WHAT'S IN YOUR BOTTLED WATER?

WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER?

Most of us normally choose bottled water as opposed to tap water, because we tend to think that tap water is less healthy, and maybe with good reason. In Kenya I’m not sure how often the City or County Council water pipes undergo maintenance checks. But

what is really in that bottle of water you very willingly purchase? Have you ever checked the ingredients? Wait a minute why should water have ingredients to enhance taste? Is natural water that terrible in the first place that you have to enhance its taste with additional minerals?

Personally those who know me will tell you I always discourage people from purchasing and drinking certain brands of water. Top of that list is Dasani. I have no idea why anyone would love water that to me tastes like metal or some weird medicine.

Naturally, water contains various minerals. Most water treatment processes do deliver safe, decontaminated water. Distillation involves water being vaporized and collected, leaving behind any solid residues, including minerals. Distilled water contains no minerals whatsoever.

Reverse osmosis is a water-purifying process whereby water is forced through membranes to remove minerals in the water.

Deionization, also called demineralization or ion exchange uses synthetic resins to remove ions and minerals from water. This is very effective at removing ionized impurities, but does not remove organic, bacterial, pathogenic, or particulate matter efficiently. Deionized water contains no magnesium.

Absolute 1 micron filtration involves water being passed through filters that remove particles larger than 1 micron in size, including Cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes intestinal infestation. This process does not affect the water’s mineral content.

Ozonation is very commonly used by most bottled water companies, instead of chlorine to get rid of bacteria in water. Ozonation does not affect the mineral content of water.

As you have read above, some of the water treatment and purification processes may affect the mineral content and in defense of the companies that choose to enhance the water with additional minerals like Dasani; they might have a valid reason to do so.

In Dasani’s case, they do use reverse osmosis, which normally removes minerals from the water. My issue is what they alternatively choose to enhance the water with; alongside purified water on its Nutrition Facts label, you’ll also find Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, and Salt (Sodium Chloride). The major issue in this, they don’t indicate the amount of these minerals added.

If you’re managing or planning to keep off Hypertension (high blood pressure), Sodium (an electrolyte) is NOT your friend. High blood Sodium levels result in high blood pressure. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Sodium is 2,300mg or 2.3 Grams. This equals 1 teaspoon. Shocked? I bet most Kenyans are, considering how much salt we use in our foods. If you then add all the hidden sodium in processed foods including water, then you understand why lifestyle conditions are on the rise.

Potassium is necessary for your heart to beat, so basically it keeps you alive. Potassium chloride is more often than not used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia). Potassium levels get low as a result of disease, taking certain medicines, or after prolonged diarrhea or vomiting. Potassium should however be taken with a lot of CAUTION and preferably medical guidance by people with Kidney ailments.

Magnesium sulfate on the other hand is Pregnancy Category D, as per the FDA listing.  Various researches have shown positive evidence of human fetal risk. Magnesium sulfate however can and is used to prevent seizures in pre-eclampsia cases and in the control of eclampsia. It also stops pre-term labor. In such cases however, it’s used in a hospital, which is a controlled environment. The fact that it has been placed in a ‘risk’ category by the FDA is something we all ought NOT to ignore.

So what’s my point in all this? The more minerals you ingest daily, the greater the danger of reaching toxicity levels. Taking Sodium as an example, MOST of us surpass the recommended daily allowance. What happens if we keep ignoring the ingredients of what we buy and keep surpassing what we ought to take? Hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other non-communicable diseases are inevitable.

So the next time you want to buy that bottle of water, check the ingredients and nutrition information section on the bottle label. This is yet another problem I have with Dasani. Why the heck don’t you guys have a composition or nutrition information section on your labels?

Hmmm, coke and all your sodas DON’T have a composition/nutrition information/ mineral analysis section either. I wonder WHY? Guys the Bible says my people PERISH for lack of knowledge.

Make an informed choice; YOU could be buying yourself a slow death. With that, I REST my case.