The Greek physician Archigenes, who lived in the 1st century BC, was the first to declare that the healing power of groundwater lies in their composition. He even systematized them, dividing into four types. Today, everyone already knows that the strength of water is directly related to its content.
What is mineral water
This is drinking water with a high content of salts and trace elements. Its properties help maintain the body in good shape and treat a number of diseases. Bottled, it should include up to 1000 solid particles per liter (million particles of its own weight) - that is, mineralization must be higher than 1 g / l or contain the number of active trace elements not lower than balneological norms (new Russian GOST). Mineral water is different from other types of bottled water by the constant number of different elements in the source. They are delivered to the surface of the earth with the help of boreholes, the depth of which can reach two kilometers and even more. On the territory of the Russian Federation today there are more than a thousand sources with mineral waters.
What groups is it divided into
The increased concentration of biologically active substances and mineral salts in the water makes it possible to divide water into three groups.
- Medical - 8-10 g / l.
- Therapeutic table mineral water -2-8 g / l.
- Natural mineral (dining room) is filled with mineral salts of not more than 1 g / l.
Table water is drunk in any quantity. It does not have a taste, foreign smells, pleasant and soft, has a neutral composition, which cannot harm the body if it is consumed excessively, unlike medicinal and medicinal-table water, which should be drunk only after consulting with a doctor.
Non mineral water
Incompetence in this matter often leads to the fact that the buyer, not paying attention to the price tag with a description of the goods, acquires a product that is completely useless to his body. Mineralized and carbonated mineral water have significant differences. They are just different. And the manufacturer must indicate this in the information on the label. All active substances and minerals are added artificially to mineralized water. It is simply impossible to recreate the natural balance of the substances of real mineral waters, so you can certainly drink such “unnatural” water, but the body should not expect any special benefits from it.
Water classes of natural origin
We found that table mineral water has a certain concentration of minerals, is absolutely safe for health, suitable for daily use and has no side effects. Now it should be noted that mineral waters are different in composition, influence on the human body and are divided into different classes.
Hydrocarbonate sulfate
She is a mineral-organic medicinal dining room. Helps treat kidney disease. Of the most common, it is Borjomi, Narzan. “Borjomi” contains a number of microelements useful to the body, there is chlorine, sodium and a large amount of calcium, there is sulfur, potassium, magnesium, fluorine, boron, silicon. There is also a small proportion of titanium, aluminum and strontium. In a small dose, this medicinal water even contains sulfur. The medicinal table mineral water “Narzan” has an equally valuable composition. Its base is magnesium, calcium and sodium. In lower concentrations there are strontium, manganese, zinc, boron and iron.
Chloride Sulphate
It is indicated for chronic intestinal pathologies with complications in its reflex activity. This healing water is very useful for obesity, diabetes and biliary tract diseases. Especially popular in this category are "Essentuki-17" and "Yekaterinofskaya" water. The water tastes soda-salty, and the smell is completely unpleasant, something resembling a rotten egg, but the mineralization (and hence the healing properties) is high, and the composition includes boron, bromine, iron, arsenic and many other biologically active elements.
Hydrocarbonate Sulphate Calcium
This medicinal-table mineral water is prescribed for chronic intestinal pathologies, stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers, as well as a number of other diseases, in particular for enterocolitis and colitis. This class also includes Borjomi, Narzan, Essentuki No. 20 and Smirnovskaya water.
“Smirnovskaya” is a medicinal-table water with a small fraction of mineralization (3-4 g / l) rich in sodium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, sulfate and bicarbonate. Like other waters of this class, it can be consumed for a long time (but only in certain quantities) and is indicated exclusively for medicinal purposes. It is important to exclude the use of this water in exacerbation of the above diseases.
"Essentuki No. 20" - is distinguished by its unique origin. The value of water lies in its exceptional natural purity, which does not require any additional purifications. It is obtained only in the Caucasian Mineral Waters. Due to its excellent taste and natural origin of water, it can be used without any restrictions. The composition contains sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, as well as chloride, sulfate and bicarbonate. It is claimed that daily consumption of this water helps to cope even with such a delicate problem as impotence.
Hydrocarbonate Chloride Sulphate
It is prescribed for such pathologies in the body as reduced gastric secretion and gastritis. Among these therapeutic waters are "Essentuki No. 17", "Essentuki No. 4", "Narzan", "Azov". The composition of the Essentuki No. 4 mineral water is characterized by a rather dense concentration of mineral salts (7-10 g / l). It is saturated with bicarbonates, potassium, sodium and chlorides, contains calcium, sulfates and magnesium. To preserve all medicinal properties, water is bottled directly at the place of its extraction. Using a special mineral pipeline, it passes through three stages of filtration, absolutely not in contact with air, for the complete safety of all volatile substances in it.
Bicarbonate water
Depending on the method of its use, it stimulates or slows down gastric secretion. Most often used to treat urolithiasis. Hydrocarbonate waters are ideal for those who love sports, as they help to quickly restore the reserve level of alkali in the body with increased muscle work. Drinking them throughout the day is not recommended, but a few sips before starting a workout and a couple of glasses at the end of it will help the body recover quickly. The most famous brands are Borjomi and Essentuki No. 17.
Sulphate water
Helps in the work of the digestive tract. It is used for chronic hepatitis, diabetes, obesity. The composition of mineral water includes calcium, sodium, magnesium, chlorine. This so-called bitter water promotes the production of bile and the removal of harmful cholesterol and toxic substances from the body. Of the most popular in this class, “Essentuki No. 4”, “Borjomi”, “Essentuki No. 17”, “Smirnovskaya”, “Yekaterinofskaya”, “Berezovskaya” and other brands are distinguished.
How to choose the right water
Absolutely all table mineral water has healing properties. Its names indicate a number of qualities that affect the body in a special way. This should be known and taken into account when buying. So, for example, Essentuki No. 4 water is drunk according to a specially defined pattern. About 30-40 minutes before the first meal in the morning (on an empty stomach) one glass is drunk, the same volume should be drunk before lunch, and the third can be consumed in the evening, immediately after coming home from work. During the time that dinner is prepared, the water will have time to assimilate and prepare the digestive tract for work. If you can’t observe the scheme completely, you can leave only its morning and evening receptions. The main thing here is compliance with an important rule: drink water for half an hour, at most an hour, before meals. The cumulative effect is important here and in a month the results of a positive effect on the body will certainly become visible.
Table mineral waters of Russia are on sale in a very large assortment. Below we list the main ones that taste good and are most often used as a daily table drink.
- “Karmadon” - refers to the healing, but often used as a dining room, has a high content of bicarbonates.
- “Kuyalnik” - mined from a source located in Odessa, has a pleasant taste and helps in the treatment of many chronic pathologies.
- “Alma-Ata” - its source is located near the Ili River, near the city of Almaty, is used as a dining room, but is especially useful for diseases of the liver and stomach.
“Borjomi” is a world famous sparkling mineral water that tastes great and quenches thirst well.
- “Kievskaya” - processed with silver ions, produced at a pilot plant, in good demand with customers.
- “Chisinau” - low-saline water, ideal for daily use, useful due to its sulfate-bicarbonate-magnesium-sodium-calcium composition.
“Narzan” is another world-famous table mineral water, the spring is located in Kislovodsk. It is perfectly refreshing and highly appreciated by consumers due to a number of healing properties.
- "Polyustrovskaya" - known since 1718. The source is located near the city of St. Petersburg. Due to its high iron content, it quickly increases and normalizes the level of hemoglobin in the blood, and fights against loss of strength and anemia.
- "Kherson" - another ferruginous water, slightly mineralized, can be consumed daily, but it is especially recommended for loss of strength and anemia.
- “Kharkovskaya” - is available in two types, No. 1 and No. 2, effective in case of metabolic disorders, has a somewhat unusual taste, is good after serving hot dishes.
- “Essentuki” - the famous table sparkling mineral water, the numbering on the bottles occurs according to its sources of origin, which are located in the famous resort and in the Stavropol Territory.
- “Essentuki No. 20” is mineralized water, has a sour taste of carbon dioxide, and is positioned as a medical and dining room.
- “Obolonskaya” - water with excellent taste, chloride-hydro-hydrocarbonate-sodium-magnesium, an excellent option as a table.
- “Sairme” - often used for obesity and poor metabolism, tastes good, the source is located in the resort of the same name in Georgia.
High-quality table mineral water must comply with a number of standards.
- Get only from a natural source and spill in the immediate vicinity.
- Be officially registered.
- Only sold in its original form. Without the use of other cleaning methods. The use of filters is permissible only in exceptional situations, for example, in the presence of undesirable substances in the composition and to remove mechanical impurities.
You can distinguish quality mineral water from ordinary drinking water with the help of GOST or TU, which each manufacturer must indicate on the label:
- the old GOST 13273-88 and the new GOST 54316-2011 - this is real natural mineral water;
- well number and TU 9185 (other figures may vary) also indicate water quality;
- the inscription TU 0131 indicates that we have ordinary drinking water.