As summer approaches, I would like to touch on the subject of water. It is widely recognized that, especially this time of year, we need lots of water for our bodies to function properly. I don’t need to remind you of that. I would, however, like to take about the detrimental effects of consuming the wrong type of water. And yes, there are wrong types.

In our consumerist society we have been led to believe that bottled water is a safe and convenient route to healthy drinking water. While it may be convenient, it can be far from safe. It is now being found that up to 40% of bottled water is actually bottled tap water. That’s right. You may as well be drinking water straight out of your own kitchen. On top of this, drinking out of plastic bottles is not a good idea. These thin plastic bottles contain BPA, which is known now to cause an array of health problems. The final blow of drinking bottled water is the staggering amount of waste it contributes, which is constantly effecting our ecosystem. As a Nature Camp teacher, this is a big concern of mine.

So let’s take a look at why tap water is a potentially risky choice. Firstly, we have been led to believe that fluoride in our water is necessary and beneficial for the care of our teeth. While this has been proven in many studies to be false, this fluoride, once passed through our mouth, has to be passed through our entire digestive system. It in turn weakens our immune system and damages our cells, speeding the aging process. Amongst the fluoride, tap water may also contain chlorine, arsenic, aluminum, and prescription drugs that have been improperly discarded, among other things. Obviously, these contaminants may cause a whole other list of health ailments.

Along with tap water, distilled water and alkaline water can be dangerous to our health. Distilled water is boiled and evaporated, which produces a water that is too acidic for our system. Also, any substance that vaporizes at a higher temperature than water will end up concentrated in the distilled water. Although alkaline water can be beneficial for short term detoxification, long term use may interfere with the amount of stomach acid available in your system. This makes it difficult for your body to break down food and absorb nutrition.

So what can you do to ensure you’re getting the right water? Investing in a filtration system can be a great idea. Just be sure to do research into the pro’s and con’s of the particular system you wish to invest in.

Ideally, you may be able to locate a source of fresh mountain spring water. This is great option in Pemberton.

It has been proven that gravity-fed spring water is actually living water, much in the same way raw produce is living. A great website to help you locate springs near you is FindaSpring.com. Just be sure to use a BPA-free jug, or even a glass jug, to collect this living water.

For those of you who are in search for alternatives to water every once in a while, it would be wise to avoid beverages such as vitamin water, as they can contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial colours and preservatives. A healthy alternative to water would be coconut water, which is high in fresh water, electrolytes, and lauric acid. It is high in anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Another great alternative is vegetable juicing using fresh, organic produce.

How much water is ideal to keep our systems running? A good rule of thumb is to drink enough to keep your urine light yellow. We have forgotten the art of listening to our bodies. When you are thirsty, drink water. There are so many health benefits you will experience from consuming the right amount of pure water.

Be safe, be refreshed, and be nourished 🙂

>For more health articles and healthy recipes check out my cookbook 2Nourish. Head to www.nourishbooks.ca to order a copy, or pick one up at Be Natural in Pemberton.