Re: The distilled water is healthy myth part 2

 

Addressing the second half of the distilled water post:

"There have been some recent rumors that the consumption of "hard" water actually lessens the chances of heart and blood vessel disease.

 

These are hardly rumors.  Here is some information on the subject:

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/gwbc/C06_health...

"There is considerable controversy over the significance of the relative absence of certain solutes from many surface and ground water supplies. In particular, disagreement has focused on the health implications of drinking soft, low-pH waters. According to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (1977) there have been more than 50 studies, in nine countries, that have indicated an inverse relationship between water hardness and mortality from cardiovascular disease. That is, people who drink water that is deficient in magnesium and calcium generally appear more susceptible to this disease (Foster, 1987a). The US National Academy of Sciences has estimated that a nation-wide initiative to add calcium and magnesium to soft water might reduce the annual cardiovascular death rate by 150,000 in the United States. However, this suggestion is very controversial, other authors being unwilling to accept that water hardness influences the death rate from cardiovascular disease (Hammer and Heyden, 1980).

Soft water, deficient in calcium and magnesium, has also been linked to elevated rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Caddell, 1972), diabetes (Foster, 1987b), cerebrovascular disease (Foster, 1987a) and cancer (Allen-Price, 1960; Foster, 1986). It should be noted that both surface and ground water hardness in British Columbia is very variable, being generally highest in the east of the province and lowest in the west (Swain, 1985). However, ground water in general has a tendency to be harder than surface water supplies because of its greater contact with bedrock."

 

http://www.mgwater.com/exhibitb.shtml

 

"More than 50 studies in nine countries have been carried out on possible relationship of water hardness and health. Most of the investigations were in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada; they reveal a consistent trend of significant statistical associations between the hardness characteristics of drinking water and the incidence of cardiovascular problems (heart disease, hypertension, and stroke) and, to a lesser extent, other diseases. Generally, reports have shown an inverse correlation between the incidence of cardiovascular disease and the amount of hardness of drinking water, or, conversely, a positive correlation with the degree of softness. Studies in the United States and Canada have shown that age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality rates among populations using very soft water may be as much as 15-20% higher than among populations using hard water. The differential reported for the United Kingdom may be as high as 40%."

 

http://www.waternutrition.com/who.html

 

"Hard water is a reliable and stable4 source of calcium and sometimes magnesium although the absolute and relative concentrations will vary greatly by source. Consumption of moderately hard water containing typical amounts of calcium and magnesium may provide an important incremental percentage of their dally intake. Inadequate total dietary intakes of calcium and magnesium are common worldwide. Therefore, and incremental contribution from drinking water can be an important supplement to approach more ideal total daily intakes. Moreover, hard water can reduce the losses of calcium, magnesium and other essential minerals from food during cooking. If low mineralized water is used for food and beverage production, reduced levels of Ca, Mg and other essential elements would also occur in those products. Low intakes would occur not only because of the lower contribution of these minerals from water used in beverages, but also because of the high losses of the minerals from food products (e.g., vegetables, cereals, potatoes or meat) into water during cooking.

The group concluded that there is sufficient epidemiological evidence of an inverse relationship between calcium and magnesium concentrations in drinking water and ischemic heart disease mortality, and that consumption of water containing calcium and magnesium, and therefore also the reintroduction of Mg and Ca into demineralized water in the remineralization process would likely provide health benefits in those consumer populations. There are no known harmful human health effects associated with the addition of calcium and magnesium within a large range and the nutritional benefits are well known. In addition, limited but suggestive evidence exists for benefits associated with other diseases (stroke, renal stone formation, cognitive impairment in e4lderly, very low birth weight, bone fractures among children, pregnancy complications, hypertension, and possibly some cancers). Adding calcium and magnesium to the demineralized water would be a relatively inexpensive preventive intervention that does not require individual behavioral change, and it is already done as part of many water treatment processes. The intervention could not only provide health benefits but also help reduce medical care costs.

 

Epidemiological studies in the United Kingdom, United States, Sweden, Russia and France, and research on changes in calcium/phosphorus metabolism and bone decalcification provide informatio9n about drinking water levels of calcium and magnesium (and water hardness) that may provide beneficial health effects. It has been suggested that reduced cardiovascular mortality and other health benefits would be associated with minimum levels of approximately 20 to 30 mg/l calcium and 10 mg/l magnesium in drinking water. The percentage of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium and magnesium provided by drinking water at these minimum levels will vary among and within countries. Thus, lower levels in water may be sufficient to provide health benefits in some areas, but higher levels may be beneficial in others. Some limited information suggests that the desirable levels may be higher in some circumstances. Overall health benefits will be dependent upon total dietary intakes and other factors in addition to water levels. Because the exposure-response information is limited, further analyses, and possibly additional studies are needed to determine the levels of calcium and magnesium that may provide most favorable population benefits in each location."

"Unless properly stabilized, demineralized and some natural waters are corrosive to plumbing resulting in damage to the plumbing systems and also potentially increased exposure on metals such as copper and lead. Information should be provided on methods of application of home water softening devices so that consumers will also have access to mineralized water for drinking and cooking."

 

http://www.4optimallife.com/Purified-Water-Is-Bad-For-Your-Health.html

 

"WHY PURIFIED WATER IS BAD FOR YOU

 

by Zoltan P. Rona MD, MSc

 

During nearly 19 years of clinical practice I have had the opportunity to observe the health effects of drinking different types of water. Most of you would agree that drinking unfiltered tap water could be hazardous to your health because of things like parasites, chlorine, fluoride and dioxins. Many health fanatics, however, are often surprised to hear me say that drinking purified water on a regular, daily basis is potentially dangerous. Paavo Airola wrote about the dangers of purified water in the 1970's when it first became a fad with the health food crowd.

 

Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapor condensed. Purified or reverse osmosis water is free of dissolved minerals and, because of this, has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Studies validate the benefits of drinking purified water when one is seeking to cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks at a time). Fasting using purified water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in purified water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.

 

Purified water is an active absorber and when it comes into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The more purified water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Purified" water, being essentially mineral-free, is very aggressive, in that it tends to dissolve substances with which it is in contact. Notably, carbon dioxide from the air is rapidly absorbed, making the water acidic and even more aggressive. Many metals are dissolved by purified water.

 

The most toxic commercial beverages that people consume (i.e. cola beverages and other soft drinks) are made from purified water. Studies have consistently shown that heavy consumers of soft drinks (with or without sugar) spill huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals into the urine. The more mineral loss, the greater the risk for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally associated with premature aging.

 

A growing number of health care practitioners and scientists from around the world have been advocating the theory that aging and disease is the direct result of the accumulation of acid waste products in the body. There is a great deal of scientific documentation that supports such a theory. A poor diet may be partially to blame for the waste accumulation. Meats, sugar, white flour products, fried foods, soft drinks, processed foods, alcohol, dairy products and other junk foods cause the body to become more acidic. Stress, whether mental or physical can lead to acid deposits in the body.

 

There is a correlation between the consumption of soft water (purified water is extremely soft) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Cells, tissues and organs do not like to be dipped in acid and will do anything to buffer this acidity including the removal of minerals from the skeleton and the manufacture of bicarbonate in the blood. The longer one drinks purified water, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and an acid state. I have done well over 3000 mineral evaluations using a combination of blood, urine and hair tests in my practice. Almost without exception, people who consume purified water exclusively, eventually develop multiple mineral deficiencies. Those who supplement their purified water intake with trace minerals are not as deficient but still not as adequately nourished in minerals as their non-purified water drinking counterparts even after several years of mineral supplementation.

 

The ideal water for the human body should be slightly alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Purified water tends to be acidic and can only be recommended as a way of drawing poisons out of the body. Once this is accomplished, the continued drinking of purified water is a bad idea.

 

Water filtered through a solid charcoal filter is slightly alkaline. Ozonation of this charcoal filtered water is ideal for daily drinking. Longevity is associated with the regular consumption of hard water (high in minerals). Ionized Water is the best possible drinking water. Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of purified water. Avoid it except in special circumstances.

 

REFERENCES

 

Airola, P. 1974. How To Get Well. Phoenix, AZ: Health Plus Publishers.

 

Baroody, Dr. Theodore A. Jr. Alkalinize or Die. California:Portal Books, 1995.

 

Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. The Complete Guide to Diet & Nutritional Medicine. Berkeley, California:Celestial Arts, 1992; p. 22.

 

Rona, Zoltan P. and Martin, Jeanne Marie. Return to the Joy of Health, Vancouver: Alive Books, 1995.

 

Rona, Zoltan P. Childhood Illness and The Allergy Connection. Rocklin, California:Prima Books, 1996.

 

Dr. Zoltan P. Rona is a graduate of McGill University Medical School (1977) and has a Master's Degree in Biochemistry and Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut (1985). He is the author of the Canadian bestsellers, "The Joy of Health" and "Return to the Joy of Health". He is a past president of the Canadian Holistic Medical Association and is a consultant on nutritional medicine to the Motherisk Program of the Department of Pharmacology of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children."

 

Allen McDaniels, M.D., from his book: "Water---what's in it for you?"

"Water Hardness" is the underlying cause of many, if not all, of the diseases resulting from poisons in the intestinal tract. These(hard minerals) pass from the intestinal walls and get into the lymphatic system, which delivers all of it's products to the blood, which in turn, distributes to all parts of the body. This is the cause of much human disease.

 

ROTFLMAO!!!  Moreless would have an absolute fit with this one.  According to Moreless all disease is from acidity of the lymphatic system.  Here they are claiming that alkaline minerals (they would have to be in a highly alkaline state to precipitate out) in the lymphatic system is the cause of nearly all if not all diseases.

 

"Water Hardness" is inorganic minerals in solution(in water). When these minerals enter the intestines in drinking water, there is an immediate reaction between them and the fats, oils and fatty acids present, causing precipitation of inorganic calcium, magnesium, iron and so on---to form new, insoluble compounds."

 

Total nonsense.  But instead of going in to a long explanation of why let's put it this way.  In order for minerals to absorb in to the bloodstream they must be soluble.  Therefore, if they form insoluble complexes in the intestines they cannot be absorbed and make it to the lymphatic system.  So they are contradicting their own statements!!!

 

 Inorganic minerals contaminate the human body, (they) form incrustations that clog and obstruct the human pipe system(arteries and digestive tracts) and impair the vital organs.

 

Once again, if they form insoluble complexes in the intestines then they can not be absorbed to plug the arteries and organs as they are claiming.  Actually even if they are absorbed they would not plug the arteries or organs as they are claiming.  I addressed this myth partially in my last post.

"When distilled water enters the body, it leaves no residue of any kind. It is free of salts and sodium.

 

But it leaches minerals from the body, which can lead to all sorts of health issues.

 

It is the most perfect water for the healthy functioning of the kidneys(83% water). It is the perfect liquid for the blood(83% water), 

 

They are overlooking the fact that blood also naturally contains inorganic mineral salts.

 

"The greatest damage done by inorganic minerals---plus waxy cholesterol and salt---is to the small arteries and other blood vessels of the brain(75% water). Hardening of the arteries and calcification of blood vessels starts on the day you start taking inorganic chemicals(and minerals from tap water) into our bodies."

 

I addressed this myth in my last post.

 

"Distilled water is the greatest solvent on earth. (It is) the only water that can be taken into the body without damage to the tissues.

 

Well the first statement is true.  It is this solvency that allows distilled water to leach vitamins and minerals from the body.

 

"What we as scientists and the public have never realized is that minerals collected in the body from water are all inorganic minerals, which cannot be assimilated(digested) by the body.

 

Minerals are not really "digested' by the body.  We do assimilate them in the form of absorption though.

 

The only minerals that the body can utilize are the organic minerals(from fruits and vegetables).

 

Total nonsense.

 

All other types of minerals are foreign substances to the body and must be disposed of or eliminated.

 

All the fruits and vegetables are foreign substances to the body.  Think about it.

 

"Distilled water is the purest form available. Distilled water helps to excrete excessive heavy metals from the body."

 

Purified waters are corrosive and can easily pick up heavy metals from the containers they are in.

 

"These is only one water that is clean, steam distilled water. No other substance on our planet does so much to keep us healthy and get us well as water does."

 

Leaching beneficial vitamins and minerals from the body is hardly healthy.

 

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers are instructed to drink distilled water."

 

By who?  Someone that does not know squat about how the body works?  Do they really think throwing the electrolytes off and leaching magnesium needed for ATP formation is going to help chronic fatigue?  If anything it is likely to worsen the condition.

 

"If you wish to drink water, you should drink distilled water if it is available. Mountain spring water is not ideal for the human body because it contains inorganic minerals that the human body can neither use nor precipitate out. 

 

Again contradictory to their earlier statement that the minerals form insoluble compounds in the intestines.  What happens when they form insoluble compounds?  Yep, they precipitate out because they are not soluble (dissolvable).

 

These inorganic minerals tend to hook up with cholesterol in the body and form a thick plaque in the arteries. Distilled water does not have this effect.

 

Again contradictory to the earlier claims.  If the minerals precipitate in the intestines then they cannot absorb to cause arterial plaque calcification as is repeatedly erroneously claimed.  I addressed this myth in my last post.

 

"When you eat a piece of fruit or a vegetable, you are consuming distilled water. The minerals are taken from the soil, the plant distills them, and then you consume them.

 

This is the most ridiculous claim yet.  The water in a fruit or vegetable is not distilled.  It is saturated with the minerals, sugars and various other compounds the water has dissolved.  Thus it is not pure and not distilled.  Even the water the plant absorbs has saturated with inorganic and organic minerals as well as other substances before the plants absorb it.  So to claim this is distilled water is an outright lie.

 

"Highly mineralized water has been associated with the formation of (kidney) stones in the urinary system".

 

Again how can the minerals get to the kidneys if they are precipitated in the intestines and therefore not absorbed?  And it seems to me that leaching minerals from the body with distilled water would increase the risk of kidney stones as the mineral saturated water is excreted.

 

"...the amounts of minerals found in water are insignificant when compared to those found in the foods we eat.

 

Oh, another contradiction.  If the food sources have a higher mineral content than the water, and  the water supposedly causes kidney stones then we would have to conclude that fruits and vegetables would be more likely to cause kidney stones according to their hypothesis.

On top of that contradiction is the contradiction against those who claim that our fruits and vegetables are lacking nutrition due to the mineral depleted soils.  Anyone else confused over all their contradictory claims?

 

 

 

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