However, which of these claims are true and which ones are simply no more than clever advertisers stretching the truth to sell more products?
Water enthusiast, Luke George, has identified the different types of water and helps you pick which water you think is best for your specific needs.
Bottled water
Bottled water is portable purified water that you can easily and conveniently buy whenever you’re thirsty. It is a very convenient way to access clean safe drinking water.
Some of the large water brands have admitted that their bottled water is nothing more than filtered tap water.
The biggest issue is the environmental cost. The creation of bottled water is insanely wasteful when it takes about 3 litres of water just to produce 1 litre.
Distilled water
Distilled water is sometimes called demineralized or deionized water. It is water that has everything removed including ions and minerals. It’s the purest form of water that you can get. It literally has nothing in it (good and bad). This means it has no contaminants, bacteria, minerals or nutrients.
Its high level of purity makes it the water of choice in places like laboratories and factories. It is also good if you want to drink water that is completely pure.
There are no harmful risks associated with distilled water because it is so clean. However, some health reports suggest that it might not be best to always drink water that is completely empty of healthy minerals and nutrients.
Tap water
Tap water is the type of water that comes out of your water faucet. In some countries, it is usually supplied and controlled by the government or sourced through private boreholes.
It is generally safe for things like cooking, cleaning and laundry.
Hydrogen water
This is water that contains hydrogen molecules that act as powerful antioxidants. The claim is these molecules are capable of helping your body neutralize harmful free radicals that contribute to disease development, reduce inflammation and slow down aging.
The hype around hydrogen water is based on a series of studies conducted on mice. The studies appear to show that this type of water has mild anti-inflammatory effects, particularly on the development of diseases like Parkinson’s.
Alkaline water
Alkaline Water is water at a pH level of 8 and above, which is higher than the pH of regular water. It has become more popular because research shows that an alkaline diet is generally good for health.
The human body thrives when it is able to maintain a slightly alkaline pH. Consuming alkaline water may be able to help in this regard.
Boiled water
Boiling your water is generally one of the cheapest and most effective ways to purify your water. This is because putting water in temperatures above 185° F (85° C) will kill most pathogens within a few minutes.
It is a great way to purify water that is not heavily contaminated. Boiling water will not purify water that is contaminated with things like lead, pesticides, nitrates and other chemicals.
Which is the best water to drink?
The healthiest type of water is technically hydrogen water because of the potential health benefits of the antioxidants it contains.
However, the truth is that even the healthiest type of water can only ever have minor health benefits. Hydrogen water and any other type of water on this list will not be able to repair an unhealthy diet or lifestyle.
9 thoughts on “Best water to drink: Ultimate guide to drinking safe”