The eagerness of many people to do what is healthy has not gone unnoticed by marketers and nowhere is this more apparent than in the sale of bottled waters and water treatment systems. Alkaline water is one of the latest crazes, but is it really better for us? We are told it can prevent every health problem under the sun.

We see all around us people walking about clutching bottles of mineral water, from which they are constantly drinking. I have personally bought numerous different types on my travels, being fully aware of the importance of hydration. However, many types never seem to satisfy. This can result in the brain always being in a stressed state with the result that one is always craving more. The problem is that the formulations differ enormously and many of these bottled waters contain only a very small proportion of the minerals found in ‘living’ water, such as that coming from mountain springs. This is considered to be the most delicious and healthy water available, and yet it is slightly acidic. When we consider that the stomach needs to be an acidic environment to carry out its functions in digestion, what can be the effect of consuming very large quantities of alkaline water?

There is much conflicting information about which type of water is the healthiest and the topic is surrounded by so much hype that it is scarcely surprising that so many people are confused. As we are not in tune with our bodies to the extent that our ancestors were it is very easy to overlook the body’s cries for water. We should be aware of the early symptoms of dehydration: the most common are constant thirst, dry skin, dark coloured urine and excessive fatigue. These are a sure sign that we should look again at the water we are drinking.

Next Time: Listening To Our Taste Buds