We should drink two liters of water every day, and even three liters in summer. Only which one? Mineral, spring or maybe healing? There is an increasing choice of drinking water on the market, but can you take advantage of this abundance? Here is a practical guide to the types of waters.
Contents:
- Water types: natural spring waters
- Water types: natural mineral waters
- Water types: table water
- Water types: natural healing waters
- Types of water: too much too unhe althy
- Water types: sparkling or still water?
Many types of drinking water are available in stores. Recent studies show that we do not distinguish between different types of water. We divide them into two basic groups: carbonated or still water. We consider everything bought in the store to be mineral water, which is not true. In addition, 57 percent. Poles believe that the he althiest is highly mineralized, and yet it depends for whom.
So what should you know about bottled water? First of all, it is worth getting acquainted with the chemical composition and other information on the label before buying.
The properties of water depend on its composition and origin, i.e. the method of obtaining. In Poland, according to the regulation of the Minister of He alth from 2003, four types of water are currently produced.
Check also:Is tap water he althy?
Water types: natural spring waters
They are extracted from crystal clear springs, from shallower underground layers. These are mainly low mineralized waters, although there are also medium ones. They contain less than 1000 mg of minerals per liter. Due to geological conditions, their chemical composition may undergo slight changes. They include, among others Żywiec Zdrój, Krynica Zdrój, Arctic Plus, Staropolanka Zdrój or Kropla Beskidu.
Water types: natural mineral waters
Mineral waters are obtained from deep wells. They have a constant chemical composition and are quite rich in minerals - they are medium or highly mineralized waters. They contain at least 1000 mg of minerals per liter. We can choose, for example, Staropolanka 2000, Kryniczanka, Muszynianka.
Water types: table water
They are obtained by mixing natural spring water or filtered tap water with variouswith mineral ingredients or with mineral water. As their composition is modified in the course of production, the term "natural" does not apply to them. They quench thirst well, but are generally much poorer in some ingredients important for he alth.
ImportantThe label, in addition to the trade name of the water and its composition, should contain the following information: name, address and telephone number of the producer, name of the town and the source located in it, from which the water was obtained, a message that the water has certificate of the National Institute of Hygiene, whether it has been saturated with carbon dioxide, as well as the expiry date. Never buy water that is out of date and from an unreliable source - this is a he alth risk.
Water types: natural healing waters
They come from special healing springs. They contain not less than 1000 mg of minerals per liter and at least one medicinal component in an appropriate concentration, such that it significantly affects the functioning of the body. These are, for example, Wielka Pieniawa, Żuber, Jan. Natural water resources are deep underground. As a result, they are effectively isolated from any contamination. For many hundreds of years, they leached minerals valuable for he alth from the surrounding rocks, and they contain from 500 mg to over 1500 mg in one liter. The most common are: magnesium, calcium, sodium, sulphates, chlorides and carbonates. The concentration and proportions of these beneficial ingredients depend on the geological structure of a given region. So we have waters:
- low mineralized. The mineral saturation does not exceed 500 mg per liter (at the level of spring water). These include Kropla Beskidu, Żywiec Zdrój, Połczynianka, Słowianka, Kinga Pienińska, Krynica Minerale, Piwniczanka and Evian.
- moderately mineralized. They have 500-1500 mg / l of minerals. This includes Nestle Aquarel, Nałęczowianka, Aqua Minerale, Muszyna Cechini Józef, Mazowszanka.
- highly mineralized. They contain over 1500 mg of minerals per liter. This is, for example, like Buskowianka, Staropolanka, Cisowianka, Galicjanka, Muszynianka, Kryniczanka or the healing water Żuber.
Only natural spring waters with low to medium mineral saturation can be drunk daily, without any restrictions. And only they are suitable for preparing meals for small children. You need to be careful with the remaining waters, because in some of them the saturation with one or more ingredients is so significant that you can easily overdose and harm your he alth.
Types of water: too much too unhe althy
You absolutely must not overdo the healing waters. Because although they can be helpful in the treatment of many diseases (e.g. Zuber, e.g. in stomach disease, and Jan - in kidney disease), treating them on your ownyou may end up with impaired liver or kidney function. Of course, if we drink one glass a day, nothing bad will happen. However, systematic drinking should always be consulted with a doctor. Most often, it is recommended to drink a glass of such water once and no more than 3-4 glasses a day. Also, highly mineralized waters are not intended for unlimited consumption. You can drink up to 1-2 glasses a day. It is worth doing it in hot weather, because we lose a lot of minerals when we sweat. Then the rich in them Staropolanka or Celestine containing a lot of sodium will strengthen our body.
In turn table waters are recommended only to certain groups of people, e.g. physically working people or sportsmen. Exhausted, we need more specific ingredients, the excess of which can even be harmful to people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Sodium saturation is important. The excess of this element causes an increase in pressure and retains water in the body. The differences in concentration are large: from 1.2 mg / l (Dobrawa) to 950 mg / l (Krystynka).
People with hypertension, kidney or cardiovascular diseases and a lot of s alting should read labels and choose water with a low sodium content. These include Cisowianka (7 mg / l) and Kinga Pienińska. It is moderately mineralized and alkaline, recommended in the daily diet, especially in the case of acidity.
Reaction, so-called pH also matters. Neutral is 7. Water with a higher (alkaline) or lower (acidic) pH may turn out to be ideal for us, or even vice versa. It depends on what is wrong with us. Acidic increases the secretion of gastric juice. People with acidity should avoid them.
Water types: sparkling or still water?
Water artificially saturated with carbon dioxide (CO2 ) is recommended after exercise. It is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract faster than still carbon and stimulates urine production. Thanks to this, the body gets rid of harmful toxins accumulated during exercise. But carbonated water is not recommended for people with stomach problems such as indigestion, flatulence and acidity, and for those who are convalescent from jaundice, as carbon dioxide is an irritant to the gastrointestinal mucosa. The disadvantage of bubbles is that they push up the walls of the stomach and eliminate thirst too quickly, before we even compensate for the lack of water in the body.
But a few sips will not hurt us, but it will refresh us well, because carbon dioxide is partially absorbed into the blood, stimulating the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This gas also hinders the growth of bacteria, so the water lasts longer when you open the bottle. Some waters, usually healing ones, e.g. Jan,Słotwinka, Zuber, contain carbon dioxide of natural origin. Their degree of gas saturation, however, is relatively low - approx. 1500 mg per liter. We don't have to be afraid of these natural bubbles from the ground at all. For comparison: some waters artificially enriched with CO2may have even more than 4,000. mg per liter.
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