Home > Food & Drink > Drinks > Drinks (Other)
Does drinking mineral water have health benefits?
Results so far:
| Yes | 61% | 546 votes | Total: 893 votes | |
| No | 39% | 347 votes |
Yes
by Stephen Janowsky
Created on: July 22, 2008 Last Updated: December 01, 2011
Mineral water is categorized by its purity at source, its content in minerals, trace elements and other constituents, its conservation and its healing properties. Based on total salt content, mineral waters can be classified as: waters with a very low mineral content, waters low in mineral content, waters with a medium mineral content, and strongly mineralized waters. Based on ion composition, mineral waters can be classified as: bicarbonate waters, sulfate waters, and sodium chloride or saltwater. Based on biological activity, mineral waters are usually classified as: diuretic waters, cathartic waters, waters with anti-inflammatory properties (Petraccia, 2006). But mineral water seems to have much more health benefits for various organ and systems, depending on its specific composition.
Skin hydration. Measurements of skin thickness and density before and after consumption of mineral versus tap water showed that mineral water might have a superior skin hydrating effect (Williams, 2007).
Calcium metabolism. High-calcium mineral waters can provide significant amounts of calcium to the body (Heaney, 2006). A few years ago, a combined analysis of the most relevant existing studies showed that calcium absorption from mineral waters was significantly higher than that from dairy products (Bohmer, 2000). Such waters are thus recommended to achieve optimal calcium requirements, especially in aged people with lactose intolerance (Wynckel, 1997).
Kidney stones. The vast majority of kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate salts that precipitate in the urine. On the other hand, urinary citrate, magnesium, and alkaline (high) pH are some of the main factors that impede stone formation. In people who drink water with high and medium calcium contents, calcium urinary elimination may slightly increase; however, oxalate elimination significantly decreases, as well as the oxalate-to-calcium ratio. Therefore, high-calcium mineral waters do not favor but, quite the opposite, they prevent kidney stones (Caudarella, 1998). Moreover, consumption of mineral waters rich in magnesium and bicarbonate can increase urinary pH, magnesium, and citrate (Siener, 2004) and decrease calcium oxalate concentration (Kessler & Hesse, 2000).
Tooth cavities. An Italian survey among schoolchildren found that consumption of commercial bottled mineral water prevents dental caries of the primary dentition (Perinetti, 2005).
Osteoporosis. Consumption of high-calcium mineral water was shown to decrease the markers of bone decay in postmenopausal women (Meunier, 2005). Total calcium intake is directly linked with bone density (Aptel, 1999). In addition, bicarbonate-rich waters improve biological availability of calcium, calcium-phosphate hormonal regulating balance, bone breakdown, and bone density (Costi, 1999). Both bicarbonate and potassium are able to reduce urinary calcium loss and bone destruction in short and medium term studies (Burckhardt, 2004). Therefore, calcium, bicarbonate, and potassium-containing waters may prevent osteoporosis, especially in women after menopause.
Carbohydrate, fat metabolism, and cardiovascular risk. Studies have proven sulfurous waters have antioxidative properties (Benedetti, 2007), whereas bicarbonate-rich waters can limit the increase of lipid blood levels after meals (Schoppen, 2005) and improve insulin sensitivity (Schoppen, 2006). Another research by Schoppen and co-workers (2004) provided more interesting results: drinking sodium-rich carbonated water was associated with a significant lowering in total cholesterol and LDL- ("bad") cholesterol levels by almost 7% and 15%, respectively, and an increase in HDL- ("good") cholesterol by 9%. Inflammation markers and fasting blood glucose concentration also decreased. All these effects indicate a reduction of total cardiovascular risk (Schoppen, 2004).
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease. A decrease in blood pressure was observed in persons with magnesium or calcium deficiency after drinking mineral water (Rylander & Arnaud, 2004). The blood pressure-lowering effects of magnesium (Jee, 2002), calcium (Bucher, 1996), and potassium (Whelton, 1997) have previously been established by others. Fifty years ago, Kobayashi in Japan was the first to describe a relation between mortality from coronary heart disease and drinking water characteristics. Since then, several studies have confirmed this relationship (Rylander, 1996; Marx & Neutra, 1997; Kousa, 2004), while others have denied it (Nerbrand, 2003; Al-Delaimy, 2004). However, a remarkable investigation found magnesium- and calcium-rich water drinking to decrease death from acute myocardial infarction (Rubenowitz, 2000).
Last but not least, it is important to mention that mineral water is also safer than tap water when it comes to microbial contamination risks. A systematic analysis of medical reports in several Western countries (Bohmer & Resch, 2000) found a total number of 423,000 cases of disease outbreaks (mainly diarrhea) due to contaminated tap water, some of these with lethal outcome; in contrast, there was no such documented case in relation to bottled mineral water.
In conclusion, mineral waters have shown beneficial effects on bones, kidneys, and heart. Since no adverse reactions have been reported, drinking mineral waters with specific compositions can be recommended for people who are prone to develop kidney stones, osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease.
Learn more about this author, Stephen Janowsky.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
by V R Rutledge
Created on: June 26, 2008 Last Updated: September 07, 2010
Drinking mineral water is no different than drinking any other water, unless you're drinking distilled water. All water contains minerals, that is if it isn't recently processed by distillation. The illusion that drinking a large amount of water every day is somehow extra healthy, is just that, an illusion. You need water to live, but most of us get too much, because the food we eat and other things that we drink contain water. Drinking large quantities of water simply depletes your electrolytes and leaves you ill. You can actually drink enough water to kill you, if you try. Studies indicate that each of us will use water in accordance with our particular physiology, and less as we age. Since our bodies are less adept at handling water as we grow older, the reduction in water use is probably a good thing. The Institute of Medicine has a Food and Nutrition Board which has recently reported that, while 80% of our water intake comes from drinking, most of us already drink too much. We get about 20% of our water from food, and need from eight to twelve glasses more per day, depending on age and sex.
Results show that American women already average 9 cups of water a day from all beverages combined, and American men, 13 cups. That's a bit more than you absolutely have to have, but not too bad, actually. Water contains no calories, and may contain no micro-nutrients, but is an indispensable aid to digestion, nutrient absorption and waste-elimination. Water also helps regulate circulation, body temperature and a host of other physiological processes. It is water that lubricates joints and maintains healthy skin. While we can exist without food for months, we can only survive without water for a few days. Still, if the food is high in water content, we can increase the percentage of water we get by eating, which will allow us to survive on what we eat, at least for a while. It would appear that we need to replace, on a daily basis, the water we lose, either from elimination, perspiration or other bodily functions.
There are kidney specialists who will tell you that as little as four glasses of water per day is enough, and most of us get that from our diet. Regular drinkers of caffeinated beverages seem to become accustomed to the drug, and lose little, if any of the net fluid intake. In addition, milk, juice and other drinks are equivalent to water, and often contain dietary bonuses such as vitamin C, calcium and other minerals. In short, if you are thirsty, you probably need a drink. Alcohol will not do the job, however, since it actually does cause dehydration. You need some alcohol free source of liquid, like an orange, or a peach or maybe a grape soda. You do not need a two dollar plastic container with rainwater in it.
And let's not forget the common plastic additive bisphenol A. The potential danger from BPA was discovered about 20 years ago, but two studies which were funded by the industry declared the substance to be safe. Recent data suggests otherwise, and personally I think that BPA increases the chance of autism in children. Why else is it increasing so rapidly? But that is just a side note to the subject of water, which you can always get in BPA free containers.
What type of water should we drink? For optimum health, experts recommend clean, spring water, filtered water, or tap water that is free from unhealthy contaminants. Remember that bottled water is not always clean water, and the plastic bottles may not help.
Learn more about this author, V R Rutledge.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills
Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all
INFORMATION
Copyright © 2002-2012 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.