Before you drink your next glass of water, you should ask yourself: “What’s in the water I’m drinking and is it benefiting or hurting me?”
People easily dismiss what kind of water they are drinking and some hardly drink water at all, but our bodies are made up of 50-65% water. Drinking enough clean and healthy water on a daily basis is probably one of the best things you can do for your health and overall well being. So how do you know if your water is clean?
Without expensive testing tools, it is difficult to know if the water you are drinking is clean and healthy for consumption. Luckily there is a very inexpensive way to make sure your water is free of metals and anything else that could be chillin’ in your water. This method is called Reverse Osmosis and will filter EVERYTHING out of your water. I have personally tested Reverse Osmosis water and it always measures near 0 PPM (Parts-per Million). Most local Water Stores will sell Reverse Osmosis water for around $1-2 per 5 gallons or you can buy a filter for your kitchen sink, this usually runs around $200-300, but will filter all your water, which can be useful for cooking and cleaning as well.
Note: If you are cooking or making coffee/tea with tap water, you are still consuming all the unwanted metals and chemicals!!
Some are concerned that Reverse Osmosis leaves water empty and useless to the body and this may be true, but minerals can very easily be added to your water after filtering through reverse osmosis. Below is our recommended minerals you can add to water:
Apple Cider Vinegar
I personally use apple cider vinegar to add minerals back to my water. ACV is made by fermenting organic apples and comes with many health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, immune system support, balanced blood sugar, healthy skin and hair and much more. Just add one tbsp to your 5 gallon jug of water.
Click here to get this ACV from amazon
My Water History
For the last few years I have been carrying a gallon of water around with me and always researching what the best drinking water is. I have switched from filtered Brita water to bottled Smart Water, to refillable gallons, to Reverse Osmosis Filtered water, to Natural Kroger Spring Water, to high Alkaline water and back to Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water.
The worst experience I had was with any kind of filtered tap water. I tried both Brita Water Filter and Zero Water Filter and as both probably made the water better, they were both a hassle, never tasted good and I was consistently getting sick while drinking these filtered waters. I also later found out that Brita does not filter fluoride and can contain mold within the filter if not replaced often enough. Check out all the complaints on Brita here.
Getting fluoride and other metals and chemicals out of my water was my next main concern. After some research I came to the conclusion that the only way to really know if my water was clean was to run it through Reverse Osmosis and then add minerals after. This ensures that I still get the natural minerals my body needed, but also got rid of fluoride and other things that I don’t want collecting in my body.
Are expensive home filters worth the money?
Lately, there have been many expensive water filters hitting the market. The most expensive being the Water Ionizer Machines, running anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000 for the higher quality brand name machines. These machines are generally something that sits on top of your counter and filters water from your kitchen sink. These filters will change the pH of your water to be highly alkaline and filter out unwanted metals. By running the water through titanium plates, these machines use the process of electrolysis to separate the water into alkaline and acidic water. The alkaline water can be used for drinking and cooking, while the acidic water is suggested to be used in your garden or for cleaning.
While these machines may create alkaline water, they come at a very expensive price and need maintenance to prevent mold and bacteria from collecting and getting in your water. If you have the extra money and want the best water you can get, these machines could be a good investment, but if you are on a budget, you can still get clean, healthy water for as low as $2 per week.
I personally recommend getting an under sink reverse osmosis filter for your kitchen. These only cost around $200 and will make all your water clean for drinking and cooking. I recommend this 6 stage reverse osmosis filtration system found on amazon.
Is Alkaline Water the best drinking water?
Alkaline water is said to neutralize the acid in your body and prevent diseases like cancer and other life threatening diseases, but is it really healthy to use as your main drinking water?
The current American diet is very acidic and in turn makes your bodies pH levels drop to lower acidic levels. This can be very unhealthy and lead to your body developing deadly diseases. I believe that alkaline water is useful to those who have a highly acidic diet, but for those who already eat healthy and have a balanced pH, alkaline water could be hurting your body as it’s making your body too alkaline and throwing off the pH balance.
If we take a look at plants, they survive best with a pH balance of around 6-7 and some even thriving in more acidic pH levels, but when the plants are too high in pH they won’t survive. The human body is balanced at 7.4 pH, so if your body starts going over this, you will start to see problems with your health.
I personally plan to incorporate at least 1 gallon of alkaline water per week into my drinking water, but use reverse osmosis filtered water the rest of the week.
Is Fluoride really that bad?
Fluoride should be avoided every chance possible. Fluoride collects in the bones and cannot be removed from the body once it’s there. When you pass the limit of Fluoride your body can handle, you will start to develop health issues and begin to become crippled over time.
Fluoride is in over 70% of American drinking water and in most of our foods and toothpaste. It is said to be added to our drinking water to prevent cavities and improve tooth health, but it has been proven many times to not have any benefits to our health and is labeled as a poison.
The Side Effects of Fluoride
Side effects of Fluoride include Arthritis, Gastrointestinal Effects, Bone Fracture, Hypersensitivity, Brain Effects, Kidney Disease, Cancer, Male Fertility Problems, Cardiovascular Disease, Calcified Pineal Gland, Diabetes, Skeletal Fluorosis, Endocrine Disruption, Thyroid Disease, Acute Toxicity and more.
Ever noticed the Fluoride warning on your toothpaste?
It says something along the lines of “If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately.” The amount of fluoride that is in that toothpaste is in just 1 glass of tap water, so if you are using tap water as your main drinking source, chances are you aren’t feeling too great.
I recommend switching to Fluoride free toothpaste immediately. I personally use Tom’s Toothpaste, but you can also use natural alternatives like coconut oil or baking soda. I also recommend getting a soft brittle toothbrush that doesn’t take off the enamel on your teeth. I made these changes and my teeth feel healthier than they’ve ever been.
Click here for our recommended fluoride free toothpaste
Click here for our recommended soft bristle toothbrush
Fluoride and the Pineal Gland
When the Pineal Gland is overexposed to fluoride, it becomes calcified. Calcification of the pineal gland is typical in most people, as over 70% of water is fluoridated.
The Pineal Gland produces the hormone Melatonin and has been said to determine how you think and feel throughout the day. If your pineal gland is calcified with too much fluoride, your Melatonin production will be hindered and result in insomnia, stress and less energy over all.
Some also view the pineal gland as the third eye and when calcified, one will become more docile from extreme brain fog.
Check out these 6 must see videos on fluoride!
Showers and contaminated water
Most people who filter their drinking water don’t even consider the absorption of shower water, when in fact you can absorb more chlorine and fluoride in a 10 minute shower than you would get from drinking 8 glasses of the same water. Also when taking hot showers, your pores open up and absorb the shower water like a sponge. If you want to rid your body of unwanted metals, fluoride and chlorine, then having filtered shower water is equally as important as filtering your drinking water.
It isn’t as simple to filter your shower water as it is your drinking water, but it is definitely possible and worth the effort and money. Below are the known methods to take filtered showers.
Reverse Osmosis House Filter System
The easiest method to filter your shower water is to get a Reverse Osmosis System for your house. This filter will filter all water used in your house and ensures that your cooking, showers and drinking water is filtered of chlorine and fluoride. These systems can cost anywhere from $600 to over $2,000 depending on where you get it and installation fees.
Click here to view our Reverse Osmosis System Reviews
Portable Shower Head
An alternative to filtering your entire house water supply, is to use a camping shower head and a bucket of filtered water to shower with. This method is very simple and cheap, but is less convenient and less enjoyable. If you enjoy long hot showers, then a house RO system is your best bet.
You can find portable shower heads here
Reduce Shower Water Consumption
If you want to reduce how much shower water your body is absorbing, you can very simply do this by taking colder and shorter showers. By making the temperature of your shower colder, you are preventing your pores from being as absorbent and will result in less shower water being absorbed through your skin. Taking shorter showers and stepping out of the water while washing is also recommended to reduce how much shower water you are absorbing. Remember that a hot 10 minute shower will absorb more chlorine and fluoride than drinking 8 glasses of the same water!
The Negative Health Effects of Consuming Contaminated Water
The short term effects of drinking contaminated water may not be very noticeable, but continued consumption will result in life threatening diseases and eventually an early death. Side effects will vary depending on exactly what is contaminating the water, but no matter how clean your tap water source is, you should still filter your water.
Short Term Side Effects
If you are drinking from a somewhat clean unfiltered water source, you may not see much short term effects besides brain fog, upset stomach or diarrhea, but as the water gets more contaminated you will start to see more urgent side effects such as nausea, lung irritation, skin rash, vomiting and dizziness.
Long Term Side Effects
You are more likely to experience long term chronic health side effects from drinking unfiltered water and this is why it is important to pay attention to the short term side effects, because as they are not as important, it is your body telling you something is wrong and is trying to prevent further damage. The sooner you switch to filtered RO water or it’s equivalent, the less damage that your body will take and the quicker you will recover.
Long term health effects include cancer, liver and kidney damage, nervous system disorders, digestive disorders, damage to the immune system, weakened bones, birth defects, calcified pineal gland, brain damage and eventually death. Switching your drinking water to filtered RO water is the first step to preventing these life threatening side effects and if you already have one or more of these health issues, it will allow your body to begin the healing process. Don’t forget the importance of switching your cooking and bathing water as well!
Calcification is the biggest problem for the pineal gland. Fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland more than any other organ and leads to the formation of phosphate crystals. As your pineal gland hardens due to the crystal production, less melatonin is produced and regulation of your wake-sleep cycle gets disturbed.
Benefits of drinking clean water after 6 months
After switching to Reverse Osmosis water, within the first few weeks I noticed brain fog lift and mental energy dramatically increase. I felt like things were beginning to click in my head much easier and this in turn increased confidence in my work. Because I had more mental energy and a clear head, I also became more conscious of other unhealthy things I was consuming and gradually began to make small changes in my life in order to improve my health and just live a better life overall.
Here is a list of the benefits I personally noticed:
- Cleared Mind Fog
- Increased Mental and Physical Energy
- Better decision making
- Eating healthier
- Improved hair, skin and teeth
How Much Water Per Day Should You Drink?
Effects of Dehydration and importance of hydration
In Conclusion
These improvements were life changing to me and have dramatically improved my life for the better and I believe it can do the same for you. Remember that you are made up of mostly water and by consuming contaminated water, you are also contaminating your mind and body and overtime this will gradually cripple your health. If you are unsure about your drinking water, play it safe and get reverse osmosis water from your local water or grocery store.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comment section below! Also make sure to follow all our social pages and subscribe to our email list to get notified about other Elevated Living posts like this!
Thanks for reading and I hope this article has helped you improve your overall health. Make sure to check out our other articles to elevate further!
