Wa Wa Wa Water

Let me start by saying this.  You are dehydrated!  Almost no one gets nearly the amount of water their body needs to function optimally.  So go get a giant cup of lemon water and drink it while you read this!

Ok, here we go.

I set out to find which water was actually the best for our bodies!  There are so many out there that all claim to be the best: 

Talya, Kangen, Spring, Reverse Osmosis, Distilled, Deionized, Alkaline, Filtered

After reading articles, books, magazines, scholarly studies, lots and lots and lots of websites, and personally emailing 2 chemists I think I got to the bottom of all of the water blah blah that is all over the internet. 

The issues with drinking water that everyone is talking about and trying to fix are these:  

>  Contaminants (fluoride, chlorine, VOC's, arsenic, lead.. to name a few.) 

>  Surface Tension (this has to do with how easily the water can enter into our 

       cells, and not just gather around our cells.) 

>  pH level (alkaline vs. acidic)

>  Minerals (beneficial and essential)

The ideal, perfect water would be pure water from a natural spring.  This water would contain no added contaminants, no contaminants from pollution, and would contain many healthy minerals from the earth that would benefit our bodies.

For 99% of us, this is simply not an option.  If you are curious to find out if you are in the 1% that does have this option, check out this website to find your closest natural spring.  http://www.findaspring.com/

So for us 99%, what kind of water should we drink?  Here are some of your options!

Distilled Water

Distilled water (and double distilled water) is formed when water is boiled and the condensation is then collected.  This process eliminates nearly all contaminants from the water.  This also eliminates the good minerals that are beneficial to us such as iron, manganese, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.  The pH of distilled water is said to be a 7 (neutral).  But because of it's lack of dissolved solids it is extremely sensitive to change.  It is so sensitive that it will quickly absorb the carbon dioxide in the air which makes it's pH level slightly acidic at about a level 6.

Alkaline Water aka Ionized water

Alkaline water is created using a process called electrolysis.  Electrolysis is when an electrical current using 2 electrodes is passed through the water and causes the Hydrogen to separate from the Oxygen.  This results in a higher pH of the water... usually around a 9.  

So here is the deal.... Electrolysis will not work in pure water.  The very low number of ions in pure water makes it virtually impossible to conduct electricity, so ions must be added in order to make this process "work."  Electrolysis in no way purifies water.  It just changes the pH level of the water.  So you need to be careful and aware of the source of your alkaline water.  Water can be alkalized and still contain herbicides, VOC's, lead, arsenic, fluoride, and tons of other chemicals.  

Alkaline water companies make lots and lots of health claims and none of these health claims are scientifically proven.  They say that they are... but the science is no where to be found!  They claim that the alkalinity of the water has tons of benefits to your body, but the truth is that the slightly higher pH level of this water is instantly neutralized as soon as it hits the acid in your stomach.  Most of the alkaline water systems that are sold are part of a multi level marketing company... you can draw your own conclusions from that.

There are studies that have been done where participants have reported positve results from drinking alkaline water.  This can be attributed to the placebo effect as well as the fact that these people were simply drinking much more water than normal and were better hydrated.  The pH of the water was irrelevant.

Tap Water

To find out what is in your cities tap water click on this website: http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters/contaminants  Tap water is generally treated with chlorine to kill any bacteria or viruses in the water.  Chlorine does not kill everything though and many other contaminants are commonly found in tap water such as Arsenic, Lead, Barium, Copper, Nitrite, etc.  There are "legal limits" for all of these toxins and the amounts usually found in tap water are very small.  (Um, so since my family and I tend to use water, ya know, like every day... this whole "very small amount of deadly toxins" doesn't sit well with me.  We drink it, cook with it, bathe in it... Just passing along my thoughts on this one.)  Fluoride is added to it as well as some other chemicals in order to "help prevent" tooth decay. (see the post before this one for more info on that scam.)  Tap water usually has traces of hardening minerals as well such as iron, sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.  These minerals are beneficial to us.  (not so beneficial to your sink faucet though... these are the minerals that deem water as "hard water")

Soft vs Hard Water

Soft water systems remove hardening minerals such as calcium and magnesium.  This is good for preventing hard water build up on dishes and dishwashers, kitchen and bathroom faucets, and piping throughout your house.  It is also supposedly better for your hair and body to wash with soft water.  These hardening minerals are pesky for the home, but they are beneficial and essential inside our bodies.  So keep in mind that soft water systems are beneficial for fixtures and showering... not beneficial for your health necessarily.  And also keep in mind that while soft water systems remove hardening minerals, they do NOT remove any other contaminants that may be in your tap water.

Reverse Osmosis Water

Like distillation, reverse osmosis also demineralizes water.  This purification process sends water through one or several semi-permeable membranes and removes any molecules that are larger than water molecules such as arsenic, nitrates, sodium, copper, lead, some VOC's, and additive fluoride.  It does not remove any molecules that are smaller than water molecules such as chlorine and chloramines, pharmaceuticals, and some VOC's.

Deionized Water

Deionized water (also considered demineralized water) is a chemical process that uses ion-exchange resins which exchange their hydrogen and hydroxide ions in exchange for dissolved minerals.  Deionization does not remove uncharged organic molecules, viruses, or bacteria. 

Ion Exchange Resins- These tiny structures have highly developed pores on the surface which trap and release ions.  The trapping of "undesirable" ions only takes place when other "desirable" ions are simultaneously released.  They are also delicious when added on top of sushi rolls! 

Carbon Filtered Water

Charcoal is carbon.  Activated charcoal is what is used in carbon filters.  It is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms.  The carbon adsorbs certain chemicals and impurities.  Adsorb means to attach by chemical attraction.  These filters are good at trapping carbon-based impurities such as VOC's, pesticides, herbicides, benzene, radon, cancer-causing chlorine byproducts such as THMs, chlorine, and hundreds of other chemicals.  They do not trap sodium, nitrates, minerals (good and bad), arsenic, asbestos, barium, mercury, etc.  Also once all the tiny pores are filled the carbon will not attract anything anymore and the filter needs to be changed.  Some sources say that these types of filters are prone to mold and clogging.  This is the only purification that I am aware of though that will filter out chlorine.  

Bottled Water
Bottled water varies greatly.  Different bottled water companies use different methods to purify their water... any one of the methods we are talking about in this post.  Some bottled water companies simply use tap water.... pretty sneaky.  Almost no bottle water companies actually use REAL spring water.  I haven't been able to find one yet... maybe there are a few out there, I just haven't heard of them.  I even found a bottled water company that is local and named after a natural spring about 50 minutes from my house.  I went to their website... and they simply filter the city's tap water.  Um... a little misleading I would say to name your company after an actual spring, but to not even use the water from that spring.  Thats about how everything works though if you haven't noticed yet.

Talya Water

Here is the gist of Talya water.  There have been studies done that say millions of years ago the earths water tended to cluster into 3-7 molecules of water.  Today's water normally clusters into 20-30 molecules.  They claim that this higher clusterization (word?) makes water's surface tension stronger, and therefore makes it harder for our cells to absorb the water and stay adequately hydrated.  They claim to have altered the water's structure just enough to make it cluster into 3-7 molecules, like ancient water.  Thus allowing the Talya water to not only form around our cells, but to also enter INTO our cells much more efficiantly.  

I was not able to confirm that this is in fact possible or entirely true.  There are some websites that claim it is impossible, and others that say it is very possible.  I also was not able to find out more details such as what kind of water do they use for this system: distilled, filtered...??  

So this one is a big question mark for me.

My Conclusion
The most important thing is that you are drinking lots and lots of water, any water! 
Don't be too quick to dismiss tap water as a viable option.  Yes it has its downsides... but the benefits of keeping your body hydrated greatly, greatly outweigh any possible damage that might be done by contaminants.  
Alkaline water is a scam.  It's won't necessarily hurt you, and it will keep you just as hydrated as anything else... but you will be paying a lot of money for extra "health benefits" that just aren't there.  
 A multi-media filter is ideal in my opinion.  These filters usually contain a carbon filter as well as at least one other form of purification such as reverse osmosis.  Using more than one method of purification will enable you to remove more contaminants from your water.  And yes, purifying your water will also eliminate the good minerals that were in it, but you can and should be getting those minerals from your diet... eat lots of organic vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and natural salts.  You'll get the essential minerals you need.  

Peace out!

sources:

http://www.historyofwaterfilters.com/references-2.html
http://www.chem1.com/CQ/clusqk.html
http://www.healingleaves.com/blog/alkaline_distilled.html
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/11/alkaline-water-interview.aspx
http://www.allfilters.com/waterfilter/watertreatment
http://www.purative.com/2012/01/scientists-say-dont-be-duped-by-alkaline-water/