These days, people have been making a lot of fuss over staying hydrated. Posts that remind them to drink more water have been splashing across social media platforms, becoming a cultural phenomenon. This collective obsession isn’t unwarranted, as the natural beverage does come with a slew of benefits championed by doctors and experts alike.
They say that downing the daily recommended amount helps improve digestion, flush out waste and toxins, regulate body temperature, and maintain good blood pressure. It also boosts energy levels, brain function, and heart, bone, and skin health. These positive effects are all thanks to the various essential minerals found in water.
Kinds of Minerals Present in Drinking Water
Most types of potable water, save for the distilled variant, have high quantities of minerals. Bicarbonate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc are some of the most commonly found ones. They’re widely known for doing the body a lot of good, replenishing used or lost nutrients, and making a person stronger and healthier.
On the flip side, some brands sell variants that contain excessive amounts of sodium. This ingredient is often linked to high blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension, which significantly increases one’s risk of developing cardiovascular, neurological, and renal diseases. As a precaution, individuals who have HBP should steer clear of water that has too much of the said mineral.
Contaminants That May Be Found in Drinking Water
Some people have raised concerns over bottled drinks, as certain containers may have microplastic content that gets mixed into the beverage, contaminating it. However, this problem isn’t limited to packaged products, as scientists and experts from private water testing laboratories have also identified traces of these materials in fresh and tap water. This was studied by the World Health Organization (WHO), which found that they have no adverse effects on the human body.
Unfortunately, the research was based on sparse resources, so negative health effects can’t be ruled out just yet. Some experts argue that the microplastics can enter the bloodstream and build up inside the body. This can possibly disrupt systems and hormonal activities, as well as damage organs, tissues, and other internal structures.
Microorganisms, like bad bacteria, may also attach to the foreign particles and form colonies. They make an individual more susceptible to infections and other serious conditions. The presence of toxic substances, such as bacteria from waste materials and chemicals from pesticides, is another problem.
Despite efforts to contain these products, they can still make their way to water sources through improper disposal, runoff, or erosion. This contaminates wells, lakes, reservoirs, and dams, making their supply unsafe to drink. As a result, individuals can experience various symptoms, like dehydration and gastrointestinal diseases and infections. In severe cases, it might even lead to death.
How to Avoid Drinking Contaminated Water
If you haven’t gotten your source checked, it’s best to do so as soon as you notice something different about how the water feels and tastes or if you suspect contamination.
Get in touch with Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories, Inc., a private water testing laboratory. They’re passionate about ensuring that homes and businesses have clean, safe, and quality drinking water. Give them a call, and they’ll come over to collect samples. All you have to do is wait for the results. Once you receive the reading, they’ll even give you an expert interpretation and advice on how it can be fixed if they find an issue with the sample.