1. Over 95% of the minerals consumed daily are from the foods we eat. An 8 oz. glass of milk contains more calcium and magnesium than 5 gallons of water.
2. Minerals from food are easier for the body to use than mineral salts dissolved in water.
3. There are no minerals in water that can’t be obtained from food.
4. Tap water is an unreliable source of minerals because the mineral make-up can vary greatly.
5. Some minerals found in water such as nitrates, cadmium and lead can be harmful to human health.
6. The CWQA says, “We can’t drink enough water to make up mineral deficiencies, thus the best solution is to take food supplements or have a balanced diet”.

Beverage PH

• Cranberry Juice - 3.0
• Wine - 2.3
• Gatorade - 2.5
• Apple Juice - 3.8
• Green Tea - 4.0
• Pepsi - 2.8
• Orange Juice - 3.9

The human body can consume beverages whether alkaline (pH above 7) or acidic (pH below 7). The human body buffers to balance the pH. For example if you were to consume something acidic, your blood would produce more bicarbonate and less carbon dioxide to neutralize the acidity. Likewise, if you were to consume something alkaline, your blood would produce more carbon dioxide and less bicarbonate to balance out the pH.

Purified water is slightly acidic with a pH of less than 7. Purified water can’t remove minerals that are part of the body’s cell structure but it can remove discarded or excess minerals and carries them to the kidneys for elimination. This kind of elimination is often incorrectly referred to as “leaching”. In fact studies have shown that not removing excess minerals can cause health issues.

Some believe that consuming pure water will put your body in an acidic state and they recommend drinking water that is alkaline. Even if one was to consume alkaline water, once it hits the highly gastric fluid in the stomach, its alkalinity is gone. Currently, claims about the health benefits of alkaline or acidic water are not supported by credible evidence.

The US Navy has used purified water on board ships for over 50 years and the Navy Surgeon General’s office has stated for the record that no ill effects occur from drinking low TDS water.

Drinking water generally contracts lead from plumbing that has been connected with lead solder (outlawed in 1986) or from outdated water distribution lines. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of lead in your drinking water:

Some sources suggest running your tap water for a couple of minutes before filling a glass to flush any accumulated lead from the water line (lead dissolves into standing water over time). This isn't a foolproof solution, however, since there is no way of knowing whether all of the lead has been removed and since lead can still dissolve into running water. 

Never use hot tap water to prepare drinks or meals. Hot water attracts more lead than cold water does. If you need hot water, heat cold tap water on the stove or in a microwave.

Use a carbon drinking water filter or reverse osmosis system that has been certified to protect your drinking water from lead. Check that the manufacturer's claims have been verified by the Water Quality Association or NSF International; not all systems are certified for lead reduction.