The well-known expression of nutritionists: “We are what we eat” can be rephrased in relation to water. Our health directly depends on what we drink. Unfortunately, the quality of drinking water is a major concern worldwide. The condition of water supply systems makes it increasingly necessary to resort to the installation of powerful filters or to the use of purchased bottled water. What water do we call mineral? How does water salinity affect human health?
What water can be called mineral?
Ordinary drinking water, which we collect from the tap, or buy in bottles, can also be considered, to some extent, mineral. It also contains salts and various chemical elements in different proportions. Nevertheless, under a certain name it is customary to mean water saturated with useful organic substances in varying degrees of concentration. The main indicator that determines the chemical composition of the main source of life, its suitability for drinking, is the total salinity of the water or, in other words, the dry residue. This is an indicator of the amount of organic substances in one liter of liquid (mg / l).
Sources of Mineralization
Mineralization of water can occur both naturally, and industrial, artificially. In nature, underground rivers take in their composition valuable salts, trace elements and other particles from the rocks through which they pass.
Natural water can be considered, which is not subjected to any technological processing, extracted only from artesian sources, without changing its chemical composition.
Pure drinking springs, alas, have become a rarity. Humanity is increasingly forced to use special facilities to clean them from contamination with harmful substances. Modern filtration methods can extract usable water from virtually any liquid. As a result of the application of such technologies, it sometimes becomes almost distilled and also harmful for constant use in food. Artificially purified water undergoes repeated mineralization and is filled with the necessary composition in an unnatural way.
The degree of mineralization of water
Water with a dry residue below 1000 mg / l is considered fresh, an indicator of most rivers and lakes. It is this threshold that is considered the highest for drinking water, at this limit a person does not feel discomfort and unpleasant salty or bitter taste. Mineralization of water above 1000 mg / l, in addition to changing its taste, reduces the ability to quench thirst, and sometimes has a harmful effect on the body.
The dry residue below 100 mg / l is a low degree of mineralization. Such water has an unpleasant taste, causes metabolic disturbances during prolonged use.
Balneological scientists have deduced the optimal indicator of saturation with organic substances - from 300 to 500 mg / l. A dry residue of 500 to 100 mg / l is considered elevated, but acceptable.
Consumer properties of water
According to their consumer properties, water should be divided into suitable for daily use, and that which is used for therapeutic purposes.
- Artificially purified water of all substances is suitable for drinking and cooking. It will not bring much harm, except that it will not bring absolutely any benefit. Those who, fearing infections, consume only such a liquid, run the risk of getting a deficiency of healthy salts and minerals. They will have to be replenished artificially.
- Table water is the most favorable for daily use, purified from dirt and harmful impurities and moderately saturated with everything necessary.
- The medicinal-table waters already differ by the prefix “medicinally”. Take them as a medicine or for prevention. That is, you can drink them all, but moderately and not constantly, but you can’t use them for cooking.
- Purely healing mineral waters are usually taken only as prescribed by a doctor, in most cases as a procedure at a balneological resort. High mineralization of water makes its use unacceptable in a wide range.
Water classification by composition
In the mineral society, it is customary to call healing and medicinal-table water. The level of organic substances, minerals and gases dissolved in them is significantly different and depends on the location of the source. The main characteristic of water is its ionic composition, the general list of which includes about 50 different ions. The main mineralization of water is represented by six basic elements: potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium cations; chloride, sulfate and bicarbonate anions. According to the predominance of certain elements, mineral waters are divided into three large main groups: hydrocarbonate, sulfate and chloride.
In most cases, in its pure form, a separate group of water is rarely represented in nature. Most often, mixed sources are found: chloride-sulfate, sulfate-hydrocarbonate, etc. In turn, the groups are divided into classes according to the predominance of certain ions. There are calcium, magnesium or mixed waters.
Just drink and be healthy
Mineralization of water is widely used for medical purposes, both for internal use and for external use, in the form of bathtubs and other water procedures.
- Hydrocarbonate water is used for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive system associated with high acidity. They help get rid of heartburn, cleanse the body of sand and stones.
- Sulfates also stabilize the intestines. The main area of their influence is the liver, bile ducts. They recommend treatment with such waters for diabetes, obesity, hepatitis, obstruction of the biliary tract.
- The presence of chlorides eliminates disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, stabilizes the functioning of the stomach and pancreas.
Drinking water of high salinity can cause significant damage to health if used incorrectly. A person with digestive and metabolic problems should take these natural medicines as prescribed and under the supervision of medical staff.