Water an essential
nutrient: -
Water,
next to oxygen is the most important constituent of life. Our body is composed
of 55.78% of water, depending on age, sex and body size. Water is present in
each cell of our body, tissues and organs and thus vital for life to exist.We
can live for a few weeks without food but only a few days without water.Safe drinking water is essential to humans and other living organisms even through it provide no calories or organic nutrients. Water is
the medium through which all chemical reaction takes places in our body. It`s functions in digestion, absorption, circulation of nutrients to different parts
of the body and removal of waste products .Further water helps in maintaining
electrolyte balance of the body and play a role in the maintenance of body temperature.
There is saying “Change your water, change your life” To
function well, human body needs alkalinity. The quality of water can be
determined by the pH (power of hydrogen) of water which is measurement on a
scale of 0 to 14 defining how acidic or alkaline the water is. The value below
7 indicates acidity and above 7 indicates alkalinity. A pH of 7 is considered
neutral and termed as pure water. The water is 30% acidic and 70% alkaline. If
the acidic portion is separated from the water, balance pH of water, will
become approx 9.5 which the best water to drink.
Adverse effects of acidic
water: - If our body is acidic, it invites the growth
of cancer cells, and leads to various other health problems. To neutralise the
acidity and makes the body alkaline, body has to draw calcium and other
minerals from bones, teeth and other organs which may lead to osteoporosis,
arthritis and impaired immune function.
As per WHO, acidic body environment can causes nausea, vomiting,
or diarrhoea, also contributing to neurological and reproductive problems,
seizures, hearing loss and miscarriages.
Alkaline water
Benefits:-
- The Alkaline water has a higher pH
levels than does plain tap water. It can neutralize acid in our
bloodstream, boost our metabolism and help our body absorb nutrients more
effectively.
- Alkaline water can help prevent diseases
and slow the ageing process by protecting against free radicals that
causes cell damage.
- Other benefits include potential weight
loss, improved mental clarity, an increase in bone strength and more
energy.
- More research is needed, but some
scientific studies on Alkaline water have revealed promising results. One
study in a 2001 issue of “Shanghai Journal of preventive Medicine” found
drinking alkaline water for few months lowered cholesterol, blood glucose
and blood pressure levels in participants.
- Another study in the july 2012 edition
of “Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology” found water with a pH
of 8.8 effectively neutralized stomach acid and pepsin, making it a
possible treatment for acid reflux.
Conclusion:- The body`s
internal environment should be alkaline to remain healthy.
So how do we get pure and
safe water to drinks?
Water should be completely filtered and purified so that we can
consume safe drinking water for which we have two options.
- The water collected at the ’source’ i,e
from the big mountain ranges like Swiss
Alps or Himalayan Range in India, has pH above 7 which is pure and
is good for consumption.
- Water can also be purified by choosing a
filter which removes micro-organisms and all types of heavy metals and
give alkaline up to 9.5 pH.
Hence keeping
our water alkaline is the first line of defense against various diseases to
slow the ageing process and attain good health.
