REDUCE TOXIC EXPOSURE

Water

Most municipal water treatment plants treat water with chlorine and/or chlorine dioxide, which disinfects the water but can form unintended organic and inorganic by-products which may pose health risks. According to a study in 1988 by the US Cancer Institute, “Growing evidence shows chlorine in drinking water may cause long term dangers greater than that which it eliminates”.

The EPA estimates that 1 in 5 Americans consumes tap water that violates EPA safety standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Regulations can be inconsistent and vary from place to place. There’s no question that we need to drink lots of water…it keeps you hydrated, flushes your system and can even increase the neuron transmitters that signal fat release from fat cells! So what water should you drink? Basically I have tried them all – distilled, spring, and alkaline bottled water…charcoal and reverse osmosis from a filter system…and I still don’t have the answer.

When choosing the water best for you, keep in mind that all companies that produce water are required to provide you with information about its source, testing results, etc., but this information is not always listed on the bottle. For example, it was pointed out to me by a supermarket manager that the water I was drinking (Zephyrhills) contained sodium, which was not the case for other bottled waters I checked. This is probably not an issue for most people, but I am on a sodium restricted diet and never imagined I had to check my water for sodium! The lesson is, read labels – and if there are no labels, do your research.

Another option for purifying water is filters – you can get them for individual sinks, for the shower, as well as systems that cover the entire house. We opted for a whole house filter which has worked well for us. There are many different types to choose from, and they can be purchased from specialty stores and catalogs, as well as places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.

I have heard good and bad about each type. If you contact any of the following companies, who sell a variety of different type filters, they would be able to provide more information so you can determine which would best suit your needs.

www.healthyhome.com
www.gaiam.com
www.realgoods.com
www.abundantearth.com

UPDATE: A recent article in The Healthy Edge magazine suggests that nearly 90% of all surface water contains pesticide residues. What is of concern is that the EPA currently checks for only 80 toxins, leaving many industrial and agricultural pollutants untested and unregulated.There is also concern about additives such as chlorine, which has been suspected to increase cancer risk, and fluoride which may discolor teeth, as well as having been linked to hip and bone fractures, osteoporosis, arthritis and bone cancer.

The magazine recommends using bottled water that is from artesian wells or other pure sources. And check the label to be sure it does not contain fluoride - if it does it must be listed on the label. They suggest that the most popular filters for home use are activated charcoal, which remove chlorine, mercury, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some insecticides. Carbon block filters and ceramic post filters also prevent contamination by parasites. Reverse osmosis removes a wide variety of contaminants from water, and is considered to be soft water and recommended for bathing, skin care and hair care. Distilled water is also considered to be "soft". Because the distillation process does not remove volatile solvents and VOCs, there is debate about their health benefits. And because reverse osmosis and distilled water contain no minerals, it may be necessary to take a mineral supplement if drinking distilled or reverse osmosis water exclusively.

If you are concerned about the water you drink and use in your home there are many companies that do water testing - a web search or the Yellow Pages will help you to find a reputable company in your area.

And don't forget about muscle testing - it won't tell you what is in your water, but can tell you if the water you are drinking is compatible with your body and if it is making your body stronger or weaker. Click here for more details: Muscle Testing