Let’s kick things off with some interesting facts about water and explore why staying hydrated is crucial for your health. The essential guide to hydration & health covers various distillation options suitable for all budgets and emphasize the importance of water filtration. Understanding the toxins present in tap water and the benefits of staying hydrated, this article is your essential guide for hydration and health.
Water is a precious resource and access to clean drinking water is a global challenge. It is estimated that around 785 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.For more detailed information, you can visit the UNICEF page on water access here or the WorldRef article discussing global water access challenges here.
Fun Facts About Water
Here are some fun facts about water;
- Water covers around 71% of the Earth’s surface: Most of this water is found in oceans and seas.
- Only 2.5% of the Earth’s water is Freshwater: The majority of this freshwater is locked in ice caps and glaciers.
- The human body is approximately 60% water: Water is essential for bodily functions such as digestion, circulation, temperature regulation, and waste removal.
- Water has a unique property called surface tension: This allows it to form droplets and maintain a cohesive surface, which is responsible for phenomena like water droplets on leaves and the ability of some insects to walk on water.
- Water is often referred to as the “universal solvent”: It can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, assisting with the transportation of nutrients, minerals, and chemicals around the body.
These facts highlight the importance of water not just globally, but also for our bodies.
The Essential Guide to hydration
Staying hydrated is crucial, it is important to keep those water levels topped up to prevent dehydration and to maintain an adequate electrolyte balance.
Maintains Bodily Functions
Water is essential for the proper functioning of your body. It helps to maintain hydration of the body. In turn this regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, aids digestion, and supports the transportation of nutrients and oxygen to the cells. For instance, on a hot day during a hike, water is essential to prevent dry mouth, headaches, and more severe health issues.
Promotes Overall Health
Keeping hydrated supports kidney function by helping to flush out waste and toxins from the body. It also helps to prevent constipation, urinary tract infections, and kidney stones. Working with your body through proper hydration can prevent these issues before they start.
Supports Cognitive Function
Dehydration can impair cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and concentration. Staying hydrated maintains optimal brain function and improves mental performance.
Enhances Physical Performance
Adequate hydration is crucial for athletes and individuals engaging in physical activities. It helps maintain proper muscle function, prevents fatigue, and improves endurance and performance.
Supports Skin Health
Hydration keeps the skin moisturized, preventing dryness, itching, flaking, and premature aging. It also helps maintain a healthy complexion.
Appetite & Weight Management
Thirst is often mistaken for hunger, leading to unnecessary snacking. Staying hydrated can regulate appetite, preventing overeating and supporting weight management.
Prevents Dehydration
Dehydration can cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and decreased urine output. Regular water intake prevents severe dehydration, which can be life-threatening. Remember to listen to your body’s thirst cues and drink water throughout the day.
Avoiding Water Intoxication
It is possible to drink too much water, which can lead to water intoxication. This occurs when the balance of electrolytes, particularly sodium, in the body is diluted by excessive water intake. Symptoms can include nausea, headache, confusion, seizures, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. However, water intoxication is relatively rare and typically occurs in extreme cases of excessive water consumption or in individuals with certain medical conditions. Drink water little and often and listen to your body’s thirst cues.
Water Filtration
Home water filtration methods remove unwanted toxins from tap water, ensuring safe and clean drinking water for you and your family.
Simple Home Water Filtration Methods
- Boiling Kills bacteria and parasites
- Carbon Filters Remove chlorine, lead, and other contaminants
- Reverse Osmosis Effective in removing a wide range of impurities
- Distillation Purifies water by boiling and condensing the steam, removing most contaminants
Hydration & Wellness
Hydration is super important for overall health, from maintaining bodily functions to supporting cognitive and physical performance. Alongside drinking adequate water, ensure your water is clean and safe through proper filtration methods. By prioritizing hydration, you can improve your health, skin, and even weight management. The impotance of water is paramount.
It is possible to drink too much water and this can lead to water intoxication. This occurs when the balance of electrolytes, particularly sodium in the body is diluted down by excessive water intake. This overwhelms the kidneys ability to excrete the excess water leading to a decrease of sodium levels in the blood. Symptoms of water intoxication can include nausea, headache, confusion, seizures, and in severe cases it can be life- threatening.
Drink water little and often and listen to your body’s thirst cues.
Electrolyte Powder
250g of Unflavoured Electrolytes – Suitable for Both Men & Women – Made in The UK
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★ PERFORMANCE BENEFITS – Electrolytes are renowned in the exercise world for their ability to maintain optimal hydration levels and prevent muscle cramps. Maintain your electrolyte levels and experience the benefits of satiation.
Supplementing with Electrolyte Powder will help maintain maximal athletic performance levels. This is because Electrolytes enable the body to function more efficiently and prevent a decline in muscle and brain function.
Why Water Filtration is Important
Water filtration tips for hydration & health;
- Removal of Contaminants as rivers and lakes may contain various impurities and contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals and sediments. Filtration helps to remove these and make the water safe for consumption.
- Protection against waterborne diseases such as cholera, tyhpoid, dysentery, and hepatitis. Filtration helps to eliminate harmful microorganisms and reduce the risk of these diseases.
- Improve taste and odor caused by chemicals,chlorine and organic matter present in the water. This makes the water more pleasant to drink.
- Environmental benefits of using a water filtration system is that it reduces the reliance on bottled water, which can contributes to plastic waste and pollution. Filtering tap water is a more sustainable and eco-friendly option.
- Cost Effective in the long run it eliminates the need to purchase bottled water, which can be expensive,and reduces the risk of health issues.
Toxins in Tap Water
Tap water can contain various toxins and contaminants, depending on the source and treatment process. Understanding the potential contaminants in tap water is essential for maintaining proper hydration and ensuring the water you drink is safe. In this section, I will share detailed information about the common toxins and contaminants found in tap water and how they can impact your health and hydration.
Chlorine
Commonly used as a disinfectant in water treatment plants to kill bacteria and viruses. However, high levels of chlorine can affect the taste and odor of water and may have adverse helath effects,
Lead
Can enter tap water through old plumbing systems or lead pipes. Exposure to lead can lead to developmental delays, learning disabilities, and other health issues, especially in children.
Arsenic
Arseninc is a naturally occurring element that can contaminate groundwater. Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water can increase the risk of cancer, skin problems, and other health issues,
Mercury
Can enter water sources through industrial pollution and can accumulate in fish and seafood. Consuming water contaminated with mercury can have harmful effects on the nervous system, especially in pregnant women and young children.
Pesticides and Herbicides
Agricultural runoff can introduce pesticides and herbicides into water sources. These chemicals have adverse health effects and may be linked to certain cancers and reproductive issues.
Pharmaceuticals
Trace amounts of pharamceutical drugs can be found in tap water de to improper disposal and incomplete removal during water treatment. the lon term effects of exposure to these drugs are still being studied.
It is important to note that the levels of these toxins in tap water are regulated by government agencies , and most tap water in developed countries meets safety standards. However it is still recommneded to use water filtration systems to further reduce the presence of these contaminants and ensure the safety of drinking water.
Water Filtration Options to Help You Stay Hydrated
Different water filtration methods may be combined to produce better results it is recommended to have your water tested to determine the specific contaminants present and choose a filtration system that suits your needs.
Additionally, regularly maintaining and replacing filter cartridges or membranes is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the filtration system.
Activated Carbon Filters
These filters use activated carbon to remove impurities and contaminants such as chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and some heavy metals. They are effective at improving taste and odor. However they may not remove alltypes of contaminants, such as bacteria or viruses.
Precious Shungite Water Stones
The carbon in the stones naturally distills tap water when left in for a minimum of 6 hours.
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Quick start guide for making precious shungite water.
First, all water stone crystals must be cleaned under clear water
Then place the stones in a glass jug / carafe with spring water or tap water. The gemstones should stay in the water carafe for at least 6 hours so that the gemstones can clean the water.
Box contents: 20 g precious shungite (approx. 8-10 stones) from Karelia.
Packaging: white organza bag with information card
Reverse Osmosis (RO Systems)
RO Systems use a sermipermeable membrane to remove a wide range of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and dissolved liquids. They are highly effective but can be more expensive and may waste some water during the filtration process.
Distillation
Distillation involves boiling water and collecting the condensed steam, leaving behind impurities. This methos effectively removes most contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and chemicals. However it can be time consuming and may remove benefical minerals from the water.
Bonnlo 4L Water Distiller
At Home Water Distiller – Countertop 750W w/Glass Container & All Stainless Steel Interior.
This is my chosen water filtration system.
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- √ Work Efficiently: Distill up to 6 gallons of water per day. Build-in thermostat to avoid overheating and ensure auto-off. Save more money than buying water at the store
- √ Easy Operation: Push the button and forget it, it’ll auto-off when done. Assembly is easy and so is cleanup. Both distiller and container have large openings for easy access and cleaning. Low noise and you can run the unit overnight
- √ Wide Applications: Portable design makes it easy for you to carry while on vacation. Suit for home, office, and commercial use. It can be widely used in dental products, humidifiers, engine cooling systems, distill wine,evaporators and so on
- √ 5 Bonus Gifts: Comes with accessories. 3 charcoal sachets. Soft Catheter, and chamber cleaning powder is also provided to clean the unit
UV Filters
UV Filters use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in the water. They are often used in combination with other filtration methods to provide additional disinfection.
Ceramic Filters
Ceramic Filters are made of porous ceramic material that can trap bacteria, sediment, and some larger particles. They are effective at improving water quality but may not remove all types of contaminants.
Stay Hydrated
There are certainly enough reasons to suggest we are far healthier hydrating our body with water than not. If you’ve read this far you will have gained some valuable insight into why drinking water is good for you.
It’s down to each individual if they want to invest in distillation but overall it does work out cheaper than buying bottled water and it does remove any unwanted toxins and chemicals. You can’t put a price on your health.
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Take Care
Caroline