Water: Alkaline, Raw, Crystal-Infused, Sparkling or Curryed?
You are what you drink. The new trend of raw water banks its entire business on this, tapping into the desire for greater unity with nature. But is it safe?
The practice of water purification, after all, is as old as our earliest civilizations and continues in even the most impoverished of communities (boiling water for tea, coffee, or to be consumed later at a cooler temp is a basic survival skill).
So before you dive into the latest -- er, oldest? -- fad, consider these benefits and possible risks.
Alkaline water.
A few years ago, celebrities like Beyoncé, Julia Roberts and Miranda Kerr were all hype about alkaline water. Diddy and Mark Wahlberg invested in AQUAHydrate, and reportedly it's one of the few things that both presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama agree on.
The claims of this filtered-yet-mineralized gem (rich in such nutrients as calcium, potassium, and magnesium) include neutralizing acid reflux, cancer prevention, increased metabolism, and the oxygenation of tissues (anti-aging and even colon-cleansing through antioxidants).
The price tag often doubles the cost of "regular-degular" bottled water, as it goes through an ionization process to pull out the most beneficial minerals. An at-home alternative is to add a squeeze of lemon to your distilled water, particularly first thing in the a.m.
Risks: Too much alkaline may throw off the body's ideal pH balance, causing nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching and tingling in the face, reports LiveStrong. Scientists are also skeptical about the small number of people used for studies.
Photo courtesy of VitaJuwel's Instagram
Crystal-infused water.
This isn't Patek water, but it's close. It's a movement that Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr also got behind, using it as an ingredient in her Kora beauty line.
Crystal-infused water, or "gemwater" uses the "subtle radiation" of crystals in a specialized container that harnesses the healing powers of the crystal, while keeping it separate from the water, explains seller VitaJuwel. "Almost all of our customers report a difference in taste."
Their vessels, like the ViA bottle pictured above come in at around at least $80.00, but that one bottle, apparently, will last you for years as you sip from your personal, transportable fountain of youth.
Risks: Scientists will most likely point to psychologists for this one, saying it's all in the mind. There hasn't been enough evidence otherwise. However, there also haven't been any reports of harmful effects. Jewel on.
Raw water.
Raw water is the new trend for 2018, and coming in at $36.99 for 2.5 gallons of completely untreated, unfiltered, unsterilized, "pure," H2O, everyone's wondering if it's worth it.
"The earth constantly offers the purest substance on the planet as spring water," according to one raw water seller, Live Water. "We celebrate this ancient life source that humanity flourished from, since the beginning of our existence. We trust it's perfect just the way it is."
Only thing is, there's 7 billion of us now, and apparently, much of that water contains poop.
No matter, says Live Water. "Living spring water is the key to unlocking a perfect micro-biome balance."
Bill Marler, a food safety expert isn't falling for it. “Almost everything conceivable that can make you sick can be found in water," he told Business Insider. “The diseases that killed our great-grandparents were completely forgotten about.”
Live Water counters that it sources batches from the cleanest point of origin, however (thus the expense), and has reported no illnesses.
“Tap water? You’re drinking toilet water with birth control drugs in them,” the company's founder, Mukhande Singh told the New YorkTimes. “Chloramine, and on top of that, they’re putting in fluoride. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it’s a mind-control drug that has no benefit to our dental health.”
Home-filtered water.
Although you can alkaline and raw treat your water at home now, by "home-filtered" we mean the more common water filtration system that you may attach to your faucet or use in a pitcher. You know, Steph Curry's new favorite thing:
These bad boys you may get from a convenient store for like $30.00 and are known to reduce the amount chlorine found in straight-from-the-tap water. It also improves the smell and taste, and the reduction in bacteria protects the gastrointestinal system, especially for children.
Risks: It's not 100 percent effective. There may be heavy metals and bacteria present.
Sparkling water.
Carbonated water became the alt-soda, and therefore fitness experts served it up as a way to lose weight.
It is sightly acidic, due to the process of infusing distilled water with the carbon dioxide that makes it bubbly, however, it's also been reported to improve swallowing and reduce constipation and indigestion.
The brands vary in cost, costing dollars more than bottled water, which 40 percent of the time is likely plain old tap wrapped in plastic, according to the FilterButler.
Risks: Be careful of sugary versions of sparkling water, however; it may lead to some tooth decay. Also, it may trigger a person's Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Whatever you drink, remember our bodies are 60-70 percent water, so it's essential to keep it level. Quite often, many of us believe that we are hungry, when really we're dehydrated. Thirst also fools us when we are ill, or experiencing exercise fatigue.
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