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In every guide to healthy eating, you come across many rules in which the one about drinking plenty of water on a regular basis is repeated very often. In a normal lifestyle, it is advisable to drink about 1,5 liters of water, respectively more in the summer and with increased physical exertion. You have a lot to choose from – there is a wide range on the market. What type of water should you choose? Which will be best for you – mineral, spring, table or alkaline?
Division of waters – choose mineral or spring water?
According to the generally accepted division of waters, confirmed by a ministerial regulation, there are four types of water: mineral, spring, table and alkaline. It was created based on the determination of their chemical composition and the method of obtaining. What kind of water you reach for should depend on many factors – including the condition of your body, what it needs the most, and what can be harmful to it. The key is to carefully read the labels and familiarize yourself with your conditions.
The healthiest water – mineral or spring?
Spring waters are extracted from crystal clear springs, shallow layers underground. They contain a small amount of minerals in their composition, although sometimes there are a bit more of them. The chemical composition may be variable due to geological conditions, unlike mineral waters, whose chemical composition is constant and characterized by a high or at least medium degree of mineralization (minimum 1000 mg of minerals per liter of water). They are obtained by the method of deep drilling. Another type of available water is table water. They are created as a result of mixing natural spring waters with various minerals or simply with different mineral water. Due to this fact, they are not entitled to the name of natural waters. The composition is also variable. All this means that they do not constitute a drinking water rich in nutrients. In the quoted division of waters, the set lacks alkaline (alkaline) waters. It is widely recognized that drinking ionized water brings many benefits to the body, including delaying the aging process of the body, preventing various diseases. Nevertheless, their consumption is recommended mainly to athletes and people who work physically, who additionally support themselves with supplements containing the right amount of minerals and vitamins.
Mineral waters – drink for the sake of your health!
Mineral waters, containing at least 1000 mg of minerals per liter of water, have at least one ingredient present in greater concentration, which is intended to have a health effect on the body. They are obtained from deep layers underground, which effectively protects these resources from contamination. The most general division of waters groups them into highly mineralized, medium mineralized and low mineralized. The most valuable components of mineral waters, and at the same time the most frequently appearing in their compositions, are: magnesium, calcium, sodium, sulphates, chlorides, carbonates. For daily consumption, it is recommended to drink low and medium mineralized water. In other cases, where minerals are present in greater concentration, appropriate dosage is recommended. Drinking such water in excess can be counterproductive and harm your health. Similarly, care should be taken in the case of children – here you also need to be careful with giving highly mineralized water in small amounts. Only in the case of increased physical effort, it is justified to consume larger amounts of mineral water, because the body loses many minerals during the activity. Then, in addition, it is worth supporting yourself with protein supplements.