| Water is often ignored as a valuable health resource. | | | | as much toxic material as possible leaving beneficial |
| With the steady degradation of water quality from | | | | minerals. Depending on the original quality of the |
| natural sources, obtaining good drinking water is | | | | water, treatment usually provides an improved taste. |
| becoming more of a challenge. | | | | Exactly what is removed and what remains depends |
| A good natural water source is a pure mountain | | | | on the filter which is usually a replaceable cartridge. |
| stream, due to natural filtration and water passing | | | | Manufacturers tend to be vague as to precisely |
| through rock formations, emerging water would be | | | | which elements are removed. |
| highly oxygenated and enhanced with necessary | | | | Reverse osmosis filters have been around for a while |
| minerals in a form easily assimilated by the human | | | | and are excellent at delivering pure water. That is, |
| body. Unfortunately these sources are rapidly | | | | water totally stripped of its valuable minerals. Pure |
| becoming depleted. Due to air borne toxins, polluted | | | | water is in fact an excellent solvent but its overall |
| water tables and disinfectant additives, municipal | | | | value to the body is questionable. Pure water can |
| water supplies often contain a cocktail of heavy | | | | encourage leaching out of valuable minerals from |
| metals, hydrocarbons and hormones. | | | | body tissues which cannot easily be replaced even |
| The human body (which is composed of more than | | | | with supplements. |
| 70% water) requires six to eight glasses of water a | | | | Water ionization units, relatively unknown in the West |
| day to sustain normal functions. Water is the main | | | | but, have been used for years in the East. So this is |
| component of blood (around 90%) and facilitates the | | | | not new technology or a fad but, a well tested |
| distribution of nutrients throughout the body and the | | | | water processing method. The ionization unit |
| collection of waste products. Due to the obvious | | | | functions by first passing the ordinary supply water |
| importance it is worth while evaluating the properties | | | | through a series of filters to remove toxins. Some |
| of the water you drink. | | | | filters incorporate other elements such as tourmaline |
| All water, even pure water is ionized to some extent. | | | | said to energize the water. The cleansed water is |
| From the atomic perspective the water molecule | | | | then subjected to electrolysis which separates the |
| splits into two ions, H+ and OH- and it is the ratio of | | | | components into acid and alkaline solutions. Both |
| these ions which determines whether water is acidic | | | | types are available from the same unit and have |
| or alkaline. If acid elements such as sulfur or chlorine | | | | distinct uses, alkaline water for drinking and acid |
| is dissolved in water it becomes acidic, having a | | | | water for bathing. |
| preponderance of H+ ions. Conversely, dissolving | | | | Alkaline water is said to reverse or slow the aging |
| alkaline elements such as calcium in water produce an | | | | process by flushing accumulated toxic acid waste |
| excess of OH- and the solution is said to be alkaline. | | | | from the body over time. Manufacturers insist that |
| The importance of this is that alkaline water is | | | | alkaline drinking water helps or even alleviates |
| oxygen rich, not in the form of O2 molecule but, as | | | | conditions such as osteoporosis and prevents the |
| the OH- hydroxyl ion. | | | | morning after hangover. The drinking water provided |
| From the above criteria, a good water source would | | | | is oxygen and mineral rich and is clustered in smaller |
| be one that removes toxic waste, provides high | | | | molecular groups ready assimilated by body cells. |
| oxygen levels and minerals in a form easily adapted | | | | Interesting Facts |
| by the body. | | | | The inside of the human body is slightly alkaline with |
| Bottled water is usually better tan tap water though | | | | blood ranging from a pH value of 7.3 to 7.45.The |
| often not as good as publicized. The quality of water | | | | most alkaline part of the body being the pancreas |
| depends on the source. Bottled water can in fact be | | | | fluids in the order of pH 8.5. |
| filtered water. There is the added inconvenience of | | | | It takes 32 glasses of 'alkaline' water to neutralize |
| buying and maintaining a stock as well as manhandling | | | | one glass of cola which is highly acidic. |
| the bottles. | | | | Human skin prefers slightly acidic conditions and |
| Carbon filters are relatively cheap and it is possible to | | | | normal bathing with common soaps strips the |
| buy domestic a drinking water unit and install very | | | | protective mantle of the skin. |
| economically. The principle is simple enough, remove | | | | |