Minerals should be an essential part of your daily diet. Your body needs minerals like magnesium, zinc, calcium, and potassium to function properly. The fact that these minerals are in mineral water suggests that mineral water is healthy.
However, as with most things in life, there are benefits and side effects that you should be aware of before you commit to drinking mineral water every day.
What Is Mineral Water?
Mineral water is simply regular water that has collected minerals while traveling through the rocks and soil of the earth. As it travels it absorbs the minerals it passes through. You can then access the water through natural springs or underground lakes. Equally, mineral water can be artificially made by adding minerals to water.
It is worth noting that water with a high mineral content is likely to cause a buildup of minerals in your appliance. This will make them work harder and shorten their lifespan.
Many households invest in a reverse osmosis water filter to avoid this issue and the other side-effects listed later.
The Benefits
Unsurprisingly the main benefit of mineral water is that it’s supplying your body with essential minerals. Your body needs calcium, zinc, and other minerals in mineral water. Drinking mineral water can help to ensure you get enough of these minerals daily.
Of course, you can also get these minerals from the food you eat.
It’s particularly good for supplying magnesium which is essential for metabolism and fighting fatigue. A lack of magnesium will cause muscle weakness, tremors, vertigo, anxiety, and in extreme cases, seizures, migraines, and irregular heartbeats.
A mixture of magnesium and calcium in mineral water has also been linked with decreased blood pressure. As high blood pressure is linked to an increased risk of strokes and other cardiovascular issues, reducing blood pressure is a good thing!
Minerals can also boost bone health, improve your digestive system, and strengthen your heart
Side-Effects
However, while mineral water is generally considered safe to be drunk, there are side-effects and risks that you should be aware of.
Firstly, you should be aware that mineral water is more acidic, potentially damaging the balance in your body.
There are also concerns regarding the migration of plastics from the bottle to the water. The greater the mineral content the more likely it is plastic will migrate. These can accumulate in your body and cause inflammation, or the occasional infection.
Of particular concern is BPA which can interfere with the normal hormone production of your body. Alongside this, the environmental impact of using plastic bottles should be considered. This is detrimental to the planet and potentially your own health.
It’s also worth noting that the fizz in sparkling mineral water can actually damage the enamel on your teeth.
Final Thoughts
The simple fact is that all the minerals your body needs can be acquired through the food you eat. Drinking mineral water as well will potentially cause you to consume too many minerals. The healthiest approach is to use a reverse osmosis filter with tap water. This ensures it is clean and won’t give you any negative side-effects.
By Jesse Huges