WATER: it's not always the same!

We have already said over and over again how essential water is for our body, and therefore of all the possibilities for drinking liquids, it is precisely this last one that represents the best choice! However, not all water is the same and there are different types that may prove more or less suitable based on our needs.

First of all we must say that waters are defined as mineral when they are recognized as such by the Ministry of Health, following precise chemical-physical and microbiological analyzes on composition, purity and quality which determine their salient characteristics. Therefore, given that all drinking water contains salts, the law considers as "mineral" those which, originating from an underground aquifer, have particular hygienic characteristics (microbiologically pure) and properties favorable to health.

In Italy, around 260 different types of bottled mineral waters are currently marketed, which differ in particular organoleptic and nutritional characteristics.

Which one to choose?

Let's keep in mind that natural water does not mean water without bubbles, but that all waters are natural as they are bottled as they flow from the source without undergoing any type of chemical treatment, be they still, carbonated or effervescent! Furthermore, let's dispel the myth of carbonated water: The bubbles give it a pleasant flavor and seem to quench thirst more, in reality all water quenches thirst in the same way! Carbonated water then has no real contraindications, on the contrary it facilitates digestion and increases the sense of satiety, causing dilation of the stomach and should only be avoided in real cases of aerophagia problems and abdominal swelling.

Let's define the Fixed Residual:

A parameter that we can consider when choosing the type of water is the "fixed residue at 180°C" which gives us an estimate of the mineral salt content. This parameter is expressed in mg/L and therefore the higher this value, the more mineral salts are dissolved in a liter of water. Based on this parameter we can classify mineral waters into four categories:

• MINIMALLY MINERALIZED: it has a fixed residue not exceeding 50 mg/ L, it is a water suitable for promoting diuresis. It is indicated in cases of hypertension and for the prevention of kidney stones as well as for the nutrition of newborns.
• OLIGOMINERAL: with a fixed residue lower than 500 mg/L. Also in this case it is optimal for the prevention of stones and for its diuretic properties.
• MINERALIZED: it has a fixed residue between 500 and 1500 mg/L and the quantity of mineral salts makes it suitable for athletes to be able to replenish both the liquids and minerals lost through sweating.
• RICH IN MINERAL SALTS: with a fixed residue exceeding 1500 mg/L, therefore use is recommended only following a consultation with your doctor as these are waters considered therapeutic and in most cases sold in pharmacies.

As we have already specified in another article, minerals are essential micronutrients for our body! The waters we purchase have different mineral contents depending on the source of origin and it is the latter that gives the various types of water their different properties!

Let's see some of them:

Bicarbonate waters have a bicarbonate content greater than 600 mg/L and are useful for promoting digestive processes or buffering gastric acidity. Furthermore, this type of water is suitable for athletes because it is able to buffer the lactic acid produced during physical activity;

Sulphated waters have a sulphate content greater than 200 mg/L and can be useful in the treatment of constipation. However, this type of water is not advisable during growth and in the post-menopausal period, because it can interfere with the absorption of calcium, favoring its excretion;

Calcium waters with a calcium content greater than 150mg/L represent an optimal source of this mineral and are indicated in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Fluoridated waters (in which fluoride is greater than 1 mg/L) are useful in the prevention of dental caries, but must be used with caution in children, because excessive intake of the mineral can cause damage to the body;

Soda waters, on the other hand, have a sodium content greater than 200 mg/L and, positively influencing neuromuscular excitability, are suitable for athletes and in particular in the summer months when, with sweating, the loss of this mineral increases. Obviously they are contraindicated for those suffering from arterial hypertension.

In this article we have chosen to deal with the most common and most used waters by the population in general but in addition to these there are many other types in relation to the mineral content, which in some cases can also be present in different combinations, making them even more specific for certain cases!

So next time you go to the supermarket take a look at the label before choosing water!!

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