In the early 1930s, researchers noticed that people living in communities with naturally high levels of fluoride in the water had fewer cavities.  Studies showed that fluoridated water was not only safe but beneficial. Community water facilities began adding fluoride to their water in an effort to prevent cavities.  According to America’s Health Rankings, Kentucky is the healthiest state with 99.9% of its population receiving fluoridated water.  Hawaii is the least healthy state with only 11.7% of its residents receiving fluoridated water.  Within the entire United States, 74.4% of the population has access to fluoridated water from a public water company.

Benefits of Fluoride

The main benefit of adding fluoride to water is to improve dental health.  In growing children, fluoride helps to build up the strength of their developing permanent teeth.  In adults, supplemental fluoride supports tooth enamel which promotes healthy teeth.  For both children and adults, this means fewer cavities and fillings, reduced need for tooth extraction, and less pain from dental issues.  In turn, people with healthier teeth miss less school and less work due to dental pain.

Can You Get Too Much Fluoride?

While fluoride does have proven benefits, too much fluoride can have some negative effects.  When exposed to excessive exposure, people can develop fluorosis, a condition that causes damage to the bones, joints, and teeth. Researchers have done studies that show that children who ingest high amounts of fluoride can develop spots and discoloration on both their baby teeth and their adult teeth that are still below the gumline.

In order to help prevent fluorosis, the EPA regulates the allowable limit for fluoride that can be present in drinking water.  The maximum contaminant level (MCL) is set at 4.0 mg/L or 4.0 ppm. If a public water system exceeds the fluoride MCL of 4 mg/L, the company must notify its customers.  The notification should happen within 30 days of discovering the violation.

How Much Fluoride Is in My Water?

If you have water from a public water company, there are many resources that can you can access to help determine how much fluoride is in your water.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a website called, “My Water’s Fluoride.”  On this site, you can filter down by state and then county to find the name of your water company.  It will show you the water source and whether or not the water is fluoridated along with an explanation.  If the water is fluoridated, you will see the amount of fluoride concentration.

Here is a quick reference by state that shows the number of people who have access to fluoridated water from a public water source.

2018 Water Fluoridation By State

Source: https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/water_fluoridation/state/ALL?edition-year=2018

Testing Your Water for Fluoride

Almost all water contains some level of fluoride, whether natural or supplemental.  If you have well water, it is important to know the fluoride content of your water. This is especially true if you have children. It is recommended that private well owners test their water regularly for a variety of contaminants, including fluoride. If fluoride is found to be above the recommended levels, there are treatment options available.

Even if you have municipal water, the levels provided by the water company are only for water tested at the source.  If you want to know what the fluoride levels are for the water coming out of your tap, you will need to test your water.

You can quickly and easily test your water with an at-home test kit or a laboratory test kit.  An at-home test kit allows you to test your water for the presence of fluoride. However, the results are not as precise as laboratory testing.  With the TestAssured Fluoride Test Kit, you collect a water sample and send it to our certified laboratory for testing. Simply collect your water sample in the sterilized vials provided in the kit and return them to the lab in the postage-paid return package to get a detailed analysis of the fluoride levels in your water.

Treating Water for Excess Fluoride

It is important to make sure that you are not ingesting excess fluoride.  If you find out that your water has too much fluoride, there are simple steps you can take.  The best way to reduce the amount of fluoride in your water is to invest in a distillation or reverse osmosis system.  These treatment options are an effective method for reducing fluoride to the recommended levels.

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Whether you have public water, or your drinking water comes from a private well, both water sources can become contaminated with these harmful bacteria.  Even filtered water and bottled water may not always be safe.

How Does Bacteria Get in Our Water?

Human and animal wastes are the most common cause of bacteria in water. Runoff can carry feces from farms and leaking septic tanks to water sources and wells.  Bacterial contamination can become even worse after a flood as floodwaters provide an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Over time, older water systems can degrade, and aging pipes can become vulnerable to dangerous pathogens.

Common Bacteria in Water

Legionella and E. Coli are two common bacterial strains that can thrive in water under a wide range of temperatures and conditions.  These bacteria most often develop in the portion of the water distribution system from the water meter to the tap in homes and buildings. They can easily contaminate water supplies and go undetected unless specific tests are performed. If you suspect that your water may be contaminated with either of these harmful bacteria, use bottled water or boil your water for before using.

Legionella

Legionella is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, lung infections, respiratory issues, and pneumonia.  This bacterial disease is a public health concern with a fatality rate ranging between 5% to 30% for those who become infected.  Symptoms of legionella infection include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches.  Legionella can also cause Pontiac fever, a milder presentation of Legionnaire’s disease with similar symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 8,000 to 18,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with Legionnaires’ Disease.

E. Coli

E. Coli is a type of coliform bacteria that is found in feces and can sometimes enter drinking water supplies. If you drink water contaminated with E. Coli, it can cause intestinal tract infections, serious illness, and even death. Particularly vulnerable to E. Coli infections are newborns, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

The presence of E. Coli in water is concerning because it can be an indication of additional contamination.  Other more harmful microbes that are commonly found in the presence of E. Coli include norovirus, Cryptosporidium, Shigella, and Giardia.

Testing for Legionella and E. Coli

Bacterial contamination is not easily detected. Water that is contaminated with bacteria can look, taste, and smell the same as safe water.  The best way to protect yourself from Legionella and E. Coli contaminated water is to test your water.

Public water suppliers are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to test for bacteria and treat contaminated water.  However, if you have well water, there is no testing requirement.  Homeowners with wells should test their water approximately every three months.

TestAssured offers a convenient laboratory Legionella and Coliform Test Kit.  The kit comes with everything you need to send a live water sample to a certified lab for testing. Our laboratory water analysis can determine whether either of these bacteria exist in your water supply. This testing kit includes detailed instructions, sterile sample bottles, cold packs, and a postage-paid return shipping package.

Water Treatment Options

If your water does test positive for either Legionella or E. Coli, there are some steps you can take to disinfect your water.  The simplest treatment is to bring your water to a rolling boil for at least five to ten minutes to kill disease-causing bacteria. Chlorine is another option that can be used to disinfect water.  Public water utilities routinely use chlorine to kill microorganisms.  At home, you can safely add 6 to 8 drops of bleach to a gallon of water to kill bacteria. One of the best long-term solutions would be to install a reverse osmosis water filtration system to effectively remove bacteria from water.

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In our daily lives, we are constantly, and often unaware, that we are being exposed to radiation.  A majority of the radiation that we are subjected to comes from natural sources.  Exposure to radiation can cause serious health issues, including cancer.  Pregnant women, children, and people with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk of harm from radiation poisoning. One of the last places that you might expect to find radiation is in your drinking water. 

Natural Radiation

The most common radioactive elements that show up as contaminants in drinking water include uranium and radium.  These elements are naturally found in the environment.  They are present in rocks that make up the aquifers that are used to source our drinking water. As the rocks and the surrounding soil and minerals break down over time, the radioactive particles are leeched into the water.

Manmade Threats

Natural radiation is not the only threat to our water. There are also artificial radionuclides that are introduced into rivers and lakes by way of nuclear explosions and accidents.  Other human activity can also cause water to become contaminated with radioactive particles.  Industrial processes such as the production of fertilizer, coal combustion, and mining are known to create radiation that can contaminate nearby waterways. 

Radiation in Water

Slight traces of radioactivity are normally found in our drinking water. The type and amount of these radioactive particles vary from place to place. The radiochemical composition of the soil and rocks through which water passes is what determines the natural radiation levels.

Recent testing by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has shown that water supplies in more than 27 states contain radioactive elements in excess of the limits established by the EPA. Drinking water for more than 170 million Americans contains radioactive elements at levels that may increase the risk of cancer, according to an EWG analysis of 2010 to 2015 test results from public water systems nationwide. 

EPA Levels

While most water sources have low levels of these radioactive contaminants, as the levels increase, they can pose serious risks.  The EPA has established allowable levels for radioactive contaminants in drinking water. The maximum allowable level for combined radium is 226/228 (5 pCi/L).  For man-made beta particles and photon emitters, the EPA allows 4 millirems per year. Gross alpha activity has a maximum of 15 pCi/L. 

If you are concerned about the presence of radiation in your drinking water, there are a number of ways to find out just how much radiation is in your water.  Most public water suppliers are required to test their water regularly and share their results with consumers.  If you don’t have this information, the CDC publishes the annual drinking water quality reports on their website. 

Testing for Radiation

If you don’t have public water or don’t trust the results from your water company, you can have your water tested by a certified laboratory.  TestAssured offers a Radiation in Water Test Kit that allows you to send your water to our laboratory for testing. The kit contains sterilized vials for your water samples and a postage-paid return package for you to send the samples to the lab.  When our laboratory receives your samples, they test for Alpha Radiation and Beta Radiation from any source, including Radium, Radon, Uranium, and Strontium. After testing is complete, you will receive results with details about the radiation content of your water. 

How to Treat Water for Radiation

If test results show that your water contains high levels of radiation, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of radiation poisoning.   The most frequently recommended treatment is reverse osmosis.   Reverse osmosis works by forcing water through material with pores that are so small only water can pass through, leaving contaminants behind. The EPA considers reverse osmosis to be the “best available technology” (BAT) for removing uranium, radium, gross alpha, and beta particles and photon emitters. Tests show that it removes up to 99 percent of these radionuclides.

Another recommendation from the EPA is the use of ion exchange to remove radioactive compounds from water. Ion exchange is the process used in water softeners.  It removes contaminants, including radioactive particles, when water passes through sodium ions.

Testing

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The debate about the need for supplemental fluoride has become heated in recent years.  Fluoride is a natural mineral found in the soil that can sometimes penetrate into our water supplies.  In the 1930s, researchers determined that people in areas with naturally fluoridated water had fewer cavities than people who didn’t consume fluoridated water.  This led to municipalities adding fluoride to public water sources.  Fluoride is also commonly added to toothpastes and other dental products. There is no argument that fluoride is necessary for oral health, but there is a growing concern that we are getting too much fluoride these days. 

While fluoride can help reduce the incidence of tooth decay, too much fluoride may contribute to health issues.  Some studies show that excessive exposure to fluoride can cause a condition known as fluorosis which damages the teeth, joints, and bones. Data indicate that today’s children are occasionally exposed to too much fluoride. Depending on the frequency and duration of the overexposure, it can cause severe dental fluorosis in the teeth.  This can leave children with spots and discoloration on both their baby teeth and permanent adult teeth.  Excessive fluoride can also cause skeletal fluorosis, resulting in painful joints and damaged bones.  In extreme cases, too much fluoride can affect the parathyroid gland, causing hyperparathyroidism.

The Allowable Limit for Fluoride

The EPA has set an allowable limit for fluoride in drinking water.  Their maximum contaminant level (MCL) is 4.0 mg/L or 4.0 ppm. The EPA has set this level as a measure to prevent potential health problems. If a public water system exceeds the fluoride MCL of 4 mg/L, the company must notify its customers as soon as possible within 30 days of discovering the violation.

Public Water Sources

If your drinking water comes from a public source, you can easily find out what the fluoride level is in your water.  There is also a resource established by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called  “My Water’s Fluoride.”  This interactive map allows you to click on your state and drill down to your county to find out whether the public water is fluoridated.  There are 39 states that participate and share their water information.  If your state does not share their information online, you can call your water utility.  You can find the name and contact information of the water utility on your water bill.

Well Water

Almost all water contains some level of fluoride.  If you have well water, it is important to know the fluoride content of your water, particularly if you have children. It is recommended that private well owners test their wells test their water regularly for a variety of contaminants, including fluoride. If fluoride is found to be above the recommended levels, there are treatment options such as reverse osmosis and distillation that can help to remove fluoride from your drinking water.

Bottled Water

Even some bottled water can contain fluoride.  Bottled water that has been de-ionized, purified, or distilled should not contain any more than trace amounts of fluoride.  However, it is important to read the label to determine if fluoride has been added as an ingredient.  Naturally sourced bottled waters like spring water and mineral water are highly likely to contain fluoride that is naturally present in the water source.  The FDA has set specific limits for fluoride in bottled water based on several factors, including the source of the water. These limits range from 0.8 to 2.4 milligrams per liter.

Testing for Fluoride

If you are concerned about the level of fluoride in your drinking water, there are a number of testing options available.  One of the simplest tests is an at-home test kit. These kits allow you to quickly and easily test your water for the presence of fluoride, but the results are not as precise as laboratory testing.  TestAssured offers a Fluoride Test Kit that allows you to send your water to our certified laboratory for testing. Simply collect your water sample in the provided sterilized vials and return them to the lab in the postage-paid return package to get a detailed analysis of the fluoride levels in your water.

How to Treat Water with Excess Fluoride

If test results show that your water contains high levels of fluoride, there are steps you can take to lower the amount of fluoride in your drinking water.  Charcoal filtration systems and boiling water will not remove fluoride.  In order to lower the fluoride levels, you will need to invest in a distillation or reverse osmosis system.  Both of these treatment methods have been proven effective for reducing fluoride to below the 4.0 mg/L recommended level.

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Electrolyte water is a growing segment in the bottled water category. Examples of electrolyte waters include brands such as Propel, Smartwater, LIFEWTR, and Core Hydration.  Some of these waters have added electrolytes to improve the taste and others are geared toward improved hydration.

So, just what is electrolyte water? These waters have added salts and minerals such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.  Many bottled waters and even tap water naturally contain trace amounts of these electrolytes.  Electrolyte waters, however, have considerably higher amounts.  Some brands may add a negligible amount to help improve the taste of the water, while others add a significant amount to market their waters to athletes and other health-conscious shoppers.

Why Your Body Needs Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals that conduct electricity when they are dissolved in water.  The fluids in your body contain electrolytes that help your body function by providing electrical energy.  You need electrolytes to control the balance of fluids in your body and to stabilize your blood pressure.  They are also used for maintaining the proper pH of your blood and to help your muscles contract.

Electrolyte	Function
Sodium	Responsible for controlling the amount of water in the body, regulating blood volume, and maintaining muscle and nerve function
Chloride	Works with sodium to maintain balance and pressure of body fluids
Calcium	Contributes to bone and tooth strength, helps transmit nerve impulses, and supports blood clotting and muscle function
Potassium	Regulates heartbeat and muscle function
Magnesium	Helps maintain nerve and muscle function, boosts immune system, maintains heart rate, stabilizes blood sugar, promotes healthy bones and teeth
Phosphate	Strengthens bones and teeth, essential for energy production in cells, necessary for tissue growth and repair, building block for cell membranes and DNA

The Amount of Electrolytes in Water

Most waters that haven’t been filtered contain at least some naturally occurring electrolytes.  On average, 34 ounces of tap water can provide between 2–3% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of calcium, sodium, and magnesium.  The one important electrolyte that is not found in significant amounts in tap water is potassium.  Electrolyte waters provide a much higher percentage of the RDA for these minerals.

Make Your Own Electrolyte Water

While the grocery store shelves are packed with a variety of electrolyte waters to choose from in flavors from strawberry kiwi to chocolate mint, you can easily make your own electrolyte water for a fraction of the cost.  All you need are four ingredients that you probably already have on hand: water, sweetener sea salt, and baking soda.

• 1 liter water
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp sweetener (honey, sugar, maple syrup, or agave nectar)
• 1/2 tbsp sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a water bottle and shake until well mixed.  For added potassium, you can add some citrus juice or coconut water.   Unlike bottled electrolyte water that you would find in a store, this recipe gives you a refreshing boost of electrolytes without any artificial flavoring or colors.

When making your own electrolyte water, be sure to test your water to make sure you are putting the best water you can in your body.  You can quickly and easily test your water with a test kit from TestAssured.  Whether you are drinking tap water, filtered water, or bottled water, you cannot take for granted the quality of your water.

Benefits of Electrolyte Water

Proper hydration is an important component of good health and athletic performance.  Electrolyte-enhanced waters, can help athletes quickly rehydrate and replenish electrolytes and energy lost through sweating during intense exercise.

Electrolyte water can also be helpful when you aren’t feeling well.  Illnesses that are accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration if fluids and electrolytes are not replaced. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to dehydration when they are sick.

Electrolyte water is especially popular in hot environments.  If you live in an area that experiences extremely high temperatures or high humidity, such as Arizona or Florida, you could be at risk for heat-related illnesses, including mild heat rash to life-threatening heatstroke. Maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte levels is key to helping your body stay cool and regulate its temperature.

Regular Water Compared to Electrolyte water

Staying hydrated is a necessary part of maintaining your overall health. Your body needs water and electrolytes to function properly and perform tasks like transporting nutrients, flushing out waste and toxins, and regulating body temperature.

The electrolyte water manufacturers tout their products as being superior to regular water.  Yes, they have more electrolytes, but whether or not electrolyte water is better for you depends on the situation.  Electrolyte water may be a better choice if you are at risk of losing minerals. This would include people who are exercising strenuously, sweating excessively, are ill with vomiting or diarrhea, or exposed to long periods of high heat and humidity.

The Bottom Line

Electrolyte water is a simple way to supplement minerals your body can easily lose.  Remember, your body needs minerals like potassium, sodium, and magnesium to function properly.  Drinking electrolyte water is an easy way to replenish those minerals to prevent dehydration.

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1. The Recommended pH Range for Bottled Water

pH is considered a secondary standard by the EPA when it comes to bottled water, or any water for that matter. Secondary standards are guidelines that regulate contaminants that can cause cosmetic or aesthetic effects on drinking water.  This includes contaminants that affect things like the taste, odor, or color of your water.  Although this secondary standard is not federally enforceable, the EPA recommends that the pH of drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5.

2. Bottled Water with a High pH

Bottled water that has a high pH tends to have more of a slippery feel.  It can sometimes have an off taste that has been described like the taste of baking soda.  Tap water that has a high pH is commonly labeled as hard water, but this term is not used to describe bottled water.  Bottled water with a high pH is often labeled as alkaline water.   Proponents of alkaline water claim that it can improve your health. Alkaline water manufacturers state that it is more easily absorbed by your cells leading to faster hydration.  It is also touted as a helpful remedy for acid reflux since it has less acid than other waters.  Unfortunately, there is little scientific research to back these claims.

3. Bottled Water with a Low pH

Bottled water with a low pH may be more of a cause for concern.  If your bottled water has a bitter or metallic taste, this may be a result of low pH.   A pH reading for bottled water that falls below the safe pH range of 6.5 may indicate the presence of chemical or heavy metal pollution. The National Resources Defense Council conducted a four-year study of the bottled water industry and found that 22% of the water tested contained contaminants.  Knowing the pH of your bottled water can help ensure that the water you are drinking is quality drinking water.

4. How the pH of Bottled Water Affects the Human Body

Most bottled waters have a pH that is within the EPA recommended range of 6.5 and 8.5.  Each brand claims that the characteristics of its water make it the best water for you to drink.  But does pH really matter when it comes to health?  The human body usually maintains differing pH levels in different parts.  It is believed that the pH of the bottled water you drink will not affect the pH balance of the body. This is because the hydrochloric acid in the stomach neutralizes the water you drink before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

5. What pH Says About the Quality of a Bottled Water

The pH of water varies throughout the United States. For example, water from New York is more likely to have a lower pH level than water from the desert of Nevada, which tends to have a high pH. This means that the pH of your bottled water could be a result of where it was sourced.  It could also be a result of how the water was treated before it was bottled. There are many filtration and treatment processes that manufacturers use to achieve the unique composition and taste of their bottled water.

Bottled water from a source that has high pH could result in the need for additional purification since high pH reduces the effectiveness of chlorine used for disinfection.  Additionally, the pH of bottled water can be affected by things like the composition of the source’s bedrock, the presence of chemical detergents or cleaning agents in the water, and ways that the water is treated before bottling.

6. How to Test the pH of Your Bottled Water

It’s easy and inexpensive to test the pH of your bottled water at home. All you need is a pH meter or pH test strips.  A pH meter will give you an electronic reading of pH from 0 to 14 in a matter of seconds.  The litmus paper test strips are also an accurate way to measure pH, using a color-coded chart to indicate the pH.

7. pH Results of Our Bottled Water Test

We recently tested the pH of twenty different brands of bottled water.  We were not surprised to find that most of them were within the EPA recommended range, although there were a few outliers the fell below and above the range.  The highest pH that we recorded was 9 (Evian, Eternal, and Deer Park), while the lowest was 5 (Simple Truth, Le Bleu, Dasani, and Aquafina). The average pH of the twenty waters was 6.8 and the most common pH of bottled water was 7.

Brand	pH
Simple Truth	5.0
Le Bleu	5.0
Dasani	5.0
Aquafina	5.0
Tap Water	6.5
The Mountain Valley	6.5
Spring Time	6.5
S. Pellegrino	6.5
Just Water	6.5
Icelandic Glacial	6.5
Voss	7.0
Smart Water	7.0
LifeWater	7.0
Kroger	7.0
Hydrogen Water	7.0
Fiji	7.0
Aqua Panna	7.0
Core Hydration	7.5
Evian	9.0
Eternal	9.0
Deer Park	9.0

When it comes to pH there is no clear winner or loser, it simply depends on what you are looking for in a water.  pH may have more of an effect on the taste of the water than it does on your health as long as it is not extremely high or extremely low. So when it comes to the pH of the top bottled water brands, we say pick the one that you like because the best water for your health is the one that you will drink the most.

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What Is Alkalinity?

One of the most recent additions to specialty bottled waters is alkaline water.  The alkalinity of a bottled water refers to its ability to neutralize acids. The alkalinity of a water source is impacted by the surrounding soil and bedrock. Manufacturers can also alter the alkalinity of water through ionization, special filtration systems, and treatment processes.

Alkalinity is actually a reference to the pH of the bottled water. The pH level indicates the acidity and alkalinity of the water. The scale for pH has a range from 0 to 14. Low pH readings indicate an acid, while 7 is neutral and higher numbers are considered to be alkaline.

Water naturally has a neutral pH of 7, but depending on the source or how a bottled water has been treated, the pH of can vary.  Reverse osmosis is a treatment process that creates a more acidic bottled water.  Some companies will add minerals back into the water to increase the pH. The goal for alkaline bottled water is to achieve a high pH. The alkalinity of a bottled water may indicate a high concentration of minerals such as potassium, calcium,  magnesium, silica, and bicarbonate. These all help to make water less acidic with a pH between 8 and 9.

What are the Benefits of Alkaline Water?

Some proponents claim that the higher the alkalinity of a bottled water, the more hydrating power it has.  This may be helpful for people who exercise and sweat more and therefore need to rehydrate quickly.  The science behind this claim is that the alkaline water molecules are smaller, making them easier for cells to absorb. Because of this, the body can absorb more water molecules in a shorter amount of time, improving rehydration.

Another claim is that alkalinity can boost your immunity.  The immune system works to neutralize the acid levels in your body.  These can be increased by stress, by poor diet, and certain toxins. By drinking bottled water that has increased alkalinity it can help the immune system combat the acid brought on by these stressors.

One of the most common benefits cited for drinking alkaline water is that is can help with heartburn.  Foods and beverages that have high alkaline levels work to neutralize acidity in the body. It is possible that the alkalinity in bottled water can lower the acid levels in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

Side Effects of Alkaline Water

High levels of alkaline can alter the body’s pH which can cause stomach pain, confusion, and muscle tremors. People with kidney disease and other health issues may want to avoid alkaline water. Drinking too much alkaline water can interfere with the body’s ability to digest food and prevent food poisoning. It can lead to alkalosis which is a condition that causes vomiting, nausea, tremors, and confusion.

The Alkalinity of Bottled Water

In our recent test of twenty different bottled waters, one of the tests we completed measured the alkalinity of the water.  We used the alkalinity test that is included in the Complete Water Testing Kit by TestAssured.  The alkalinity test can be performed at home on a variety of waters without having to mix messy solutions or mail away samples.

The range of alkalinity for all twenty bottled waters that we tested went from zero to 240. We were surprised to find that there were actually eight brands of water that scored 0 ppm for alkalinity. The average alkalinity was 80 ppm.  The most common alkalinity was  40 ppm, which was the level for four different brands.  Here are the alkalinity scores, from highest to lowest:

Brand	Alkalinity in PPM
Evian	240
The Mountain Valley	180
S. Pellegrino	180
Deer Park	180
Fiji	120
Eternal	120
Kroger	80
Core Hydration	80
Aqua Panna	80
Tap Water	40
Voss	40
Just Water	40
Icelandic Glacier	40
Spring Time	0
Smart Water	0
Simple Truth	0
LifeWater	0
Le Bleu	0
Hydrogen Water	0
Dasani	0
Aquafinia	0

Which Bottled Water Is the Best for Alkalinity?

The best advice when it comes to alkaline water is to drink it in moderation.  You can experiment with making your own alkaline water by adding baking soda or lemon to change the pH.

If you prefer a bottled water with high alkalinity, Evian was the clear winner.  Evian bottled water was 60 ppm higher than the next highest ranking bottled waters.  And if you want a water with no alkalinity there are quite a few of the highly filter waters to choose from including, Dasani and Aquafina.

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Just What Is Mineral Water?

The FDA regulates all bottled water, including mineral water.  According to their standards, natural mineral waters must:

• Contain no less than 250 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids
• Come from a geologically and physically protected underground water source
• Contain no added minerals
• Have a constant level and relative proportions of minerals and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source

This means that manufacturers must bottled mineral water as it comes out of the earth. They cannot add any other minerals.

Where Does Mineral Water Come From?

Mineral water is water that has been sourced from a mineral spring where the water has absorbed naturally occurring minerals from the ground.  Some mineral water springs have gas that is infused into the water creating carbonation.  This is referred to as sparkling mineral water, while nongaseous mineral water is called flat or still.

Today there are over 4,000 different brands of mineral water on the market around the world. With its popularity, most of the sources of mineral water are commercially owned. This means that manufacturers can bottle their waters right at the source. However, there are still some areas in the United States, like Eureka Springs in Arkansas, where you can sip your mineral water right from the source for free.

The Minerals in Your Mineral Water

Mineral waters contain exactly what their name implies, minerals.  Some of the most common minerals that you’ll find in mineral water are sulfates, magnesium, sodium, zinc, calcium, bicarbonate, and a number of other trace minerals.  All of these minerals make up an important part of a balanced diet.

The calcium contained in many mineral waters is comparable to the calcium found in dairy products.  Some speculate that it may even be better than other forms of calcium because it is it accompanied by other minerals that aid its absorption.

The sulfates can help with digestion.  One of the more common elements found in the human body is sulfur.  The body has difficulty producing sulfates from most foods.  However, the body can easily utilize the sulfates in mineral water.

Magnesium is one of the minerals that the body can absorb from food. Extensive farming is depleting the magnesium in our soil. Because of this, it is less available in the produce we eat.  Drinking mineral water is an excellent way to supplement magnesium. Your body needs magnesium to control muscle and nerve function, regulate blood sugar levels, and maintain healthy blood pressure.

Mineral Water Versus Tap Water

You may be wondering if your tap water contains minerals similar to mineral water.  It may contain some, however, municipalities typically filter and purify their water.  This process can strip water of many of the naturally occurring minerals.  There are also other elements added to the water that wouldn’t be found in natural mineral water. These include fluoride and disinfecting agents like chlorine.

There are some situations where mineral water may not be the best water.  Some brands may contain a high amount of sodium.  People who have high blood pressure should check with a doctor before consuming large quantities of mineral water.

What’s Really in Your Mineral Water?

You can easily find a variety of mineral waters on your grocery store shelves.  Many may contain at least 25, and sometimes more, natural minerals that are easy for the body to absorb. Recent research shows that adding mineral water to a healthy diet is an effective way to increase your daily mineral intake.

If you’re a skeptic, you might not be ready to believe the hype about mineral water. It’s easy to put these waters to the test.  With a home testing kit, you can test your favorite brand of mineral water.  You can even test a few brands to find out which has the highest mineral content.  With a testing kit like the ones from TestAssured, you can quickly find out which brand has the most healthy minerals and the least contaminants.

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An Ounce of Prevention

One of the simplest things you can do to help prevent catching a cold or the flu is to drink plenty of fluids.  It may sound like an old wives’ tale, but making sure you stay hydrated really is the first line of defense to beat the dreaded winter bugs.  A recent study showed that proper hydration may increase an immune response that enables your body to protect itself when exposed to germs and viruses.

One of the reasons people can get dehydrated this time of the year is because the air is drier, especially the heated indoor air.  This not only contributes to dehydration, but it can also dry out your eyes, nose, and mouth. Drinking water, herbal tea, and juice can all help to keep your body hydrated and functioning properly. Your body needs to be healthy and strong if it’s going to fight off cold germs and flu viruses.

Drink Water for Immunity

Drinking water is important for every function of the body. Keeping the body functioning at its best is an important part of keeping the immune system strong.  One of the ways that drinking water helps your body fight infection is by keeping the mucous membranes in the nose moist.  The moisture helps trap infectious particles before they can make their way to your lungs and get you sick.  If your nose is dry, the membranes aren’t nearly as effective.

How Much Water to Drink to Prevent the Flu

The minimum recommendation for drinking water to prevent the flu is the standard eight, 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day.  Studies have shown that those who drink any less than that are at a higher risk for catching the flu and having flu-like symptoms such as sinus issues or a sore throat.  It was also reported that those who drank more than eight glasses of water after catching the flu or a cold were able to recover more quickly.

What Kind of Water Should You Drink?

While any fluid is going to help hydrate you, some are better than others.  The best choice, if you are drinking more fluids to help prevent illness, is plain unflavored water.  Depending on how you are feeling, you may want to heat up the water or add ice.  The steam from a hot cup of water can help to sooth congested sinuses while ice water may be more soothing for a sore throat.  You can also add some lemon and honey –  lemon thins mucus which can help relieve congestion and honey has antibacterial properties.

While fruit juice may taste good, you should drink it in moderation because of the high sugar content. Excess sugar can cause inflammation which may make you feel worse.  Citrus juices, like orange juice, can actually aggravate sore throats.  If you’re really craving something with more flavor than water, try an herbal tea.  Many brands even offer special formulations to help with cold and flu symptoms.  You should avoid caffeinated drinks, like coffee and colas, and alcohol, as these tend to cause dehydration.

Water Quality Counts

If you are drinking water to prevent the flu, you want to be sure that the water you are drinking is safe.  If your immune system is weakened due to an illness, your body may not be able to fight contaminants.  Poor quality water can contain anything from bacteria to pesticides and high chlorine levels that could leave you feeling worse.  Testing your water is easy with a home testing kit like the ones sold by TestAssured.  In a matter of minutes for most tests, you can make sure you are drinking quality water that could help keep you healthy and prevent the flu or a cold.

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Hydration is important to your athletic performance whether you are a weekend warrior, professional athlete, or just a leisure walker.  However, depending on your level of exertion, you may need more water than you realize.  It doesn’t matter if you are an 11-year old on the soccer field or a 30-something hitting the gym, staying properly hydrated means drinking the right amount before, during, and after exercise.

Water is an essential nutrient that our bodies use to maintain blood volume, regulate temperature, and maintain muscular activity. To help prevent overheating during exercise, the body sweats to remove excess heat.  As beads of sweat form on the skin, they evaporate to help the body maintain its optimal temperature.  In order to sweat, you need to be properly hydrated, which means replacing the fluids lost while sweating.

Dehydration Decreases Athletic Performance

Often, people do not realize just how much fluid is lost while sweating during exercise.  If you aren’t replenishing your fluid levels, you may increase your risk of heat-related illness, muscle function becomes hindered, and athletic performance decreases. Performance can begin to decline when the body has lost as little as a 2-3% of its fluids. Not only will dehydration impact your physical performance, but it can also cause a decline in your mental capacity as well.  Some of the symptoms that can occur from dehydration during athletic activity include increased core temperature, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting, headache, fatigue, and muscle cramps.

The risk of dehydration becomes even greater if your activity takes place in hot and humid conditions. The humidity makes it more difficult for your body to cool itself by sweating.  This can prevent your body from being able to maintain it’s proper temperature, creating a need for more fluids.

Preventing Dehydration

While some athletes like to train their bodies to deal with adverse conditions, it is not possible to train your body to fight dehydration.  Drinking more fluids and eating foods with a high water content is the best way to stay properly hydrated during exercise and athletic activity.  If you are planning on strenuous exercise or activity in high heat and humidity, you should begin hydrating the night before. This should be followed by regular hydration during the activity, followed by the consumption of more fluids afterward.

The American Council on Exercise has the following hyrdration recommendations to help maintain athletic performance:

How Much to Drink	When to Drink
17 to 20 ounces	2 to 3 hours before exercise
8 ounces	20 to 30 minutes before exercise or during warmup
7 to 10 ounces	Every 10 to 30 minutes during exercise
8 ounces	Within 30 minutes after exercising

Estimating Your Fluid Losses

The best way to stay hydrated is to know how much your body sweats.  This can help you understand the amount of fluid you are losing that needs to be replaced.  You can work with a sports dietitian to determine your sweat rate or you can measure it yourself.

1. Weigh yourself immediately before you begin to exercise.
2. Perform your normal exercise routine.
3. Towel off any excess sweat and weigh yourself immediately after you finish exercising while wearing the same clothes from your previous weigh-in.
4. Calculate the change in your weight from before and after exercise. This gives you the amount of fluid lost that needs to be replaced.

Can You Drink Too Much?

One concern that some athletes have is overhydrating. This can also have a negative impact on your performance.  It is possible to drink so much water after exercising that you can become ill.  Drinking more fluids than your body has lost can cause a dilution of your sodium levels.  Symptoms of this condition, known as hyponatremia, include disorientation, headaches, and nausea. Knowing your sweat rate can help you avoid drinking too much after exercise.

What Is the Best Fluid to Drink?

With so many varieties of water and sports drinks, you may be left wondering what is your best option for optimal performance.  While sports drinks are helpful to replace electrolytes lost through sweating, you can’t go wrong with plain water especially for short, low-intensity activities. Make sure that the water you are drinking is safe, quality drinking water.  There are easy to use tests available that can show you exactly what is in your water in a matter of minutes. These tests work for bottled water, tap water, and well water.  This is especially important if you’re exercise takes you into nature – always test the water before you start guzzling from that pristine looking stream.

To improve performance during more intense workouts you may want to include an endurance drink. These drinks typically contain carbohydrates and electrolytes that muscles need during prolonged exercise.

As you can see, staying well hydrated is an important part of any athletic training plan. We all know that bodies need water, but sometimes we forget that we need to replenish that water while exercising.  If you want to perform at your best, make sure to increase your fluid intake before, during, and after exercise.

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