The Healthy Effects of Mineral Water and Why It’s Good For You
If you’re looking to understand the benefits of mineral water then you’ve come to the right place!
Mineral water is literally the key to life!
No, it’s not the philosopher’s stone or a magic pill, but it is a substance that keeps each and every one of us alive.
Water! And not just any water, mineral water, the purest and most beneficial type there is.
All living organisms need water to live. Water provides us with all of the vital nutrients that the body is not able to produce itself.
There are many types of water, such as purified water, alkaline water, distilled water, electrolyte water, and by no means least, mineral water.
Today we’ll be discussing with you the health benefits of mineral water and why it is good for the human body.
What is Mineral Water?
Have you ever wondered what exactly mineral water is?
Mineral water is water that we get from underground sources such as natural mineral springs and underground reservoirs.
Mineral water is a type of water with high essential minerals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium.
Mineral water, unlike regular water, does not undergo chemical processing.
Mineral water is also known as spring water because natural mineral waters come from natural underground springs.
Underground natural springs being the places where water comes out from under the ground and finds itself spilling out onto the earth’s surface.
A recent study shows that mineral water can be obtained from natural sources (unsurprisingly) but it can also be made artificially.
The process of making mineral water is a bit difficult but not impossible.
In a very simple explanation: it is made with the addition of some salts to distilled water.
The nutrient contents of artificial and natural mineral water can vary, depending on what is added in the artificial instance and where the water is found, in the natural instance.
Importantly mineral water contains a high number of the earth’s minerals such as:
- Sodium Sulfate
- Potassium
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Calcium Sulfate
Some natural gases may also be included in mineral water, such as:
- Hydrogen Sulfide
- Carbon Dioxide
Mineral water is found on the shelves as bottled water and has come under security from environmental activists in recent years for it’s storage in plastic bottles and other plastic containers.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration study, the total number of dissolved solids, trace elements, and minerals in mineral water should not be less than 250ppm.
The good thing is that, unlike many soft drinks, seltzer, and club soda, mineral sparkling water is carbonated naturally, but the removal or addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) is allowed during bottling.
This is because CO2 prevents bacterial growth in mineral water.
13 Health Benefits of Mineral Water
The unique composition of organic compounds and minerals in natural mineral water allows it to offer good health benefits.
But the benefits of mineral water vary based on different regions and where the water comes from.
Mineral water, being a good source of calcium is a real no brainer if you want to keep your bones strong and healthy.
The benefits and water taste will be affected by the mineral-rich source.
All mineral waters contain calcium, although the other high quantities of minerals may vary.
- Calcium helps in maintaining and building strong bones.
- Mineral water also contains magnesium, which helps in aiding muscle contraction and keeps your heart health good.
- Sodium content helps in muscle function and nerve function.
- Mineral water helps in performing essential physical functions and provides the body with essential vital nutrients.
- It can also be used to eliminate toxic substances such as arsenic.
- Optimum hydration is a great physical stimulant for exercise, check out these motivational workout quotes next time you are fuelled up and ready to train.
Now you’ve had a whistle stop tour, let’s go into more detail on the 13 potential health benefits of natural mineral water below as found in Medical News Today:
1. Promotes Bone Health
Bone health is important no matter what stage of life you’re at and calcium is the mineral that aids in the maintenance and development of your bone health.
Mineral water, being a good source of calcium is a real no brainer if you want to keep your bones strong and healthy.
Recent studies show that your body absorbs calcium from mineral water with the same efficiency as it absorbs from dairy products.
A study of 255 postmenopausal women found out that the women who drank calcium-rich mineral water daily had a higher mineral density of bone mass compared to those who drank normal water or the water that had lower calcium levels.
Regular intake of calcium, proper diet, and exercise can help get strong bone strength and reduce the risk of bone loss.
In addition, the bicarbonate of magnesium can assist significantly in getting strong bones.
2. Great Source of Magnesium
Clean water from a tap and bottled mineral water can both be good sources of magnesium.
Magnesium is a nutrient that helps in controlling high blood pressure, nerve function, and blood glucose levels.
The amount of magnesium can vary according to the mineral water sources.
The range of magnesium in water ranges from q mg/l to 120 mg/l or above. The recommended daily intake of magnesium is:
- 400-420 mg for males
- 310-320 mg for females
In the United States, people consume very little amount of magnesium, less than the recommended dose according to a study conducted by the office of dietary supplements.
The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are vomiting and nausea, muscle weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Mineral water benefits us by helping us take the required magnesium-dose daily.
Low levels of magnesium in the human body can result in the following:
- mood swings
- low potassium and calcium levels
- muscle cramps
- tingling or numbers
- disturbed heartbeat
- seizures
3. Controls Blood Pressure
Having a low magnesium level in your body can contribute to high BP, heart disease, irregular heartbeats and exposes us to a risk of congestive heart failure.
Magnesium-rich mineral water plays an important role in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A study in 2004 that involved 70 adults with low magnesium levels and hypertension concluded that the intake of 1 liter of mineral water daily decreases the risk of high blood pressure.
4. Regulating Blood Flow
Mineral water contains large amounts of potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
These nutrients play a vital role in the promotion of blood circulation.
For building and maintaining strong bones, calcium is essential. Calcium also helps in regulating the rhythm and rate of your heartbeat.
5. Beneficial to Heart Health
Carbonated mineral water may be effective in fighting against heart disease.
Water that contains a higher mineral content is likely to benefit individuals suffering from various heart diseases.
Two studies on women who had post-menopause suggested that after drinking 0.5 – 1 litres of water rich in carbon, the women had reduced LDL or bad cholesterol levels. It helped in increasing good cholesterol (HDL) and reduction of bad cholesterol (LDL).
Magnesium present in thin water may also be beneficial to heart health.
Study shows that high levels of magnesium in water decreases the risk of dying from any heart disease.
High cholesterol is the reason that you may be exposed to various heart diseases and other conditions.
Mineral water helps in getting a properly working and healthy heart.
While there are many benefits of drinking mineral water, there have been no specific studies into its effect on heart health.
6. Helps Get Rid of Constipation
Constipation can be prevented and treated with mineral water that has a high amount of magnesium in it.
According to research, magnesium helps by drawing water into the intestine and relaxing the intestine’s muscles.
Magnesium allows stools to be softer and easier to pass.
A six-week-long study with people with active constipation found that the use of sulfate and magnesium-rich mineral water per day improved bowel movement frequency and stool consistency.
The recommended amount of fluid intake has shown to be a great way in helping to maintain bowel movements and improve digestion.
As an added benefit, gallbladder function is also improved by mineral water.
- If you want to know more about natural remedies for yo poor digestion then check out this article on weight loss tea.
7. Helps Absorb Minerals Easily
In water, the minerals are in ionic form. The ionic form of these minerals makes them easier to be absorbed by the GI tract during the digestive process.
A significant amount of your daily quota for magnesium and calcium can be covered with a litre glass bottles of mineral water.
You may want to count the total intake of salt.
Due to high mineral levels and salts in mineral water, individuals with kidney disease, hypertension, and pregnant women should drink small amounts of mineral water just to be on the safe side.
There are guidelines regarding the use of calcium.
These tell us how much calcium we should intake, this varies depending upon age and gender of the individual.
The average recommended daily calcium requirement for adults is 1000 mg.
8. Promotes Beautiful Skin
Mineral water plays a vital role in nourishing the skin and making it look hydrated. Any type of water aids in the hydration of the skin.
It does not matter if you drink or use the water to wash your face or body.
Mineral water is the recommended choice if you are trying to make your skin glow or nourish.
The more minerals present in water, the more likely it is to hydrate your skin.
Mineral water can help you get rid of dry skin and peeling skin effectively.
With the use of mineral water, your skin will appear younger and lighter in a short time.
The electrolytes and minerals present in the water play an important role in making your skin look younger.
9. Protection of the Kidneys
Dehydration and water absorption can be prevented using mineral-rich water that contains sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate electrolytes in its content.
Studies show that the risk of kidney stones and calcium oxalate concentration is significantly reduced using mineral water.
10. Replenishes Fluids
Heart, muscle, and nerve function can be improved with the use of electrolytes in bodily fluids.
The minerals lost while sweating include chloride, bicarbonate, potassium, and the contents of sodium.
Mineral water is considered a healthy choice if you want to regain the minerals lost due to sweating.
11. Prevent Muscle Cramps
As we have discussed above, mineral water helps make up for the fluid lost during exercise and sweating.
It can also be very beneficial in maintaining body shape, performance and preventing any muscle cramps in our body. This is due to the presence of magnesium the water.
12. Prevents Sweet Cravings
There are many times when our blood sugar gets low, and we crave added sugar products like chocolate and candy.
This is due to the low level of blood sugar in our bodies.
The presence of magnesium content in mineral water enhances the insulin hormones and helps in balancing our blood sugar.
Mineral water is a perfect choice for preventing sweet cravings because sweet cravings make us want sugary products that contain artificial sweeteners and can be harmful to our health.
Additionally, mineral water enhances the sensitivity of the insulin hormone and contributes to the balancing of blood sugar, thanks to its magnesium content.
13. Increases Energy Levels and Brain Functions
The hydration status of your body strongly influences your brain.
Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can affect many aspects of brain function.
In a study on young women, it was found that the loss of fluid after exercise significantly affected concentration and mood. The frequency of headaches also increased.
A similar study was conducted on young men. It was found that fluid loss affected anxiety, fatigue, and memory.
Many studies have proven that proper mineral water can help get rid of many health-related problems.
Health Benefits of Mineral Water - The Bottom Line
Mineral water can be a solution to many health-related diseases.
Many studies have shown the positive effects of mineral water and there probably aren’t any dieticians and doctors in the world who wouldn’t recommend drinking mineral water every day.
Nutrients in mineral water range from place to place.
You should opt for the use of mineral water but make sure to check in with your doctor if you experience any unwanted side effects from drinking too much.
There are some claims that tonic water and mineral water can cause issues (although not major issues) in some cases, these might include:
- Tooth Enamel. Studies show a reduction of enamel on a tooth in a laboratory setting by sparkling water manufactured by a soda carbonator.
- Hiccup and bloating due to carbonic acid
- Exposure to endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol a or phthalate plasticizers
- Systematic reviews show that microplastic in mineral water may have a detrimental effect on the human body.
In the United States, the EPA regularly checks the tap water quality to ensure it does not contain any harmful microbes.
EPA’s water quality report shows the variation in minerals in water all over the country (USA).
These annual reports contain information about the amount of minerals and water sources.
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