Water to avoid

Please avoid:

1. Trinity Water, as it is much too high in fluoride

2. Deer Park spring water.

3. Many European brands.  These include Perrier, and others

4. All “drinking water” and “purified water”, including Aqua Fina and Dasani.  Do not be fooled by fancy sounding names or fancy bottling.  These are just filtered tap water or water produced by reverse osmosis.

5. Alkaline waters of all kinds.

6. Distilled water, except perhaps for a few days during a healing reaction.  Distilled water and reverse osmosis water will demineralize the body.  Read labels because some “distilled” water says in fine print “made with reverse osmosis”.  Stay away in this case.

Adding minerals to distilled water damages the hydrating ability of the water.

7. Water from water machines found at supermarkets, for example.  These are made by reverse osmosis.

8. Water from water stores.  This is usually made with reverse osmosis, in my experience.

9. Well water, in many cases.  Some well water is fine, but it is very variable due to agricultural and industrial contamination, and other factors.

10. Tap water, except in America where you can safely drink it if is filtered with carbon or sand only.  Tap water is not ideal.  In many nations, it is not used for drinking.  However, it often hydrates the body well.  If it is all you can afford, then be sure to filter it with carbon or sand.

In America, tap water is carefully regulated and is usually safe to drink.  However, at least use a Britta or other simple carbon filter to remove chlorine, and change the filter about once a month.  In other nations, the safety of tap water is much less clear, and I would avoid it.

11. Multiple stage filters, in most cases.  I do not recommend any multi-stage water filters.  Some use reverse osmosis, which removes beneficial minerals and damages the water so that it does not hydrate the body as well.

Others use various chemicals such as zinc or copper that also damage the water.  I would avoid them all.  Carbon and carbon block filters are safe, however, provided you change them regularly.

12. Other “designer” waters.  These include Penta Water, Vitamin Water, Smart Water, and others.  I suggest avoiding all of these. They often begin with reverse osmosis water and this is damaged water.

Alkaline water is popular because it will make you feel better for a while.  However, it is always damaged water that may not hydrate the body as well, and is much more yin, which is a damaging quality in all cases.

Other cautions about water:

1. Always read labels carefully to see if bottled water is actually spring water, or just filtered tap water.  Unless it says spring water, it is not spring water.               

2. I do not suggest water that has been altered by adding minerals, prayers or by other processes.  Many of these are available today.  They do not hydrate the body well.  Also, most of them begin with tap water and use reverse osmosis to filter the water.  This is not good.

Plastic bottles.  In my experience, it does not matter if the spring water comes in plastic bottles.  If this bothers you, you may be able to have it delivered in recycled plastic bottles, or you may find a local source at www.findaspring.com. 

3. The second best type of drinking water is usually carbon-only filtered tap water.  You can also use a Berkey sand filter.  Use the following cautions with tap water:

A. Do not drink softened water, whether it is softened by salt tablets or potassium tablets.

B. Be careful with well water.  Most of it is not that good in the United States, and elsewhere.

C. Use only a carbon filter or other natural filter.  Do not use a multi-stage filter to remove fluoride, lead, etc.  These damage the water in some subtle way, in my experience.

D. If your tap water contains toxic metals or toxic chemicals, you can do one of two things to it easily.  1) let it sit for a day to let the minerals settle to the bottom.  Then pour off and drink the water without the minerals. OR 2) boil the water.  Then let it sit for a day, and then pour off and drink the water after the minerals have settled on the bottom of the pot. 

The reasons for these suggestions are involved, and described in detail below.

4. To be well-hydrated, stay away from all substances that tend to dehydrate the body. These are 1) caffeine in any form, 2) sugars and sweets of all types, and 3) alcohol in any form and amount.

Sugars includes fruits, juices, fructose, rice milk, almond milk, soy milk, rice syrup, honey, agave nectar, other sweeteners, coconut milk, coconut water, coconut crème and all other sweet foods and beverages of any type. 

The only juice I suggest is 10-12 ounces of preferably fresh or store-bought carrot juice or 1-2 ounces of wheat grass juice daily.  Please pay attention to this factor very carefully.

5. Buying water in plastic jugs is okay.  I wish glass or other recyclable materials were used more.  However, in my experience, the plastic does not cause significant problems with the water or with your body, and the plastic can be recycled. 

Alternatives to plastic jugs.  In many locations, you may have spring water delivered to your home at low cost in recycled plastic bottles, or perhaps even in glass bottles.  Look in your phone book for companies that deliver bottled water.

Another option is to obtain spring water directly from a local spring.   A list of safe springs around the world is available at WWW.FINDASPRING.COM. 

6. The best time to drink a lot of water is when you first wake up.  Adults, preferably drink about 1 quart or 1 liter of water upon arising.  Then wait at least half an hour to 45 minutes before eating breakfast.  This is ideal.  Do you best with this.  You will still need to drink during the day, but you will have a good start on drinking 3 quarts or 3 liters of water each day.

The only problem with drinking in the morning before breakfast is you will need to urinate a few times in the early morning, which is difficult for some people who commute, for example.  However, this is best.

7. Water for cooking.  For steaming, any type of water will do.  For boiling, any type of water will do, provided that you are not planning to drink the water. I do not recommend boiling food because some minerals are lost into the water.

If you plan to drink the cooking water, such as in soups, then the best would be spring water or carbon-only filtered tap water.  I do not recommend watery soups.  Too much water with food dilutes the digestive juices.  If you want to have soup, it should be thick and not watery, or have only a small cup of soup as an appetizer.

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