Mineral Water vs. Desalinated Water: Which is better?
Hydration is vital for our body. It helps us stay on top of our game during onsite work. However, this can be hard if you're on your feet all day performing daily tasks in the field. Here’s why we’ve put together essential information you need to know about staying hydrated.
The Dangers of Not Drinking Enough Water
Our body is made up of water, and every system needs it. These symptoms may be obvious but here are some of the signs that your body is not getting enough water:
- dry mouth
- dizziness/light headedness
- muscle cramps
- dark yellow colored urine
Dehydration occurs when you’re losing more water than what you’re taking in. The severity of dehydration may vary and may result in the following:
- Shrank brain blood vessels
- Kidney failure
- Heat stroke
- Heart Failure
How Hydration keeps you on top of your game
Here are some of the important advantages of drinking enough water:
- Well-regulated body temperature
- Body is well oxygenated
- Healthier skin
- Better digestion
- Normalized blood pressure
- Maintained electrolyte balance
- Lubricated joints
- Added mental clarity
Mineral Water VS. Desalinated Water
The main difference between desalinated and mineral water is the process through which each is made. Mineral water is a naturally occurring water source, often rich in sulfur, magnesium, manganese, and calcium. These minerals are essential to our body's health but cannot be produced by our bodies. On one hand, desalinated water is produced by removing the salt from seawater, using a process called reverse osmosis. You may think that the only difference between mineral and desalinated water is the source but there’s more to it than that.
Possible drawbacks of drinking desalinated water
Surprisingly, desalinated water is completely safe to drink. However, toxicologist, pediatrician, and expert for public health Prof. Yona Amitai of the Bar Ilan University in Israel points out that desalinated seawater is low on four of the essential minerals that are vital to human health – calcium, magnesium, fluoride, and iodine. These are eliminated during the desalination process, along with the salts.
Why Mineral water may benefit you more than Desalinated water
Desalinated water has a higher concentration of sodium and chloride compared to that of natural mineral water. In fact, according to WHO (World Health Organization), one bottle of desalinated water contains as much as 12 times the recommended daily intake of sodium. The high sodium content makes desalinated water unsuitable for those who have high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney problems since this could exacerbate their symptoms.
Meanwhile, mineral water is rich in minerals essential for good health. It is also shown to have a positive effect on bone density, lower blood pressure and help prevent cardiovascular disease. It also has electrolytes that help keep the body functioning properly.
Simple additional tips from the ES:ME crew on what you can do to stay hydrated:
- Spread out your daily intake of fluids over several small sips throughout the course of your day rather than drinking down large quantities at one time
- If possible, opt for water with electrolytes and minerals instead of reaching for sugary energy drinks
- As much as possible, lessen alcohol and caffeine intake since these fluids tend to pull water from the body and promote dehydration
- Do not forget to bring a personal water bottle or container on site, especially when there is a long work shift ahead of you
- Also, getting fluids from your fruits and vegetables will contribute to the overall hydration of your body