Mineral Water Health Benefits
Drinking mineral water is a wonderful way to rejuvenate your body’s minerals and improve your overall health.
What is Mineral Water?
Quite simply, mineral water is water that emerges from a natural mineral spring, which results in the water being very high in mineral content. More specifically, this mineral water typically has a higher content of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and sodium than regular water. Every source of natural spring water is slightly different in composition, which may explain the slight difference in taste between the many different brands of mineral water on the market.
Mineral springs, throughout history, were places where people would go to bathe and soak in these unique waters, in an effort to improve the health of their body. Today, these mineral springs are more well known and profitable as sources for the bottle of mineral water. Some of these sparkling waters also contain high levels of compressed gas (e.g., carbonation), so they have the bubbly flavor of carbonation that so many people enjoy. Rather than drinking carbonated sodas or other beverages with added sugars or nutrients, drinking mineral water can be a healthy and enjoyable alternative.
Mineral Water Benefits
There are quite a few proven benefits of mineral water, such as:
- Replacing the body’s electrolytes
2. Boosting bone mineral density
3. Improving blood circulation
4. Detoxifying the body
Electrolytes
Unlike regular water, mineral water contains potassium and sodium; in the best types, the sodium levels are low, while the potassium is high. This is a great way to improve nervous system function and reduce blood pressure, as potassium is a vasodilator. In other words, this carbonated water can also protect cardiovascular health.
Circulation
Although the primary mineral usually isn’t iron, it is present in many varieties of this specialty water. With additional iron content in your diet, your blood circulation will improve. Iron is a critical component of red blood cell production. Thus, more iron means better oxygenation, faster healing, and better organ function throughout the body.
Weight Loss
Although there are no calories in mineral water, the additional nutrients and the carbonation can often help someone feel full as compared to regular water. For people struggling with their weight, or trying to establish a calorie deficit, drinking this sparkling water may aid weight loss efforts.
Bone Density
With high levels of magnesium and calcium, this form of water is definitely a boost for your bone mineral density, which lowers your risk of developing osteoporosis as you age.
Alzheimer’s Disease
When your electrolytes are well balanced, and your nervous system can function properly, there is less of a chance for chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. In turn, some studies have found that consumption of this mineral-based water can protect against certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Cholesterol
Magnesium can help to regulate cardiovascular health in a number of ways and has been linked to lowering overall cholesterol levels. Drinking mineral waters that have high levels of magnesium can reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
Mineral Water vs Water
As mentioned earlier, the primary difference between regular tap water and mineral water is the content of minerals in these waters, including iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, among others. While tap water isn’t always pure H20, mineral water has measurable levels of minerals in every sip. Furthermore, there is no carbonation of trapped gases in tap water, whereas the mineral variety can sometimes have carbonation or “bubbles”. Finally, since mineral water tends to be gathered from the underground source, there is a much lower chance for contamination, whereas tap water in some areas is not consumed, for fear of contamination.
