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.
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
It would be fair to assume that almost everyone on... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
I'm 40-something years old, and for 40-something years breakfast has... Read More
Most red and white meats are very fatty and are... Read More
How did we cure ourselves of many aches pains and... Read More
Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
Is the thrill gone? Has the thrill gone out of... Read More
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
If you want to lose weight, there is one thing... Read More
Much controversy and argument surrounds the idea that food may... Read More
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as... Read More
Just what is the "New Biology of Health?" And who's... Read More
Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More
Some of the things you think you know that just... Read More
Before we get to honey we have a question from... Read More
full-service cleaning Arlington Heights ..For those of us that understand nutrition and it's importance... Read More
Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
How To Have A Healthy ThanksgivingEnd of the year holidays... Read More
Imagine you're a cell.Inside your body runs the machinery that... Read More
Some people say to themselves, junk food is not that... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
One of the most common questions I am asked is... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
Hormonal changes during pregnancy, and quite normal fat gain often... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
LIFESTYLE WELLNESS = An Adventure of Health + Vitality!Not a... Read More
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More
All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More
While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
If you are like most people, you don't enjoy the... Read More
Every where you look you see articles or news or... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
If you're suffering from constipation, you are no doubt looking... Read More
Nutrition |