Diet sorted? Check. Supplements selected? Check. Exercise plan mapped out? Check. If this is you, well done – you’re obviously clearly on course to a healthier, happier and re-energised body and mind. But what about your liquid intake? Whilst juices, certain teas – e.g – green tea and healthy smoothies will all deliver great nutritional benefits, there is one liquid that surpasses them all – water.
Most nutritional therapists agree that drinking plenty of water is essential to good health and wellbeing. And, when you consider the facts, it’s hardly surprising why. 60-70% of the body is water, yet through our busy everyday lives – a heady mix of work, leisure and being generally on the go – we are not only constantly dehydrating ourselves, but also failing to quench our body’s thirst for water.
As a result, our skin suffers, our eyes are dry, we can’t seem to shake off colds, we complain of headaches, lack energy, often feel bloated or constipated and our concentration levels are poor. And, as much as a cup of coffee or can of fizzy drink might seem appealing, it will do nothing to restore your body’s liquid levels – in fact, caffeine has quite the opposite effect – leaving your body arid, dry and in desperate need of water.
The answer is to ensure a plentiful supply of fresh, filtered drinking water wherever you are. Not so long ago, that meant stocking up at the supermarket on expensive, not to mention bulky bottled water. But it doesn’t have to be the case anymore – a new generation of filter taps and filter systems for the home from companies such as The FreshWater Filter Company means perfectly pure water is more accessible than ever, whatever your budget. And it’s just as well – because the quality of bottled water, to say nothing of the waste that bottled water packaging and plastic generates – has never been under such scrutiny.
Ensuring you always have fresh drinking water to hand is as much of a discipline as anything else, but like taking the time to make sure you have healthy snacks and your supplements quota, it is absolutely worth the effort and you’re likely to see the benefits of increasing your water quite quickly.
So, if you’re always on the move, get yourself some handy 500ml recycled, toughened glass bottles and simply top them up from your tap or filtered water dispenser. Similarly, if you’re desk bound, have a carafe that will keep it easy to keep your glass full. Remember to sip whilst you work, play and relax – and when you’ve done it consistently for a couple of weeks, drinking water, whatever you’re doing will simply become a way of life.
How much water should I drink every day?
You should aim to drink between 7-10 glasses of water every day. But build up to it – your body will thank you for keeping it topped up – but it will need to adjust.
I don’t really like the taste of water…
It’s really important to try and drink freshly filtered water, as, depending on where you live, the taste – and quality – of tap water can vary. If you still don’t enjoy drinking filtered water, try adding some natural flavourings – a squeeze of lemon or lime or even crushed mint works a treat.
I know fizzy drinks are a no-no, but what about sparkling water?
Fizzy water might not have the high sugar content that other fizzy drinks have, but if you’re aiming for better health and wellbeing, fizzy water is not really to be recommended. The bubbles in sparkling water are created by carbon dioxide, so the best advice is to stick to still!
I’ve got a filter jug, is that OK?
Filter jugs have a limited filtration performance – for instance, they won’t remove harmful bacteria – and to be properly effective, their filter cartridges need to be frequently changed. You’re also filtering and then storing water, which is not always hygienic. A better solution is a filter tap or filter system, which tend to use ceramic and/or carbon filter cartridges. Ceramic and carbon have excellent filtration properties and work together very well to remove a wide range of contaminants that includes harmful bacteria such as Cryptosporidium, metals – e.g. lead – chlorine and sediment. You needn’t spend a lot of money and what you do spend will easily be recouped in the long term.
What about distilled water and RO systems?
Distilled water is exceptionally pure water and accordingly, it has none of the mineral benefits that freshly filtered water can provide. Minerals such as magnesium and calcium are naturally present in tap water and a good filter tap or system won’t remove them. Similarly, RO systems also ‘strip’ the water of its goodness. RO systems do have their place – for instance, kidney dialysis machines, require water that been filtered through an RO system – but, like water distillers, they go beyond the needs of most people’s everyday drinking water requirements.
I live in a hard water area. I don’t like the scale and think the hard water irritates my skin – will a filter system get rid of it?
The brief answer is no. It’s really important to not get scale removal and general filtration confused – but lots of people do. A filter system won’t remove scale, although depending upon the filter cartridge you use, it might be able to reduce it slightly. Soft water has been shown to be kinder to sensitive skin, so if hard water is a problem, the best course of action is to install a water softener to treat the water you use to bathe, shower and wash with. However, it’s not a good idea to drink softened water, so if you still want to enjoy healthy drinking water, a filter tap or system that is effective on your supply of mains drinking water is sensible.
To find out more about a filter system visit www.freshwaterfilter.com
