Mineral water - is it good or bad for your health?

Everyone knows that the human body is 60% water. Accordingly, this water balance must be maintained by a variety of methods, because metabolic processes in the body tissues are carried out exclusively in the presence of this substance. A daily portion of liquid for a person, as a rule, includes not only pure water - it is appropriate to replace juices, tea or mineral water. What is the last product? What classification is it? ? Is the mineral water good for the body ?

Historical background

As a rule, the society holds the opinion that water from curative sources is capable of doing the impossible: it relaxes, removes irritation, calms, and also resists aggression and bad mood. Is it so?

The history of the existence of mineral water is determined by hundreds of years. It all began with the fact that in ancient times, not far from holy sources, Greek tribes built sanctuaries for the god Asclepius (he was considered the patron of medicine), and the Romans practiced the erection of temples in the name of Aesculapius. It is important to note that the Greek archaeologists have discovered the ruins, apparently, hydropathic institutions, the construction of which was carried out in the sixth century BC. Thus, from generation to generation, the practice of transferring oral traditions about the truly magical properties of mineral waters, which did not stop beating from under the ground, was practiced.

The process of formation of mineral waters

вода дождевой природы, которая невообразимый отрезок времени назад ушла глубоко в недра земли. Mineral water is the water of rain-fed nature, which is an unimaginable period of time back deep into the bowels of the earth. In the process of penetration of the product through the pores of various layers of rock in it, many-sided substances of mineral origin located there were dissolved. Thus, from standard water of a natural character, located in open reservoirs and subsoil sources, mineral water is distinguished by the presence in its composition of substances of mineral origin. In addition, the depth of the mineral water plays an important role in the process of product formation: the deeper, the better the degree of purification of the product and its saturation with carbon dioxide, and also mineral substances, which, as it turned out, accumulate naturally as the product passes through geological formations. , прежде всего, вода подземных источников. So, mineral water is , first of all, the water of underground springs.

Distinctive features of mineral water from the dining room

Undoubtedly, it is necessary to be able to distinguish between drinking and mineral water. The Codex Alimentarius, the main UN standard, endowed with the food orientation of information, defines these distinctive features in the following points:

• The extraction of mineral water is conducted from sources of natural origin and wells, formed by drilling. Due to this approach, the external influence on both the physical and chemical properties of the natural mineral product is absolutely excluded.
• продукт, содержащий определенное количество солей, а также следовых веществ. Mineral water is a product containing a certain amount of salts, as well as trace substances.
• The process of collecting mineral water is carried out under conditions that, of course, give guarantees of the initial purity at the microbiological level, as well as the stable chemical composition of the components contained in the product.

Interesting features of mineral water

достаточно капризный по своей природе продукт, требующий аккуратного обращения. Mineral water is a capricious by its nature product, which requires careful handling. There is such an opinion that the natural water is much more gentle than precious wine. And this is actually so, because the water from the source should be lifted very carefully, which is very difficult to produce, because the depth of quality plays a role. Packaging the product in a convenient and extremely safe container is also not an easy task, because in the process of this operation it is necessary to preserve the unique properties of mineral water, which were originally laid by Mother Nature.

Natural water is perfectly absorbed by the body: when it gets into the stomach, it reacts qualitatively with gastric juice, thus releasing carbon dioxide and stimulating the secretory work of the organ. Of course, as a result of this "magic" noticeably improves appetite and mood. Mineral water, the benefits and harm of which we are considered, has a beneficial effect on our body. That is why, for example, the French, on the dining table, a bottle with mineral water, as a rule, next to the bread, is mandatory.

Statistical data

Today, there is a real mineral boom on the territory of Russia. This fact can be confirmed by calculations of Goskomstat, as a result of which the number of mineral water names throughout the country is set at 700. Nevertheless, there is a significant gap from the industrialized countries, judging by the criterion of the volume of consumption of the product per capita. According to statistics, one European today has about one hundred liters of mineral water a year. The Austrian is able to drink 72 liters of water in a similar time period, the Frenchman - 80 liters, the Italian - 116 liters, while the average water consumption of natural water in Germany reaches 129 liters per year. And now the main fact: a Russian citizen drinks only 10 liters of mineral water throughout the year, which is not impressive, although during the Soviet Union this figure was half that. It should be added that the market of natural water in Russia is estimated at about 1.2 billion liters per year. In addition, every year there is an increase in this market by 10-15 percent.

Species diversity

Today, there are certain indicators that are the basis for the classification of natural waters. Thus, it is customary to distinguish the following types of product:

• Depending on the mineralization: slightly mineralized, mineral waters of small, medium, high salinity, brine and sporadic natural waters.
• From the point of view of balneology, there are dining rooms, medical and therapeutic-table mineral waters.
• Depending on the chemical composition: hydrocarbonate, chloride, sulfate, sodium, calcium, magnesium and mixed mineral water.
• According to the temperature regime: very cold, cold, cool, indifferent, warm, hot (in other words they are called thermal) and superheated (another name is high-temperature).
• According to the degree of acidity: neutral, weakly acidic, acidic, strongly acidic, slightly alkaline, alkaline.

Popular mineral water today

As it turned out, for today the assortment of mineral waters is extremely rich. Hence, it is advisable to consider the most popular brands of the product:

• "Borjomi" is sodium carbonate with sodium bicarbonate water. данного производителя заключается в лечении болезней печени, желудочно-кишечных заболеваний, мочевых путей, а также в предупреждении и нормализации последствий нарушения обмена веществ. The use of mineral water of this manufacturer is in the treatment of liver diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, urinary tract, as well as in preventing and normalizing the consequences of metabolic disorders. Borjomi source is located in Georgia (800 meters above sea level).
• "Essentuki" (4, 17, 20) is a system of mineral waters, the first representative of which is a medical-table product, the second is a medicinal and the third is a table. This product has no analogues both in terms of medicinal properties, and taste. Mineralka is characterized by the influence of a complex focus on all functional systems of the organism (from the book "Mineral Waters on the Guard of Health" AA Nazarov).
• "Narzan" is water of carbonic hydrocarbonate-sulfate-calcium origin. Its source is in Kislovodsk and is called similar to the brand. This product can increase appetite, strengthen the secretory activity of the digestive system, increase the quantitative index of urine and so on.

Mineral water is good and bad

At the initial stages of the existence of mineral water, the allocation of its medicinal destination is noted as the main direction, which argues the use of the product. Therefore, the sale of mineral water exclusively in pharmacies would be extremely fair. ? Why is mineral water useful for health ? There is no information in the world that determines the limiting quantity and permissible quality of mineral water, all individually! However, in the process of drinking mineral water should follow the following rules: it is necessary to exclude the regular intake of natural water, and use it only during periods of active loss of body salts. To achieve a satisfactory effect, you should carefully read the information on the labels and tend to buy only a quality product, and, if possible, choose a mineral water with elements of natural origin.

Use of sparkling mineral water

As it turned out, the natural water is endowed with a structure of a mixed type, which together with biologically active substances significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of its consumption:

• Iron is a powerful obstacle in the fight against anemia.
• Iodine normalizes the thyroid gland.
• Calcium is an excellent tool for maintaining the ionic equilibrium in the body, and also has a beneficial effect on the process of blood clotting.
• Magnesium serves as an excellent regulator of carbohydrate and energy metabolism, in addition, it promotes normal functioning of the nervous system.
• Sodium - good blood pressure support is normal.
• Potassium is indispensable for the activity of the heart and kidneys.
• Fluoride is an important element of bones and teeth, in addition, it is very useful for pregnant girls.

Harm to mineral water for the human body

: так ли это? Mineral water is harmful to health : is it so? The answer to this question is extremely simple: it is a matter of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the use of this product. Thus, the frequency of intake of mineral water of the therapeutic type, as well as the daily dosage depends on the qualitative composition of the product and, of course, on the recommendations of the doctor. As a rule, mineral water is properly drunk 15-30 minutes before eating in case of a low level of gastric secretion, and for 45-60 minutes with adequate secretion. If the secretion of the body is increased, then drinking mineral water follows an hour and a half before meals.

It is important to note that today artificial gasification of water is very common, which fully explains the loss of the medicinal properties of the product after a while. However, there is also a workaround: to remove carbon dioxide, open the bottle should be well shaken, after which the artificial gases evaporate. Otherwise, a highly carbonated beverage can be an increasing factor in the acidity of gastric juice.

The choice of mineral water is a task that requires an individual approach

? What mineral water is good for your health ? The answer to this question is very multifaceted, after all, just like the characteristics of the human body, the properties of mineral water are individual. As it turned out, a mineral of natural origin is a specific combination of dissolved salts in water and their ions, therefore it is possible to form an artificial composition without ceremony, there would be a desire and corresponding knowledge. Of particular danger are only rough imitations (water, salt, soda), which, good, are practically eradicated.

When choosing a product, you need to pay close attention to such factors as the integrity of the packaging, the purity of the bottle and the content of impurities in the water. In the event that during the use of mineral water a burning effect is felt or an extremely sharp smell of chemical nature, it is better to get rid of this product as soon as possible. In general, it is advisable to purchase natural water only in proven places, for example, in pharmacies.