like these can disrupt the body’s natural hormone balance.
Another potential issue is microplastics, or very small plastic pieces. Microplastics have been found in a wide variety of foods and drinks, including seafood, beer, and table salt.
Earlier this year, scientists published a comprehensive analysis of the available information on the toxic effects of plastics. Microplastics in bottled mineral water do not appear to pose a safety risk, according to the authors, who note that more research is needed in this area.
Tooth decay is caused by carbonated water.
Caffeinated beverages and carbonated drinks can also be harmful to tooth enamel.
Compared to plain old H2O, carbonated water is on the acidic side, with a pH of about 3.5. In a recent study, researchers found that sparkling water made with a soda carbonator significantly decreased tooth enamel hardness.
Nonetheless, carbonated water is easier on the teeth than soda. Flavored and unflavored sparkling water were both found to be safer for tooth enamel than soda in a single study.
Worries about the environment
The bottle is a major problem when it comes to mineral water. There are serious environmental consequences to the widespread use and manufacture of plastic water bottles.
A study conducted in 2016 compared the environmental effects of conventional water treatment to those of bottled mineral water (both plastic and glass containers).
They decided that the best method was to simply filter the water from the tap. The scientists also discovered that making glass bottles was the most resource- and energy-intensive process.
Outlook
Teeth enamel may be weakened by drinking carbonated mineral water.
Many beneficial minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, and others, can be found in abundance in mineral water.
There is some evidence that drinking mineral water is good for your health, but not nearly as much as there is for regular tap water.
Those who are interested in purchasing mineral water can do so at any supermarket or by browsing various brands available online.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also enforces stringent guidelines for the safety of drinking water in the United States, making sure that it is free of any pathogens. Since minerals are added to tap water, it can be used as a less expensive substitute for mineral water.
Carbonated mineral water may be slightly more eroding to teeth than sugary sodas, but still not as much as either.
Water from the tap can have a wide range of mineral content depending on where you live. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides state-by-state reports on the quality of drinking water across the United States. There is detailed information about water sources, contaminant levels, and mineral composition in these annual reports.