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WATER - how much and what kind
5/23/2007 7:25:36 PM
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WATER - how much and what kind
by Don Colbert, M.D.
As
a child you probably never thought about where you were getting your
water from. Chances are you drank water out of the garden hose on hot
days, from the drinking fountain at school, and right from the bathroom
faucet at home.
I wish it were true that all
water was safe wherever it came from, and that our bodies would
naturally filter out the “bad stuff.” But unfortunately, that is not
the way it works. When we drink water containing harmful substances,
they end up in our bodies and can damage our health.
Just a few
decades ago, a fifty-foot well yielded pure water free of contaminants,
chemicals and other toxic substances. But today, even wells 200 feet
deep may not provide pure water! Water straight from the tap may
contain toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria and other microbes.
And in most cities, two chemicals that are also toxic to our bodies are
actually added to the water supply: fluoride (to help prevent
tooth decay) and aluminum (to help remove organic material from
drinking water).
Since drinking enough of the right kind of
water is vital for maintaining good health, it is important to find an
alternative to tap water. Two easily accessible options are bottled and
filtered water. Here are some guidelines for choosing from the many
options available.
IS BOTTLED WATER BETTER?
According
to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, growth in the bottled water
industry is “unparalleled.” In fact, it is now the second most popular
beverage in the United States behind soft drinks! But the question is:
Is it really any better than water from the faucet? The answer is, not
necessarily.
Bottled water is actually less regulated than tap
water and can be just as toxic. The only requirement placed on bottled
water in the United States is that it be as safe as tap water. The
truth is, according to government and industry estimates, about one
fourth of bottled water is tap water! As long as producers meet the
FDA’s standards for distilled or purified water, they don’t even have
to disclose their source.
The other problem with bottled water
is that the plastic it’s stored in tends to leach into the water over
time. Plasticizers are the main pollutant in the human body. If you
drink from plastic bottles, store them in the refrigerator and don’t reuse
the bottle. Heat tends to release the plasticizers from the plastic
bottle. You can also purchase bottled water in glass bottles.
There
are many varieties of bottled water that are very good. For example,
Penta water is pure bottled water that I often recommend to my patients
with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches, arthritis and other
degenerative diseases. I usually recommend two sixteen-ounce bottles of
Penta water a day along with one to two quarts of pure spring water.
Some of the most alkaline bottled water includes Evamor (pH 9.0),
BlueStar Sparkling (pH 8.4), and Abita Springs (pH 8.2). Mountain
Valley Spring Water, Fiji and Evian are also alkaline with pH levels of
7.62, 7.5 and 7.2 respectively. (For a more detailed list of pH levels
of bottled water, please see appendix C in my book The Seven Pillars of Health.)
WATER FILTERS—HOW DO I DECIDE?
Another
option for getting good drinking water is to treat your water with some
type of water filter. Among the options are filtration pitchers,
faucet-mounted carbon filters, full-home filtration systems,
reverse-osmosis under-the-counter systems, and distillation. These may
sound mysterious and expensive, but a good water filter probably costs
less than many people currently spend monthly on soft drinks.
Carbon Filters
Carbon
filters are the entry-level filters; they’re inexpensive, reliable and
common. They come in a pitcher form, can be mounted on your faucet, or
attached near the main water source of your home to filter all your
water. They remove most chlorine and 90 percent of the lead. However,
many other toxins are not filtered out. It’s an inexpensive but
incomplete option.
Water Distillers
Water
distillers are extremely effective at removing everything.
Unfortunately, they even remove good minerals. Distilled water is
absorbent water, meaning it absorbs carbon dioxide from your body,
making it acidic. Although you won’t have anything bad in your water,
distilled water can adversely affect your health by contributing to an
acidic internal environment.
Reverse-Osmosis Filters
In
terms of price, reverse-osmosis systems are the “optimum level” of
water filters. However, like distillers, they remove virtually
everything from your water and end up making it acidic, which in turn
may make your body tissue acidic. Nevertheless, both distilled and
reverse-osmosis are the purest forms of water. If you use these
filters, make sure you take adequate minerals and consider adding an
alkaline booster to your water.1
Alkaline Water Filters
You
can create alkaline water by using an alkalizing filter.2 Alkalizing
filters are particularly beneficial because our bodies thrive in an
alkaline environment. This environment allows our bodies to detoxify
more efficiently than an acidic environment. Most Americans have an
acidic body environment due to drinking acidic water, eating acidic
foods and being under a lot of stress. As a result, toxins, which cause
various health issues, may build up in our bodies. Drinking alkaline
water can help bring your tissue back to an alkaline state.
Some
alkalizing filters also make water clustered, or “hexagonal,” meaning
that at a molecular level it is denser, richer and more energetic.
Clustered water moves more easily within the body and aids nutrient
absorption and waste removal. I recommend alkaline, hexagonal water to
all my patients.
I encourage you to research the benefits of
each filter for yourself. Keep in mind that even the least efficient
and inexpensive type of filter is better than no filter at all.
Remember, we are water beings; approximately 2/3 of our body is water.
Prayerfully decide what alternative source of pure water is best for
you and start drinking it on a regular basis. 
Looking to make sure your body gets ALKALINE water?
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