Drinking high-quality water is always a good idea. But what water is best to drink? If you’re currently drinking unfiltered tap water it might not be doing enough for your hydration and health. Moreover, this water supply might not have the delicious taste you need to keep away from a midday soda.
At the end of the day, you deserve a water solution that drives hydration and promotes health. We’re taking a closer look at mineral water and why you might consider drinking more of it.
What Is Mineral Water? Where Does it Come From?
As the name suggests, mineral water contains various trace minerals such as salts, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur compounds: generally taking the form of still or sparkling water, depending on the presence or absence of added carbon dioxide gasses.
Mineral water can also be referred to as electrolyte or alkaline water. Electrolyte water is infused with electrically charged minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Alkaline water, on the other hand, is known for having a higher pH level than tap water. Because of this, advocates of alkaline water allege that it can neutralize the acid in your bloodstream and hydrate more effectively because of its increased hydrogen levels.
Where Mineral Water Comes From
Mineral water can be both naturally occurring and manufactured. Natural mineral water originates from underground sources, often aquifers, where it goes through a unique journey absorbing minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Because natural mineral water sources are located in isolated and well-guarded areas underground, they’re protected from pollution — preserving the water’s purity.
Manufactured mineral water, on the other hand, involves adding minerals to purified water to recreate its mineral-rich composition. This deliberate mineral infusion process supports consistency, customization, and availability.
The Nutritional Facts of Mineral Water
Similar to plain water, mineral water is considered calorie-free. And while its mineral composition varies across brands — with labels indicating “low” or “high” mineral content — there are a few common ones you can expect in these water supplies. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a typical 8 oz. glass of mineral water contains the following nutrients:
- Calories: 0 calories (cal)
- Fat: 0 grams (g)
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 gr
- Calcium: 79.2 milligrams (mg), 6% of the daily value (DV)
- Magnesium: 26.4 mg, 6% of the DV
- Sodium: 31.2 mg, 1% of the DV
What Does Mineral Water Taste Like?
Because of the trace elements in mineral water, this drink certainly isn’t “tasteless,” but the exact flavor tends to vary. Regular water with fewer minerals or dissolved solids can taste sour because carbonic acid ultimately dominates the flavor. However, minerals have a characteristic taste of their own, which means the flavor of water can change as more minerals are present or added. For example, if the water contains a lot of sulfates or has a high magnesium content, then your mineral water might have a slightly bitter taste.
How Much Mineral Water Is Safe To Drink?
Mineral water, in general, is a safe source of drinking water. But it’s important to consider how much is too much. Consuming an excessive amount of this drinking water source can lead to potential side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort or issues with the high mineral content — especially if it contains elevated levels of certain elements like sodium.
Moreover, a majority of the concern surrounding mineral water intake comes from the risks associated with plastic bottles. If you’re drinking this type of water from bottled sources, you increase your exposure to plastic toxicity; particularly BPA, which can leak into the bottle and interfere with normal hormonal function. WebMD reports that further risks of BPA exposure include brain and behavior problems, heart problems, obesity, diabetes, ADHD, and more.
Fortunately, when consumed in moderation and from point-of-use dispensers, mineral water serves as a safe and beneficial source of hydration. Nevertheless, it’s advised to avoid excessive consumption of mineral water to minimize any potential complications.
Mineral Water vs. Tap Water
Tap water comes from both groundwater and surface water sources, such as rivers and reservoirs. Regular water can contain minerals if they’re naturally occurring: However, they’re not added. Mineral water, as an alternative, is collected from protected, natural, or underground sources. While natural mineral water innately contains trace minerals and dissolved solids, this water can also be created by adding minerals. Compared to tap water, mineral water is typically a better source of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and hydrated.
Mineral water differs notably from other drinking water due to its rich mineral content. While spring water comes from natural springs, it might not offer the same mineral variety. Similarly, carbonated sparkling water might not always provide the desired mineral content, depending on its source. Nonetheless, partnering with a reputable mineral water service provider ensures access to sparkling water boasting the ideal mineral profile for maximizing health benefits.
The Top Health Benefits of Mineral Water
As a result of its carbonation and essential mineral content, mineral water can provide you with an abundance of valuable health benefits including:
1. Supporting Heart Health
Mineral water has been shown to lower levels of bad cholesterol while raising levels of good cholesterol. Because high cholesterol is known to increase your risk of heart disease and other related conditions, natural mineral water supports your heart health — ensuring everything will continue to function properly in the long run.
2. Lowering Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is typically associated with low levels of calcium and magnesium. According to a study from the Journal of the American Heart Association, providing mineral water that contains calcium and magnesium is an effective strategy for helping you manage your blood pressure.
3. Promoting Bone Health
Most people aren’t aware that calcium is a necessity for bone health through all stages of life. Luckily, mineral water is a good source of this essential mineral. What’s more, the bicarbonate and magnesium content found in mineral water may be an additional boost to your bone health long-term.
4. Improving Digestive Health
Getting enough magnesium through your mineral water is beneficial to the health of your digestive system. The increased intake of magnesium draws water into the intestines. This is not only essential to promote greater hydration, but it also leads to more frequent bowel movements and helps prevent constipation.
5. Regulating Blood Circulation
The calcium, magnesium, and potassium found in mineral water can promote proper blood circulation — which is ultimately key to maintaining optimal health. More than that, these trace elements have also been linked to regulating the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat.
6. Reducing Kidney Stone Formation
According to the Kidney Stone Clinic, maintaining normal calcium intake is necessary to help prevent kidney stones. Because of this, the magnesium and calcium found in mineral water, along with increased liquid consumption, can help reduce the formation of kidney stones over time.
With this in mind, mineral water can support healthy living, but those aren’t the only benefits mineral water enthusiasts can experience. Drinking mineral water can reduce the reliance on sugary sodas and other carbonated beverages with added sugar for energy — all while improving hydration levels and leading to excess mental and physical benefits. Businesses ultimately see the advantages associated with an increased water intake, including:
- Improved productivity
- Boosted morale
- Reduced fatigue
- Increased focus and mental clarity
- Decreased absenteeism
- Boosted immunity
Considering a Filtration System With Mineral Water
Traditional mineral water comes in single-use plastic bottles, but recurring use of those single-use containers is unsustainable. The resulting plastic waste and the carbon dioxide emitted during manufacturing and delivery process has a detrimental effect on the environment.
Today, there are advanced solutions for procuring mineral water, and it might just be time to consider a better, more efficient system — namely, a water filtration system. This is an effective way to mitigate the problems you might face with bottled mineral water delivery. With a filter in place, you can enjoy an endless supply of water that’s cleaner than bottled water — without the hassle or significant environmental impact of recurring delivery.
Mineral Water and the Filtration Process
How does water filtration work? Essentially, it requires reverse osmosis (RO) systems to be in place to effectively remove contaminants and dissolved impurities. But, keep in mind that these filters also remove minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium — which are essential to the human body. To ensure you have all of the minerals your body needs for hydration and healthy living, it’s important to pair your filtration system with a mineral add-back filter.
Vendors like Quench have made it simple to access clean drinking water that contains all of the minerals you need. quenchWATER+ is a Quench-branded mineral-infused, electrolyte-enhanced alkaline water. This filtration technology is designed to remove sediments, contaminants, and bad tastes while re-adding minerals and electrolytes — guaranteeing your filtered water has the minerals you need and tastes great.
Provide High-Quality Drinking Water With Quench
If you’re looking to upgrade your workplace drinking water quality with valuable nutrients and minerals but want to avoid the high cost of bottled mineral water, Quench can help. Explore our wide range of bottleless water coolers that offer filtered, great-tasting water to discover a machine that’s the right fit for your business.
Quench Q-Series machines from our advanced suite of bottleless water coolers offer quenchWATER+, so your workplace can enjoy an endless supply of filtered water that contains the important minerals their bodies need.
Ready to provide your workplace with enhanced mineral water options? Try our product finder to get matched with the machine that works for your business, or get a free quote to get started.
