Clean Water Essentials
Most of us know that water is essential for life, and makes up between 50% and 90% of our bodies. Even bone tissue is approximately 22% water. Water is critical for oxygen transport throughout our body, cellular energy production, and even regulation of genetic material. Symptoms of dehydration include irritability, constipation, headaches, and fatigue. Chronic, even minimal dehydration can lead to weight-gain, depression, allergies, heart disease, chronic low energy, hormone imbalances, and chronic pain. Clean drinking water is one of the most simple, yet powerful components of an optimal wellness plan.
Water intake recommendations vary. My general recommendation is to drink 35mL of water for every kg of body weight (16mL per lb), in addition to the water you consume in food. More water is recommended for those who eat a high-protein diet, consume diuretics, experience frequent diarrhea or vomiting, and who regularly exercise strenuously. Less water may be required for individuals who consume more than 7 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables in a day.
Drinking this much water can also be dangerous: Water can be the trojan horse that carries toxic chemicals into our body. A trusted water filtration system is an important part of a general health or wellness plan.
Most sources agree now that bottled water carries numerous health risks, including exposure to cancer-causing chemicals and poor safety regulation by government authorities. The Environmental Working Group has published some of their own research, here.
Kingston tap water is drawn from Lake Ontario and is heavily chlorinated to protect us from bacterial and viral contamination. With the exception of CFB Kingston, Kingston does not add fluoride to its water. Kingston tap water is susceptible to seasonal fluctuations of algae, and some homes still receive their water from old lead pipes or from copper pipes with lead solder. Most of this information may be found on the Utilities Kingston website, here. The new Canadian Drinking Water Standards recently lowered the acceptable lead concentration in drinking water from 50 parts per billion, to 10 parts per billion.
Some sources estimate that 20% of a person’s exposure to lead comes from their drinking water. Lead is a heavy metal that is difficult for the body to excrete. The body may find it easier to store small amounts safely in bone tissue, which may only become a concern bone starts to degenerate, such as in osteoporosis and during menopause, causing a slow leak of lead back into the bloodstream.
The Santevia water unit available at KIHC removes organic chemicals such as chlorine, and heavy metals, from your tap water. The unit is environmentally friendly, unlike a reverse osmosis water filtration system that produces up to 3 litres of waste water for every litre of water consumed. The Santevia system also produces alkaline water, which is essential for prevention and treatment of numerous chronic degenerative diseases, including osteoporosis, arthritis, and possibly cancer. Brita filters by comparison produce acidic water that may aggravate chronic health conditions.
The unit is available at Kingston Integrated Healthcare for $179.99, which includes all three filters.
