OVERVIEW
Water is the most essential substance for the survival of living beings on earth. Human bodies are made up of 70% water. It helps in various metabolic processes such as digestion of food, removing toxins from the body, carrying nutrients and oxygen to different body parts. It contains different types of electrolytes and thus helps in maintaining osmotic balance. It exists in various forms in oceans, seas, rivers, glaciers, ponds and groundwater.
There are several types of drinking water which have come in markets. It is different on the basis of origin, consistency, composition and treatment.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRINKING WATER
The different types of drinking water are:
- Tap water
- Mineral water
- Spring water
- Sparkling water
- Distilled water
- Well water
- Flavored water
TAP WATER
The water which comes directly from tap is called tap water. It comes in water through pipelines which is taken either from a dam or a river. It is used for performing household works such as cleaning, cooking, washing, gardening, etc. But tap water is not always suitable for drinking. It needs to maintain some municipality standards. Or one should use water purifiers at home for water purification.
MINERAL WATER
The water which is obtained from underground sources is rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium and manganese, etc. this water is called mineral water. There cannot be addition of any other minerals but it is subjected to processes like iron removal or carbonation before packaging. But it contains some micro-organisms in it.
SPRING WATER
Spring water is the water which is obtained from natural springs which comes from underground source. Sometimes this rainwater collects underground and then comes on the surface as springs. This water is mostly free from contaminants as it is from the underground source. So it is safe for drinking. It has natural and refreshing taste.
SPARKLING WATER
It is also known as soda water or carbonated water. There is addition of some carbon dioxide in it under pressure, thus making it frizzy or sparkling.
DISTILLED WATER
It is the other name of demineralised water. In the process, minerals and salts are removed by distillation and reverse osmosis. Distilled water is the purest form of water but it is not advisable for drinking as there are no minerals in it.
WELL WATER
Well water is the main source of water supply in rural areas. It is not commonly seen in urban areas. During rain, water flows down the cracks in soil and gets accumulated underground. This becomes the underground water reservoir. But the water can be polluted with chemicals present in soil and bacteria. The water can contain some of the harmful chemicals like arsenic which causes metal poisoning. It depends on the locality of the well.
FLAVORED WATER
Flavored water is the water which is sweetened by adding either sugar or artificial sweeteners. So it tastes a little bit sweet. It is a tasty alternative to just plain water. There can be infusion of fruits or vegetables also. Due to presence of sugar, it is not good for diabetes and obese people.
WHAT IS BLACK WATER?
Black water is the water in which there is addition of fulvic acid, some vitamins or minerals. Magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium, etc. are the minerals which are present in it. It is also known as fulvic water or natural alkaline mineral water. Its pH ranges from 8 to 9 and is thus less acidic than other bottled waters.
Fulvic acid has been used in Ayurvedic medicine from thousands of years. Shilajit is one of the most potent medicines in ayurveda and it contains 15-20% of fulvic acid.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BLACK WATER?
Due to alkaline nature and presence of different minerals in it, it has various benefits as compared to other waters:
- It helps in facilitating the growth of gut bacteria and thus improves digestion process. It helps in hyperacidity, bloating and indigestion.
- It maintains electrolyte balance in body.
- It helps in absorption of minerals by the body cells.
- It provides antioxidants to the body and thus reduces free radicals and cures inflammatory problems.
- It inhibits tangle formation of tau filaments. These tangles are considered to be the major factor of neurodegeneration. Thus it helps in protection against brain disorders like alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
- It increases immunity power of body. thus, keeps allergic problems at bay.
- It also improves fertility and helps in increasing testosterone levels in males. It increases male sperm count.
- It maintains sugar level in blood and thus good for diabetics.