Many people are aware of the need of vitamins and minerals for good health. As minerals are naturally present in food and water, this has led some people to conclude that drinking water is a good source of minerals as it contains a variety of minerals. Unbeknownst to many, not all minerals in water are necessarily good for health. In fact, some minerals are downright hazardous to our well-being.
Let us consider some minerals that are naturally present in water.
Beneficial Minerals
| Mineral | Action |
| Calcium | Essential for bone growth and strength, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and the transmission of nerve signals |
| Magnesium | Helps with heart rhythm, muscle and nerve function, bone strength |
| Potassium | Important in maintaining normal fluid balance, helps control blood pressure, reduces risk of kidney stones |
| Sodium | Important for fluid balance Lead |
Harmful Minerals & Compounds
| Mineral | Action |
| Nitrate | Increased risk of blue baby syndrome |
| Arsenic | Long-term exposure may lead to heart disease, night blindness and arsenicosis. Acute arsenic poisoning may lead to coma and death |
| Lead | Lead poisoning can damage the brain and nervous system, stomach and kidneys. It also increases the risk of degenerative dementia and high blood pressure |
There is considerable debate in the scientific community as to the usefulness of inorganic minerals found naturally in water as opposed to organic minerals found in food such as meat, vegetables and grains. However, regardless of the winner, it is undeniable that the damaging effects of harmful minerals far outweigh the questionable benefits of good minerals found in tap water.
Fortunately, you can easily meet your mineral requirements through food. For instance, a glass of milk contains more calcium than 15 glasses of typical tap water. In instances of increased mineral requirements or mineral deficiency, such as the increased need for iron by pregnant women, health practitioners always recommend supplementation as an effective and swift response.
If beneficial minerals are easily available through food and supplements, is there a need to obtain them via drinking water? Due to its small size, removing minerals in water is easier said than done. Current water treatment technology is such that none can selectively retain beneficial minerals while removing the harmful ones. It’s a matter of either keeping all or removing all within a specified category or size spectrum. Water treatment technologies that are able to remove minerals in water include reverse osmosis and distillation.