Mineral Water Health FACTS

One question I often get asked in regards to drinking fluids is this ‘Is Mineral water healthy?’

To explain my answer let’s first look at what mineral water actually is and secondly what health benefits does it have if any.

So firstly, what is Mineral Water?

Mineral water is simply water from a mineral spring which contains various minerals such as salts and sulphur compounds.

Also it is important to note that there is strict and specific regulations in many countries (including Australia) in regards to what can actually be labeled and sold as mineral water.

What are the benefits of Mineral Water?

Minerals Without Calories

Drinking sparkling mineral water is a way to obtain minerals without also consuming calories, as noted by the Magnesium Online Library.

Sparkling mineral water usually contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and sometimes sodium, the most common minerals in groundwater. Some sparkling mineral water contains chromium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, selenium or other minerals, all of which are important for health.

Mineral water is the best source of minerals in water other than some tap and well water. Some tap water, however, contains fluoride and chlorine, which is a health concern for many people and debated regularly amongst experts.
(source: www.livestrong.com)

Calcium for the Lactose Intolerant

People unable to consume most dairy products because of lactose intolerance can obtain calcium from mineral water. A review of studies published in Osteoporosis International in 2000 determined that absorption of calcium from calcium-rich mineral water appears to be at least comparable to, and possibly better than, that from dairy products.
(source: www.livestrong.com)

Lowering Cholesterol

Drinking sparkling mineral water can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, and increase the good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, according to a study published in 2004 by the Journal of Nutrition. This study focused on a group of postmenopausal women drinking sodium-rich carbonated mineral water.
(source: www.livestrong.com)

So to sum it up you can see that there are many health benefits of drinking mineral water so in answer to the question “Is mineral water ok to drink” the answer is YES.
Not only is it ok to drink but also there are many health benefits associated with drinking mineral water.

Please note though that a balanced diet should get you all of vitamins and minerals your body needs. Also tap water is considerably less expensive to drink compared to mineral and bottled water. The most important part about water is that you maintain hydration through out the day through whichever source suits your needs the best. For most adults the target amount of water per day to maintain hydration is around 2 litres or around 9 cups of water.