Baby Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle Week 1: Water Filtration

We’ve discussed the importance of drinking water this week, but we have yet to touch on the subject of drinking good water.  I cannot stress enough that you need to know what is in your water.  With a population of human beings that continues to grow and create new chemicals, medications and products every day, it shouldn’t come as a shock that our city water supplies are testing positive for birth control and other unwanted contaminants.

If we aren’t knowledgeable, we may continue to poison our bodies without even realizing it.  So here is a quick rundown of possible problems with the water supply, and a few recommendations for good water filtration systems.

Types of Water: Hard and Soft

Hard water contains hardness minerals like calcium, manganese and magnesium.  The amount of these minerals is measured in parts per million (PPM) or grains per gallon (GPG).  The lower the number the better.  If your water is too hard, it can  cause the following issues:

• It doubles the amount of soap and detergents you have to use (very costly).
• Creates soap scum in your bathroom and on your body, which can clog your pores and promote growth of bacteria  causing certain skin problems.  Diaper rash on babies can sometimes be traced back to hard water.
• Can possibly cause kidney stones due to a build up of excess calcium in the body.

Soft water is far better because it leaves your body cleaner, allows you to use half as much in soap and cleaners, and is better for consumption.

Water Contamination

Chemicals Found in Water: Fluoride, Nitrates, Lead, Chlorine, Bromine, Disinfectants, Pesticides, Industrial Solvents, Herbicides, etc..
Prescription Medication Found in Water: Birth control, antibiotics, antidepressants and many more!  Never flush your unused medications down the toilet.  Take them to a pharmacist to be properly disposed.

These are just a few examples of things that are frequently found in city water supplies.  You all get the idea, so I won’t continue to list all the problems with water.  I’m not a scientist, but I know enough about what is in our water supply that we need good water filtration.  See the articles at the end of this post if would like to read more on water.

Check Your Local Water Quality at EWG.org.

Recommended Water Filtration Systems

Please note that I am not affiliated nor have I used any affiliate links with these recommendations.

• Reverse Osmosis System – This one takes out minerals as well.  Your body needs minerals, so make sure you are supplementing in other ways. This site has free water testers that you can use to test your water’s PPM.
• Nikken PiMag Aqua Pour System – this one puts the minerals back into the water, but is less convenient to use as you have to continue refilling the system.
• Zero Water
• See more Water Filtration Recommendations here.

Those little attachments that you put on your faucet for filtering water do not necessarily filter out things like prescription drugs, fluoride and other chemicals.  If this is all you can do right now financially, then at least do this because it removes heavy metals and a few other contaminants. Be sure to read up on any water filtration system that you use and look at the water tests done in your area so that you know what you and your family are consuming.  Knowledge is power!  And don’t think that you are safer just going with juice and sodas.  Where do you think those companies get their water to make those beverages?  And don’t forget about all the added preservatives, sugars and other junk!

Baby Step Week 1: Check the quality of the water in your area, consider saving up for a good water filtration product and continue drinking your 8-eight ounces or more in water per day.

Read the first post on water here.

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Sources and Helpful Links:

• Soft Water.info
• Scientific American: Can Birth Control Hormones Be Filtered from the Water Supply?
• Natural News: Antidepressant drugs found in drinking water; pharmaceuticals have now become environmental pollutants
• Common Chemical Contaminants of Municipal Water

Baby Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle is not meant to diagnose or treat illnesses of any kind.  It is merely a series of personal opinions and facts based upon the author’s research, and is for entertainment and educational purposes only.  Please consult your physician for health related problems and before starting on any kind of fitness plan, nutritional supplement or diet change.