Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we just assume the water that flows from our kitchen and bathroom tap is sufficiently treated for contaminants by our municipal water facility? In order to answer these questions, we need to obtain a little more background information.
Next to air, water is the most important element for our survival.
Water is an integral part of our life and we use it for many household tasks throughout the day, such as: drinking and brushing our teeth, steaming fish and vegetables, washing salad greens, face and hand washing, showering and bathing, feeding the pets and watering our plants.
Most of us take it for granted that our tap water is safe to drink and use for common household tasks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, estimates that 45,000,000 people drink tap water that is polluted with chemicals, lead, germs, parasites and other impurities.
A large majority of the major U.S. cities still employ the same basic water treatment technologies that have been used since before World War I. In cities such as Atlanta, Boston and Washington, D.C. consumers are relying on pipes that are, on average, over a century old. Many people don't realize that our municipal water treatment plants are not designed to remove synthetic chemicals and as a result we find traces of health threatening contaminants in most of our public water supplies.
Situations arise when our tap water is polluted with more than the usual amount of contaminants. Municipal treatment plants have breakdowns that take time to repair. Lead leaches into our drinking water from old pipes and private wells. Smaller water-supply sources can become contaminated from agricultural and other environmental pollutants.
It is difficult to be sure of the exact amount of toxins in our water supply. The EPA has estimated that, in our modern society, we use in excess of 75,000 toxic chemicals and more than 1000 new chemicals are developed each year. The Ralph Nader Research Group? after reviewing thousands of pages of EPA documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act? concluded that to date more than 2100 toxic chemicals have already been detected in U.S. water supplies.
Our planet earth reuses the same water over and over again, which means there is no "new water". Every single chemical used in our society, eventually winds up in our water supplies. As the use of synthetic organic chemicals increases, so does the toxicity of our water. The earth's natural filtration process is not effective at removing these toxic synthetic organic chemicals.
The human body is made up of over 70% water. The proper function of each organ system, as well as every healing process that happens inside our body, takes place with water. Optimal functioning is only possible when water, our body's transport medium is clean. Wastes form during the body's metabolism and if these wastes are allowed to accumulate through insufficient water intake, fatigue and even illness results.
If we drink water that contains chlorine or other organic and inorganic chemicals, we force our liver and kidneys to act as a filter for these contaminants. The liver purifies and detoxifies the blood of waste products and toxins. In addition to regulating the body's water balance and maintaining optimal pH, the kidney also removes metabolic waste products from the bloodstream.
By providing the liver and kidneys with water, a universal solvent and transport medium, they are assisted in their role as a natural body filter. Bombarding these organs with water that contains traces of additional toxins only hinders the body detoxification process and delays waste removal.
Water may not cure every ailment, but it is a primary ingredient that allows our body to dilute and eliminate toxins that have accumulated over time.
What Can We Do To Provide Healthy Water For Our Family?
The simplest, most effective and also the most economical way to treat municipal tap water is a home water filter. Multi-media water filters that combine activated carbon with iron exchange media such as KDF are an excellent choice.
Carbon and KDF work together to remove or reduce traces of contaminants such as chlorine, lead, Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts, synthetic chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), MTBE, pesticides (lindane, atrazine), chemicals linked to cancer (benzene, TTHMs, toxaphene) and hundreds of other chemical contaminants that may be present causing bad taste and odors in your drinking water.
The result is healthy, great-tasting water that still contains natural trace minerals that are beneficial to optimal wellbeing and health.
? Copyright 2005 Andie Klein
Article courtesy of home-water-filter-guide.com, where you can get the answers you need about comparing home water filter systems and filtration methods, drinking water contamination, the health benefits of drinking water and more.
Related articles from Home-Water-Filter-Guide:
home-water-filter-guide.com
Understanding how traces of contaminants in your drinking water can affect your health.
home-water-filter-guide.com
Compare the pros and cons of home water filtration systems.
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
Organic farming is the production of food using all natural... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
Having a personal wellness program has become a concern for... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
So, what is new about this that you already don't... Read More
The American Heart Association recommends that you eat a variety... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa)An oat is a grass that... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
What are Glyconutritionals?The Greek word "Glyco" means "Sugar". Most people... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More
Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation.... Read More
It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
This is such a busy time of year, isn't it?... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
THE RISKWhen you consume food that's high in acid or... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
It would be fair to assume that almost everyone on... Read More
Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily... Read More
A hundred years ago, life was very different here on... Read More
When it comes to the topic of sports nutrition there... Read More
For decades science has been looking for the answers to... Read More
The topic of nutrition is one that is always present... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
Americans are literally running out of time. Achieving a work-life... Read More
Do you need omega 3 fatty acid in your diet?... Read More
In parts 1-6 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to... Read More
Coke, more commonly known as cocaine is a highly addictive... Read More
The question most people think they need an answer to... Read More
You may have heard that essential fats are an important... Read More
The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,... Read More
Nutrition |