The Truth About Bottled Water

Betrayal in a Bottle – The Truth About Bottled Water
Americans are having a love affair with bottled water as a tidal wave of brands floods the marketplace. Once only found in specialty food markets and health food stores, bottled water is now completely mainstream. According to Nestle Waters of North America, bottled water is the fastest growing segment of America's beverage business and is the fifth best-selling beverage in the United States. MarketResearch.com reports that the market for bottled water has grown 81% over the period from 1998-2003. The success of "value-added" waters (said to stimulate metabolism, enhance memory and promote well-being), soaring flavored water sales, and America’s increasing interest in health and fitness are expected to keep water sales gushing through the end of the decade. Millions of consumers are willing to spend 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for tap water. Diners pay "top shelf" liquor prices for bottled water, spending up to $5 per bottle at restaurants where premium waters are being marketed with the same "snob appeal" once reserved for sparkling wines. The rush to the bottled water "well" is understandable; the benefits of water are well-documented.
	Water helps with digestion
	Water regulates body temperature
	Water promotes healthy skin
	Water is a natural lubricant for joints
	Water moves nutrients around the body
	Water carries waste away
The purported benefits of bottled water are equally well-marketed:
	Bottled water tastes good
	Bottled water is convenient
	Bottled water is "pure and natural"
However, are water manufacturers telling us the truth? Defining Terms - One "Label" For Bottled Water Does Not Fit All To understand the "shell game" being played by unscrupulous companies and the risk that some bottled water may present to your health, it's important to scrutinize labels. Water bottled in Europe and labeled as "mineral water" must come from natural springs to earn its "seal of approval." "Artesian water" is drawn from a well that taps into a confined underground aquifer where the water level stands about the natural water table, elevating the water's purity. "Well water" is water that must be pumped to the surface through a hole drilled for that purpose. Water that earns the label "spring water" may come from a natural spring OR from a hole that is simply adjacent to a natural spring. Some bottled water flies "under the radar" of regulatory requirements. Water that is labeled "carbonated water," "disinfected water," "filtered water," "seltzer water," "sparkling water," "soda water," or just plain "water" may be exempt from specific water-testing and contamination standards. After testing more than 1,000 bottles of water, NRDC found that 33% were contaminated A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that some bottled water contains bacterial contaminants, synthetic organic chemicals including industrial solvents, and inorganic contaminants such as arsenic. The report, “Bottled Water: Pure Drink or Pure Hype?” cites "gaping holes" in both state and federal under-funded bottled water regulatory programs. NRDC presents evidence of "substantially misleading marketing of some bottled water." This NRDC report also states “At the national level, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for bottled water safety, but the FDA's rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state, which account for between 60 and 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States (roughly one out of five states don't regulate these waters either).” NRDC continues, “Even when bottled waters are covered by the FDA's rules, they are subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water“ Cut and paste this url in your internet browser to read the full report: http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.asp Pure "Spin" on Tap Water Almost a decade ago, the Journal of Environmental Health reported that according to government and industry estimates, 25% (or more) of bottled water sold in the United States was being taken from public water systems. The article said that the water may be treated with carbon filtration or ozonation prior to bottling or may receive no additional treatment before being foisted on consumers as "pure and natural." Now, nearly ten years late, a lingering question remains: Is bottled water what consumers THINK it is -- a fresh, unadulterated, "straight-from-nature" gulp of H2O OR is it nothing more than tap water disguised by some clever Madison Avenue packaging? The Additional Risk of Plastic Bottles Even if the water you choose is genuinely pure and health-friendly, the plastic bottle it's been packaged in and the length of time it is stored before it is consumed can dramatically change its “purity.” Water languishes in a plastic bottle at the manufacturer, at the warehouse, at the distributor and at the retailer that leaves ample time to leech out components from the plastic containers. This is a real concern. Also, water bottles that are reused may become home to a wide range of bacteria that can cause symptoms including stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. What is Ionized Alkaline Water? Ionized alkaline water is water that has been treated with an ionizer. After passing through the water ionizer, plain water is converted to micro-clustered water with higher Alkalinity.
Quality Control and Cost Control – You Are in Control What's great about ionized alkaline water is that you make it yourself in your own home and at your convenience. Make as much as you need and as often as you need it. Use it for all your drinking and cooking needs. When you think about it, if you don’t drink tap water, why would you cook with it? I don't like to carry heavy gallons of water and I bet you don't want to either. With a water ionizer, you'll never end up "high and dry" when you want a drink of good, pure, health enhancing water. You'll never have to jump in the car and run to the market to pay a premium price for a sub-standard product and then haul it home again and drag it from the garage to the kitchen; and then . . . have to take the time to dispose of these “carcasses” of environmentally unfriendly plastic. Remember that how you store your water is almost as important as the water itself. Use glass containers or, the least reactive, #7 plastic bottles. You can find these bottles at most health food stores. They're also becoming "standard equipment" for workout enthusiasts, so look for them at gyms, sports stores, or online. Cool Tip for Cool Water I generally prefer my water at room temperature but on a hot summer day, there's nothing like a cool glass of water. If you're going to be on the go and want your water to stay as "cool, calm, and collected" as you are, try this trick: The night before, fill your bottle half-full of alkaline water and freeze it. Before you leave the house, fill the bottle the rest of the way with fresh, unfrozen alkaline water. The water will stay cool for hours without refrigeration. The ice will slowly thaw throughout the day. Don't just take my word for it, do your own research and learn about all the possibilities for healthy water. I am sure that if you explore all the alternatives, you will agree with me that ionized alkaline water is best choice. Wishing you good health and good water.

Betrayal in a Bottle – The Truth About Bottled Water

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