Bottled water is officially the top-selling bottled beverage in America, but what is the best kind for us to buy? Should you spend the extra dollars on alkaline water or is spring water good enough?
You are unique and so is your body! Before starting any new health routine, always be sure to talk with your doctor to make sure it is right for your needs.
What is Spring Water?
Spring water is one of the most popular types of bottled water and is originally groundwater. Groundwater is water that exists underground in an aquifer that sits at or below the earth’s natural water table.
As water naturally flows to the ground’s surface, it’s collected at the opening of a spring. It can also be collected directly underground from a borehole. This water is generally considered pre-purified, as it has traveled through natural filters like limestone, sandstone, and clay.
Once collected, it’s sampled and analyzed to ensure it meets strict safety standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Finally, it’s bottled and ready to be sold.
What is Alkaline Water?
Alkaline water is water that has had nutrients added to it to change the acidity levels through a process called electrolysis. The “alkaline” in alkaline water refers to its pH level. A pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14.
For example, something with a pH of 1 would be very acidic, and something with a pH of 13 would be very alkaline. Normal drinking water generally has a neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water typically has a pH of 8 or 9.
However, pH alone isn’t enough to impart substantial alkalinity to water. Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or antioxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more antioxidizing it is.
Which Is Better: Alkaline or Spring Water?
While much debate exists about the best kind of water out there, you can experiment with the different types of water to see which you like the best.
While the health claims of alkaline water have not been scientifically proven and research is still needed, enthusiasts claim the following health benefits:
- pro-aging properties
- colon-cleansing properties
- immune system support
- hydration, skin health, and other detoxifying properties
- weight loss
- cancer resistance
Water that’s naturally alkaline occurs when water passes over rocks — like springs — and picks up minerals, which increase its alkaline level. So while spring water may not have as high a pH number as alkaline water, it does contain a certain level of alkalinity and you are also getting the benefit of trace minerals that the water picks up in its natural journey from beneath the ground to the surface.
The type of water you should choose depends mostly on your preferences and what’s available to you. In many cases, people choose the type of water that tastes best to them, which can be largely subjective. Ultimately, you should choose the water that you’re going to drink more of!
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