Most people need at least 4 to 6 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration, but everybody is different and may require more, depending on health conditions and activity levels. While water is essential, it’s not all the same. Different types of water — including tap, spring, mineral, alkaline, and distilled — vary in price, nutritional benefits, and caloric intake. So which is the healthiest water to drink?
Water is essential for the body to function properly. Whether we consume water from a tap, spring, or bottle, it provides hydration. However, each type of water has different nutritional benefits and caloric intake. Most people require 4 to 6 glasses of water per day but may need more depending on health conditions and activity levels. Learn more about the various types of water so that you can find the right type for your body’s needs.”
What are the health benefits of drinking water?
Water is the most important nutrient in your body. It plays a crucial role in all of your body’s functions and helps you stay healthy by:
- Maintaining a regular heartbeat
- Regulation of blood pressure and body temperature
- Proper food digestion
- Oxygen and nutrient transport
- Supporting the health of your organ systems
- Rejecting bacteria from the body
- Lubricating the joints
What are the different types of water?
Tap water
Tap water is the most common type of purified water available to most people. It is safe to drink because it goes through a number of purification methods before it makes it to your faucet. The main purifying agent used in tap water is chlorine, which kills pathogens and other contaminants in the water, making it safe for consumption.
Bottled water is a type of purified water that’s also safe to drink, but it’s not as regulated or cleaned as tap water. Bottled or tap? Here are some pros and cons to help you decide which one is best for you.
Spring water
Spring water is a great alternative to buying bottled water. It’s free of contamination and safe to drink. Spring water comes from an underground source and is naturally alkaline–it has a pH greater than 7 and should be free from any treatment. In its purest form, spring water is rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, and sodium.
Mineral water
Mineral water comes from underground mineral springs and is naturally pure. While fluoride, nitrate and fluoride may be added to other types of water, it’s considered a mineral water if it contains at least 250 parts per million of mineral solvents and no additional minerals can be added.
Alkaline water
Most of the water that we drink is neutral pH, around 7 on a scale of 1-14. Water with a pH above 7 is considered alkaline and water with a pH below 7 is considered acidic. Alkaline water contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium that are essential for many bodily functions. Some studies even show that using alkaline water may nullify the negative effects of consuming popular sweet drinks like soda.
Distilled water
Distilled water is a form of purified water that’s boiled. The steam is then contained and compressed back to a liquid. Distillation systems remove contaminants like sodium and chlorine by boiling water and then condensing the steam back into water without carrying over any minerals or impurities into the process.
Which type of water is the healthiest?
There are two main types of water, regular tap water and bottled water. The standard type of tap water is simply drinking safe, uncontaminated water. On the other hand, mineral water and alkaline water may be some of the healthiest types of water because they provide your body with essential nutrients and the best water purifier for home.
