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.
Dr. Barry Sears revolutionized nutritional thinking around the world with... Read More
What ancient tribes and people of the Amazon have known... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
Because all of us have been brought up eating junk... Read More
1880s - Characterization of monosaccharides by Emil Fischer.1952 - Fresh,... Read More
When it comes to food, we can't ignore the facts... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
Heart disease results when plaque builds up inside the arterial... Read More
It is often taken as a given fact that soy... Read More
Modern life can be stressful. There are so many concerns... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a dangerous condition that can... Read More
Come on, guys and gals. Those Trix are for kids.And... Read More
Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Fat is a nutrient that is a contributor to the... Read More
A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from... Read More
As you've probably heard before, your post-workout meal may very... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
Cholesterol. What images come to mind when you see this... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Over... Read More
I know that the headline is a oldie, but it... Read More
Carbohydrates have gotten a lot of bad press in the... Read More
recurring housekeeping Highland Park ..We all need fat in our diet on a daily... Read More
Every person on earth has experienced pain at one time... Read More
Factory FarmingThe big names in American agriculture would like you... Read More
Diets concern especially Americans as they do have a "national... Read More
You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to... Read More
Calcium helps reduce constipationUsing calcium and magnesium in the right... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
"What exercises can I do to ?? As fitness professional... Read More
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical... Read More
Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than... Read More
Beans. Legumes. Pulses. Whatever you call this plant group, they... Read More
The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
Dieting is a pain. I think basically everyone would agree... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell... Read More
Health food or heart attack on a plate? Eggs had... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
Salt was used long before recorded history began. One of... Read More
One of the most common questions I am asked is... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
The Mediterranean Diet is now recognized as one of the... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
Nutrition |