Water, because of its structure, is good at picking up toxins and unwanted elements. Overtime, exposure to some of these substances can create an increased burden in our bodies and disrupt biochemical processes and affect how we feel. Depending on where you live, the water coming out of your tap is likely to have a number of contaminants. This is particularly concerning for pregnant women and children.

Our bodies are mostly water. We can last for weeks without food but only days without water.

It is the basis for blood, digestive juices, cells, urine. It lubricates our joints and flushes our colons and kidneys.

We are unable to store water in our bodies and lose between 2-3 liters of water daily. Bottled water is held to the same standards as tap water.  Furthermore, plastic residue from bottles can leach into the water. Oh yes, and there is the waste- an estimated 8.8 million tons of plastic litters our oceans

A simple solution is to invest in a water filter for your home.

Water filtration removes sediment and many toxins in your water. Filtration improves the taste of the water. Water purification removes microorganisms such as parasites and bacteria.

So, what do different water systems do?

You can simply purify your water by boiling it for 5 minutes.

Adding chlorine or iodine also kills organisms but these tastes bad and add a chemical to your water which can have significant health effects.

Distilled water separates out impurities by heating, then vaporizing water. It strips water of its mineral content. This is a slow process.

Charcoal filters remove most impurities like chemicals and bacteria and parasites. These filters need to be changed periodically. They can be fit on or under your sink and are convenient for drinking and cooking. They are also relatively inexpensive.

Ceramic filters remove impurities but can be cleaned rather than replaced and so the filters generally last longer. They are slower than charcoal filters and so, not as convenient for cooking. I have used one to filter brown water from a village in Mexico. The group that I was with drank the water once it was filtered and no one got sick.

Reverse osmosis uses a membrane for pass the water through. Depending on the quality of the filter, it is excellent for removing toxins, microbes and fluoride. However, good quality filters are expensive.

A simple thing we can do to improve our health is drink water. A good rule of thumb is to drink one half of your weight in ounces. More than that is probably too much.

So, cheers!

By Jennifer Means, ND, LAc