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Yes, I am afraid of water. This is not because of some traumatic event in my childhood. No this is a recent fear that has developed (one more thine to call me a freak about). Prior to my real food days I used to drink the standard 8 glasses of water a day. Now that I am further along in my real food journey I know this is unnecessary, yet I have other reasons for not drinking as much. You may know that I have had some health issues throughout my life all revolving around female issues. Real food and now homeopathy have helped to address some of these problems. And I might add, I am having some success with various aspects of my symptoms (for another blog to be labeled ‘TMI’, ha!)
Early on I had read a lot of information related to water quality, but it was not one of those things that caused me to freak out. I was merely focused on getting my food issues under control. As I have gotten healthier though, I have started tuning into my body and the cues it is giving off in different environments. Many of you making the transition to real and clean foods have mentioned that you have also noticed when things are good or slightly off much easier than when your body was in a perpetual state of chaos. I bet you can also pinpoint what causes a problem by retracing your food or environmental factors. Well, this is how I came to understand that there really is something to the water issue.
My Trip to California and Texas
Last fall and winter my husband and I traveled quite a bit. We were in Houston and San Francisco most of the winter with short trips home to Maryland for the holidays. I ate pretty much the same types of food as when I was home, since we were located in areas that had decent organic and pastured meat options. However, when I went back to Maryland both for the holidays and the end of our traveling in March, I noticed a huge differences in my energy levels. I became really lethargic.
I still can’t prove it and can only assume that it must be something in the water of my home state that was different from the other areas that I visited. So I started to research a little about water . . . . (For what it’s worth. . . somewhere a few months back I saw an infographic on the bests and worsts of each state. I recall that the state of Maryland is known for having the worst water in the country! FOUND IT! Yes, MD is the worst state for clean water. Isn’t that great? NOT! )
Water is a Scary Big Business
From what I’ve read, I doubt there is any place on earth where the water is untainted by what we as humans have done to it. But what infuriates me the most about what I am learning is the fact that some of the most vulnerable among us are having their water taken from them. And worse yet, it is being tainted by corporations standing to profit. These same companies will turn around and resell the water back to these needy people for a huge profit. I am not against profit, but I am against EXPLOITATION. And that is exactly what they are doing when they trash the water then try to ‘profit off ‘cleaning it up!’ It’s appalling and disgusting. (yes there is a rant post planned in this series).
There are also big problems with the packaging of water. Most people erroneously think that bottled water is somehow healthier for you than tap water. It’s not. It is pretty much the same and likely worse — mostly because of the packaging itself. More to come about this issue as well . . . . .
Why a Water Series and My Resolve
So because of the fact that there are toxins in our water, corrupt multinational water corporations are exploiting poor nations, and bottled water is not a great option to begin with, I have had to re-evaluate the way I view water. You can take or leave what I am about to say in this series. I realize that some will think I am being judgmental or legalistic. But this is not a series to tell anyone else what to do. This is simply to educate people about what is happening in the world and our nation regarding water.
When I first wrote this post I thought I would just get some things off my chest. However, I quickly realized that I needed to go deeper and explain in detail how grave the global water problem is. Not only is our water purposely contaminated in some cases, but the potable water is quickly disappearing from the planet. It is important that we each understand our role in helping to fix the problem where we can. Here are the upcoming posts in the series:
Steps I am taking today regarding water because of what I have learned in researching water safety and health:
1) No more bottled water.
I stopped buying bottled water. Not only is it unhealthy due to the BPA or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), but I will not support the corrupt practices of these bottling companies. They steal local water supplies and resell for 1900x the cost. Also, they often destroy local water habitats in the process.
2) I bought a whole house water filtration system.
Ok, so it is really hard to find a really good system. I agree that most systems do not work as well as they need to. The unit I really wanted to buy was the Radiant Life Brand, but alas my budget could not afford it. Maybe in the long run it may have been worth it, but I just could not shell out the cash at the time.
The version that I chose to buy was an Aquasana Home Water FIlter. I upgraded to the extra filtration to give a second flush of additional chemicals and toxins. However, it DOES NOT filter fluoride. This seems to be an ok option for me at the moment because my particular water supplier shows N/A for fluoride in its water testing. Also, to remove fluoride from the water you would need to strip the water of essential nutrients that our bodies need to absorb the water. Therefore we would need to add those minerals back in. If you are looking for fluoride removal Berkey water filtration (which is a countertop filtration system) can do this. You will need to find a source of mineral drops to add. Additionally, with a Berkey you will need a shower filtration so that your body does not absorb the chemicals (ie; chlorine which kills your good flora!) while showering.
3) Try to find a local spring when I travel.
There is a handy reference for springs that can be found around the country. It’s called Find a Spring. Many people bring their own containers and fill up. There are also comments on the pages that tell you how accessible the spring is as well as the condition of the water.
I hope you will join me and check out the other posts in this series.
Post links to: Simple Lives, Pennywise Platter, Keep It Real, Scratch Cookin’, Eat, Make Grow, Fill Those Jars, Fresh Bites, Monday Mania, Homestead Barnhop, Fat Tuesday, Hearth and Soul, Traditional Tuesday, Whole Foods Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Frugal Days,
Jen, this topic really interests me! About five years ago we got a whole home water filtration system with a water softener too because the water is so hard here in PA. This was before I knew much of anything other than I didn’t want the chemicals, chlorine or flouride in my water. Now I’m worried I am not getting the needed minerals. It can all be confusing! What water bottles do you suggest? My kids like to take water to school and I don’t want to buy bottled water either.
Bethany, it is extremely confusing. I am far from an expert, but just trying to lay out the facts (thrown in with my take) as I am coming across them. I think you should be fine with a filter plus softener. Water that is too hard can equally have its own set of problems. It’s not as if you are removing all the minerals — just taming them, I think. I would look into what is being used to ‘soften’ the water though. Is it salt based? I am sure there are acceptable solutions that are ‘real food’ based and not chemically based. I am just not familiar with what’s out there as mine is a carbon based filter.
As far as water ‘bottles’, I am finding that even BPA free have their own set of problems from some articles I have seen recently. I have been using ceramic when I leave the house now. That is probably not a kid friendly option, but I am staying well away from plastics of all kinds now as much as possible.
Bethany, My kids use Klean Kanteen or Sigg stainless steel water bottles. Both come in a variety of sizes and colors as well as a choice of tops.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049YCAVA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=reafoofre-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B0049YCAVA&adid=00P9M81QVH33MJJF3PWW&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Frcm.amazon.com%2Fe%2Fcm%3Ft%3Dreafoofre-20%26o%3D1%26p%3D8%26l%3Das1%26asins%3DB0049YCAVA%26ref%3Dqf_sp_asin_til%26fc1%3D000000%26IS2%3D1%26lt1%3D_blank%26m%3Damazon%26lc1%3D0000FF%26bc1%3D000000%26bg1%3DFFFFFF%26f%3Difr
Great series, looking forward to it. I tested my water for fluoride pre and post Berkey filtration. It went from 0.6 (less than the national average) to 0.2 with my Berkey. I also have been using water from a local spring (1500ft. deep well that is not Lake Michigan water, so nasty) you can smell the minerals in it. We have been drinking/cooking with it for about 3 weeks and we love it. I was adding minerals to my Berkey water but after speaking with Pam Killeen she said she doesn’t trust that the ratios of minerals are correct and can do more harm than good by putting certain minerals too high and others too low. She opts for local spring water. The fluoride test I bought was $20 from 3M. She also told me about the fluoride pulling out/mineral imbalance that I hadn’t previously known about. We’re always learning!
That’s very interesting Alison. My fear with Berkey was the ratios too, but it was more of a hunch rather than anything conclusive. So she recommends not using a Berkey or RO system at all? Also, I am shocked that the Berkey didn’t remove all the fluoride from your water. I will have to go get that test for myself just to be sure the local testing numbers are accurate.
I have no problem with distilled. If you use it for anything besides drinking straight, it ceases to be distilled the minute you drop something else in, and even if you drink it straight it has to go through your kidneys to get out, which will retain all the minerals you need, so this “distilled water leaches out your minerals” I think is bogus. Applying simple (simplistic) physics to complex living systems. It does mean your water isn’t a *source* of minerals, which good water can be. But I don’t think it’s dangerous like many people do.
Laurel, you are missing the point. I’m not suggesting that water is to be the SOURCE of minerals. Minerals in the water are NEEDED to ABSORB the water properly through your cells. I said nothing about leaching minerals. I also never said anything about distilled being dangerous.
This should be interesting indeed, particularly because I’m very conscious of people in other countries who have to walk for miles to get water of questionable quality.
Oh Wendy, have you seen any of the documentaries on water? Some of them will make your blood boil when you see what is being done to these people in developing nations. Very upsetting.
I just wanted to thank you for doing this series, Jen. Water is an obsession of mine as well, even moreso now that I’m working on detoxing hallogens like chlorine, fluoride & bromide, a really fun process:). Looking forward to more (in your series, not my detox)!
Thanks for the support Angie! Still crossing my fingers that I am going to do it justice. I’m a little nervous about it and not sure I am going to say anything new . . . . we’ll see. The first two posts are more of an overview of the problem. The last two are taking digs at the corporatization of water.
I have no solutions, but I can at least highlight the problems so we can all work towards doing our part.
I too use a water filter, originally to an extent because I have a saltwater aquarium, and those fish really need much better quality water than comes out of the tap! So now I have a 4-stage RO-DI filter, which gets the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of my drinking water down to 0 (comes down from anywhere between 130-210, depending on rain; it means I have become a water snob outside my house!); however, I read once that if I will simply add a little bit of natural salt (I use the Himalayan Salt, about 1/2 tsp. per 1 gallon of water) back in, you are really adding in enough minerals and sodium to balance what the filters took out. I don’t know if you have seen this or not, but thought I would share.
Kerstin, that makes sense. I like the idea of adding a natural mineral salt like Himalayan to an RO water source over some type of drops which could be just about anything from anyplace, ya know? Great tip!
This is SO interesting. I have come to realize just in the last year how incredible deficient in minerals I am which have cause a lot of hormone issues during pregnancy like puking all day sickness during most of both of my pregnancies and difficulty with milk supply afterward. I have been told magnesium specifically is cause of those. I drink filtered water but don’t have a whole house…I will have to look into it. For what it’s worth I am 8 weeks pregnant with my third and around week 5 when I started puking again I started soaking my feet in mag salts and taking a supplement from my chiro and within a week I was not puking – I just have an underlying nausea last half of the day – I’ll take that over puking all day! I’m bummed our water supply is so altered
I stopped drinking 8 glasses of water per day in the last year too and adding way more sea or Himalayan salt to my diet – I think that helps 
I have been told the mag specifically doesn’t absorb well digestively especially in pregnancy so I’m continuing with the foot baths!
There is a good movie on Netflix called “Tapped” that will get most people up to speed on what is going on, I suggest everyone watch that movie, it will really open your eyes.
Craig, I saw Tapped. You’re right; it was eye-opening. I plan to highlight that documentary and a few others in my last two posts in this series.
I think you’re so right! The water tastes differently here in Iowa than in california. 1 chemical where I used to live was over the legal limit but there are none here. Back home, though, there were 11 chemicals as opposed to 19 in the water here. All due to chlorine reactions with organic matter in water. :’( We have a brita filter for our apartment, but can we do any more? I really dislike that we have no choice but to drink the stuff, esp. since my husband gets kidney stones and has to drink a ton of water…
So glad to have someone else validate my California claim about the water. When I attempted to see if they had reduced amounts of particles it was difficult to compare side by side. Yet I know my body knew it.
Since you are in an apartment you may not be able to get a whole house filter but you may want to consider a counter filter and a shower filter. They will remove more particulates than the Brita. The next post in this series talks about all the toxins that may be in your water supply. Many of them are not removed by Brita type filters, but more advanced filtration systems.
The shower head filtration will remove most of the chlorine so that you are not absorbing it into your gut which will also kill all your beneficial gut flora.
Hi there. I really appreciate you researching this topic and sharing it with your readers. I was wondering, when you go to collect your water from the spring, what type of bottle/storage do you use? if you can point me to an online store to purchase it or a brand to look for I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much!
Aneesa, You might want to consider a stainless steel water container. There are a few on Amazon. They can be quite pricey, but it will last forever and not leach BPA or PETs into your water: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UT19JE/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=reafoofre-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B003UT19JE&adid=0ENRMHCR61NZDZN41178&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Frcm.amazon.com%2Fe%2Fcm%3Flt1%3D_blank%26bc1%3D000000%26IS2%3D1%26bg1%3DFFFFFF%26fc1%3D000000%26lc1%3D0000FF%26t%3Dreafoofre-20%26o%3D1%26p%3D8%26l%3Das4%26m%3Damazon%26f%3Difr%26ref%3Dss_til%26asins%3DB003UT19JE
How do know that unmonitored spring water anywhere is better than treated and tested potable water from your local municipality? You have no idea of what might be in that water. The feedlot upstream could be draining into the system that feeds the spring. Or it could contain leachate from a distant landfill.. You should be more concerned with the potential for lethal pathogens than with the balance of minerals. You are right to fear bottled water. The standards and controls on it are non-existent. You could be drinking anything.
Personally, I trust water from properly managed treatment processes, including the trace amounts of chlorine that keep the water from the bacteria that really can kill.
You should probably read the rest of the series………