--- Julia Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The Fool wrote: > > > The kicker is that distilled water is purer, > tastes better, has fewer contamininents, etc. > > Taste is a matter of opinion. I happen not to agree > with you 100%. Some > minerals in water improve the taste, IMO. (Only > certain ones, though.)
I enjoy the taste of water in Carlsbad, NM (lots of dissolved limestone!), but not Denver tap water, which is also classified as "hard," so I filter before I drink (I also live in a 1940's house, and lead is detectable if the water has been 'sitting in the pipes' over a long weekend). There can be some benefits to mineral water: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12449291&dopt=Abstract ...RESULTS: Dietary calcium intake provided by the various food groups did not differ between the 4 consumer groups, except for calcium provided by mineral water. According to its calcium concentration, mineral water may contribute to one fourth of the total daily calcium intake. Subjects who regularly drink mineral-rich water have a calcium intake that is significantly higher (P< 10(-3)) than those drinking either low-mineral-content water or tap water. Dietary magnesium intake provided by the various food groups did not differ between the 4 consumer groups, except for magnesium provided by mineral water. Depending on the magnesium concentration of the mineral water, it contributed 6% to 17% of total daily magnesium intake. Drinkers of magnesium-rich mineral water and water with a moderate mineral content had magnesium intakes significantly (P< 10(-3)) higher than those of drinkers on low-mineralized or tap water. APPLICATIONS: Mineral-rich water may provide an important supplementary contribution to total calcium and magnesium intake. For dietetics professionals, it may provide-in place of the usual recommendations concerning the consumption of dairy products-a good way to improve calcium and magnesium intakes, particularly in subjects who don't like dairy products. (There were several other studies about calcium and/or magnesium intake WRT mineral water; some studies looking at effects (frex, calcium-rich water and possible effect on renal stone formation) are both quite small, and - when using "normal" individuals as subjects - may not apply to the affected group.) This abstract had nothing beyond the conclusion, but suggests that certain skin problems are improved by mineral water consumption: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12325458&dopt=Abstract Deep sea water intake improves skin symptoms and mineral imbalance and decreases serum IgE levels...in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS), while distilled water intake fails to do so. Kevin (I think) asked about tooth decay and distilled water; while I found nothing in PubMed to suggest a relationship, there may be some benefit to mineral-containing water WRT tooth enamel: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11556958&dopt=Abstract ...Thus, mineral waters appear to offer a safe alternative to more erosive acidic beverages and their complex mineral ion compositions may positively influence any dissolution processes at the tooth surface. However, high sodium chloride may negate the benefits of a low-salt diet (for hypertension): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12013486&dopt=Abstract ...CONCLUSION: Consumption of sodium chloride-rich mineral water can abolish the blood pressure reduction induced by dietary salt restriction in elderly individuals. Sodium bicarbonate-rich mineral water in conjunction with a low-salt diet may have a beneficial effect on calcium homeostasis. When used to make infant formula, it can also affect blood pressure: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11821704&dopt=Abstract ...CONCLUSIONS : Diluting milk formula with tap water containing a high concentration of sodium will result in the infant being fed a high-salt diet. To equilibrate with breast milk, formula should be diluted with low-salt water. Blood pressure in the neonate is increased by a high sodium intake via drinking water. But the source needs to be considered; if they don't test for impurities (I'd assume that info should be available on their website; Denver Water sends out a report to customers each year, listing what they test for and how Denver scored in relation to national standards), you may be getting more than you wanted: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12141610&dopt=Abstract Radioactivity in some Tunisian thermo-mineral springs (11 hot mineral springs and one cold spring) has been determined for the first time in Tunisia using radiochemical separation procedures. The obtained results show that 238U activity concentrations vary between 1.5 and about 43 mBq/l... Radioactivity in the only cold mineral water from Ain Oktor is very low, and thus health hazards due to the consumption of this water are not expected. Distilled water had the lowest radon levels in this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8061662&dopt=Abstract Tap water, flushing water and drinking water including natural mineral water, artificial mineral water and distilled water have been investigated for their radon concentrations. It has been found that the radon concentration in natural mineral water samples is the highest and that in tap water is the second highest, while other categories have values very near to the detection limit. This tiny study adds another reason for Julia's caution WRT infants and plain water: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11803176&dopt=Abstract This study in 10 term infants investigated the effects of different fluids on the coordination between swallowing and breathing during bottle feedings. Sucking pressure, swallowing, breathing and O(2) saturation were examined in each infant during bottle feedings with breast milk, formula and distilled water. When receiving breast milk, the infants showed a significantly higher breathing rate than with the other liquids. Swallows followed by inspiration were demonstrated less often with breast milk compared with formula or distilled water. In conclusion, expressed breast milk is suitable for neonates because better coordination between swallowing and breathing could be obtained and subclinical aspiration could be prevented. Regarding chlorinated tap vs. distilled or non-chlorinated, there is a trade-off: greatly reduced GI illnesses like typhoid fever, with small increased risk of certain birth defects at high levels of chlorination/byproducts (per large studies published 2002; earlier studies either found only a 'possible link' if at all, and frequently suggested the need for larger studies), and possibly some cancers: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9273924&dopt=Abstract This review discusses the relation between by-products of drinking water chlorination and cancer in the light of present toxicological and epidemiologic evidence. During the chlorination of drinking water, a complex mixture of by-products forms from chlorine and the organic and inorganic compounds present in raw water. The quality and quantity of such compounds depend on the specific nature of the organic material in raw waters, the inorganic material in raw water, pH, temperature, other water treatment practices, and the chlorine timing and dose added. Chlorination by-products are important mainly when surface water is used for drinking water as more organic compounds are present in surface waters than in ground waters. The gastrointestinal and urinary tract are the cancer sites that are most often associated with the use of chlorinated surface water or with the quantity of chlorination by-products in the water-supply network. Yet the microbial quality of drinking water should not be compromised by excessive caution over the potential long-term effects of disinfection by-products because the risk of illness and death resulting from exposure to pathogens in untreated drinking water may be several orders of magnitude greater than the cancer risks from chlorination by-products. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12181108&dopt=Abstract To assess the effect of water chlorination by-products on specific birth defects, the authors conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study of 285,631 Norwegian births in 1993-1998. Risks of birth defects according to four chlorination by-product exposure categories were compared on the basis of chlorination (yes/no) and level of water color (mg Pt/liter), representing the amount of natural organic matter: high...medium.. ..and low exposure, with no chlorination and low color as the reference category. In logistic regression analysis, the risks of any birth defect...[was] significantly associated with exposure (medium and high combined). Regarding risk of specific birth defects, only that for ventricular septal defects was significantly elevated...Furthermore, risk of neural tube defects was related to high color... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11834464&dopt=Abstract Concern for exposures to drinking water contaminants and their effects on adverse birth outcomes has prompted several studies evaluating chlorination disinfection by-products and chlorinated solvents. Some of these contaminants are found to be teratogenic in animal studies...The studies of THMs (trihalomethanes) and adverse birth outcomes provide moderate evidence for associations with SGA (small for gestational age), neural tube defects (NTDs), and spontaneous abortions. Because fewer studies have been conducted for the chlorinated solvents than for THMs, the evidence for associations is less clear. Nevertheless, the findings of excess NTDs, oral clefts, cardiac defects, and choanal atresia in studies that evaluated TCE-contaminated drinking water deserve follow-up. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9504283&dopt=Abstract ...These ecologic data are compatible with trihalomethanes in drinking water being either unrelated or weakly related to breast cancer risk. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9778177&dopt=Abstract ...A small, statistically significant, exposure-related excess risk was found for kidney cancer for men... It is harder for the body to absorb pure water than water mixed with a few electrolytes and a little bit of sugar. That is why when infants/toddlers have diarrhea/vomiting, something like Pedialyte is recommended as rehydration fluid rather than straight water. Same goes for an adult with vomiting - you're less likely to throw up something like weak tea with a spoonful of sugar, or diluted fruit juice, than plain water. OTOH, concentrated sugars, as in straight fruit juices or colas, are *not* good for young children who are dehydrated/nauseous, and can make diarrhea worse (despite the old-timey nausea remedy: Coca-cola syrup, which worked, according to some older patients ). Debbi who has 151 new posts to read, at least 10 posted articles to check out, and several more 'old' posts to respond to/answer... <sigh> __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - establish your business online http://webhosting.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
