Often buying water in order to quench our thirst, we do not always understand its composition, the site confirms. Mineral, table or simply purified water - there is practically no difference for us, as long as it fills us with life-giving moisture, especially in the hot season. However, some types of water that we are used to indiscriminately use are medicinal and should be used strictly for their intended purpose, and not when you just want to drink. Let's figure out what classic mineral water is.
What is mineral water
Uncontrolled consumption of mineral water can be compared with the consumption of medicines for other purposes, and actions that you can hardly imagine. Before you buy a weekly norm of mineral water in a supermarket, it would be good to at least get acquainted with whether it will harm you.
There is a whole science that studies the beneficial properties of mineral waters and their effect on our body. It's called balneology. Based on the research conducted by experts, recommendations are made for the use of mineral water inside and out.
How mineral waters affect our body
The healing properties of waters can be determined:
- composition,
- dosage.
- way of use.
For example, water containing bicarbonate is indicated for problems with the genitourinary system, namely for urolithiasis and cystitis. It is also useful for infants and those who are intensively engaged in physical activity. However, if you suffer from problems with the gastrointestinal tract, especially gastritis, then it is better not to take it.
With low acidity, water containing chloride ions is suitable. In addition, they can be drunk to activate the process of outflow of bile.
- overweight and obesity,
- chronic hepatitis,
- diabetes,
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
It has a slight laxative effect, due to which the functions of the liver and gallbladder are activated, the body gets rid of waste products. However, it is not prescribed for adolescents and children, as it does not allow calcium to be absorbed, which is necessary at their age.
- elimination of digestive problems,
- restoration of the intestines, kidneys and gallbladder,
- improvement of metabolic processes,
- stimulation of the secretion of the small intestine,
- improve the functioning of the stomach and pancreas.
Contraindications in taking this water are hypertension.
Doctors more and more often say that you should not drink mineral medicinal waters uncontrollably.
Even medicinal table water should be consumed no more than 30 days, and then take a short break for 3-6 months.
And what do you think about taking mineral water, share your opinion on the site.
The Mail.Ru Health project asked experts if mineral water can be drunk every day, is it used in the treatment of obesity, or how to choose it?
What is the salt
There is a classification of natural mineral waters depending on the content of mineral salts per liter. Table water - the most low-mineralized - contains no more than 1 g per liter of minerals, medicinal table water - from 1 to 10 g of salts per liter, medicinal - more than 10 g per liter. Table water can be drunk every day, but you should not get hung up on any one variety. Otherwise, some mineral salts in the body will be too much, while others, on the contrary, are not enough, explains dietitian Yulia Bastrigina.
As Yulia Moskvicheva, PhD, Leading Nutritionist, European Center for Aesthetic Medicine EAC, clarified, table waters improve digestion, but, in fact, do not have pronounced medicinal properties, so they can be drunk in almost any amount. Such water helps to remove toxins from the body and, as a rule, normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
According to Bastrigina, it is possible to drink medicinal table and medicinal waters only for a certain time, as they have a pronounced therapeutic effect. Self-administration can exacerbate certain diseases or lead to the emergence of new ones. It is better to drink such water in a course with interruptions and only after consulting a doctor.
Mineral waters can be classified based on their chemical composition: bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, sodium, calcium, magnesium and mixed composition. Another classification divides waters according to their gas composition and individual elements: carbonic, hydrogen sulfide, bromine, iodine, arsenic, ferruginous, silicic and radon. Also, water can be divided depending on the acidity of the medium into neutral, slightly acidic, acidic, strongly acidic, slightly alkaline and alkaline, says Evgeny Arzamastsev, dietitian at the Margarita Koroleva Center for Aesthetic Medicine.
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To drink or not
The most common trace elements in mineral waters are iron, bromine, arsenic and silicon, says dietitian Larisa Mulyk. Each type of water helps with certain diseases, so it is prescribed only after examination.
For example, in case of urolithiasis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bicarbonate water (alkaline) is used. According to Tatyana Korkina, Deputy Chief Physician for Clinical and Expert Work of the MEDSI Clinical and Diagnostic Center, such water will also be useful for those involved in sports, as well as for those with diabetes and infectious diseases. But there are contraindications: for example,. Chloride water stimulates metabolic processes, helps with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, but is contraindicated in high blood pressure. Another example is magnesium water. They normalize the state of the nervous system under stress, said Yulia Moskvicheva. But do not abuse them if there is a tendency to.
“Sulfate - used as a choleretic and laxative, indicated for obesity and diabetes. Not recommended for osteoporosis, as sulfates interfere with the absorption of calcium from food, ”adds Moskvicheva. When using these waters, the mode, dose and temperature of the water are extremely important - these factors, as Bastrigina specified, will either have a therapeutic effect, or, on the contrary, aggravate the disease. In addition, it is not recommended to use such water for children and adolescents, since sulfates prevent bone growth by binding calcium in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract into insoluble salts, says Korkina.
How and how much
The frequency of taking medicinal water and the daily dose depend on the characteristics of the body, on the type of mineral water and on the tasks that the doctor sets, Larisa Mulyk warns. As a rule, it is customary to drink mineral water 15-30 minutes before meals with reduced gastric secretion, with normal secretion - 45-60 minutes before meals, with increased secretion - one and a half hours before meals.
For daily use, water with a mineralization of 1 g per liter is suitable, an important condition is active physical activity and good sweating, in other cases it is better to consult a doctor, Yevgeny Arzamastsev is sure. “If you drink a lot of mineral water with poor fluid outflow, you are more likely to get kidney problems,” the expert explained.
With gas or without?
Another question is what kind of water to drink - carbonated or not. Producers have to preserve the beneficial properties and taste of water. As the leading expert of Ecobureau GREENS Elena Smirnova explained, only some sources are characterized by the natural presence of gas. “The waters are saturated with carbon dioxide for better preservation. It is practically impossible to distinguish whether the water was carbonated artificially without examination, and besides, natural carbon dioxide differs little from the added one,” she says.
According to Yevgeny Arzamastsev, mineral water without artificial gasification is the most useful, but after some time it will lose its healing properties, since the microelements contained in the water quickly oxidize. “Carbon dioxide is added as a preservative to fully preserve all the qualities of the drink. To get rid of carbon dioxide, an open bottle can be shaken a little and left for a while. A highly carbonated drink can increase the acidity of gastric juice. This, in turn, can lead to inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract,” the specialist said.
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How not to buy a fake
According to Yulia Moskvicheva, mineral waters are the leader among counterfeit products. “Of course, you will not get any benefit from fake mineral water. Special harm, probably, too. If it at least meets the sanitary standards of tap water and does not contain lead, mercury or cholera vibrio. But who can guarantee that?” the doctor says.
Since natural mineral water is a certain set of dissolved salts and their ions, it is not difficult to artificially create water that tastes like real water, says PhD, nutritionist, Natalia Fadeeva. According to the expert, gross fakes are especially dangerous, when soda and salt are simply added to the water in certain proportions.
Julia Bastrigina recommends paying attention to the integrity of the packaging, the cleanliness of the bottle, and impurities in the water. Well, if you feel a burning sensation or a too strong chemical smell when drinking water, then it is better to pour it out. Tatyana Korkina advises buying mineral water only in trusted pharmacies or stores, paying attention to the appearance of the bottle. Sometimes the label contains lists of diseases for which it is recommended to drink this mineral water. However, recommendations on the label like “It is used for diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver, biliary tract”, or “It is used for diseases of the digestive system” will not make it easy to navigate the choice of water.
Yevgeny Arzamastsev said that the name "mineral water" on the labels is fixed by law. This means that the water has been bottled directly from the source and has not undergone any further processing. Another name included in the GOST system is drinking water. If there is an inscription on the bottle, this indicates the presence of artificially enriched water in it.
“It is best to choose water produced according to the old norms. You can find out by the final two digits of the GOST code, they mean the year of its creation. The older it is, the more proven and reliable are the sources from where the mineral water was extracted. From water produced according to specifications ( specifications - ed.), it is advisable to refuse, since it may not have useful properties, ”advises Arzamastsev.
The label, according to Elena Smirnova, should be studied very carefully, it should indicate:
- The number of the well(s) and, if available, the name of the deposit (site of the deposit) or the name of the source.
- Name and location (address) of the manufacturer, address of the organization authorized to receive claims.
- The ionic composition of water (as a rule, the content of calcium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonates, chlorides is indicated).
- GOST or technical conditions according to which water is made.
- Volume, bottling date, expiration date and storage conditions.
“Compliance with GOST ensures that the safety standards for the presence of pollutants such as mercury, cadmium or lead, radionuclides in water are not exceeded, and there is no bacterial contamination,” says Smirnova.
Store bottles of mineral water, experts advise in a horizontal position at a temperature of 4-14 degrees.
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Experts agree that it is best to drink mineral water straight from the source. For Russians, this is quite feasible - almost every region of the country has it.
Many people think that mineral water is very useful and use it without a shadow of a doubt. However, this is not always safe. Carbonated water is different. To whom and for what it is recommended to drink it?
Carbonated water is water to which carbon dioxide has been added.
Depending on the percentage of carbon dioxide, water can be of three types:
- slightly carbonated (0.2% gas);
— medium carbonated (0.3% gas);
- highly carbonated (0.4%).
You can artificially add carbon dioxide to water:
- mechanically (with the help of siphons and pumps);
- chemically (with the addition of soda and other chemicals).
Natural carbonated water is able to retain its properties for a long time, while artificially added carbon dioxide evaporates quickly.
The benefits and harms of sparkling water are constantly being debated.
Benefits of sparkling water
It is believed that only natural mineral water can bring significant benefits to a person. Its beneficial effect on the body is difficult to overestimate.
1. Carbonated water extracted from artesian wells is clean and free of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, carbon dioxide is able to kill pathogenic bacteria in the human body.
2. Carbon dioxide in the composition of water maintains the acid-base balance in the stomach.
3. Water with gas strengthens the walls of the stomach and intestines.
4. Soda increases the production of gastric juice.
5. Mineral water activates enzymes.
6. Sodium, calcium and magnesium, which are often added to sparkling water, replenish the supply of trace elements, strengthen bones and teeth.
7. With regular use of water with gas, the level of cholesterol and sugar in the blood decreases, which has a positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular system.
8. Sparkling water quenches thirst better than regular water.
9. Drinking water with gas helps cleanse the blood, increase hemoglobin and better nourish the body at the cellular level.
10. Sweet soda "Duchess" and "Tarragon" contain tarragon, which constricts blood vessels and improves the functioning of the digestive system.
11. In such carbonated drinks as Baikal and Sayany, an extract of the levdea plant is added, which relieves fatigue, improves muscle tone and normalizes the functioning of the nervous system.
12. Healing infusions on carbonated water are much more effective than on ordinary water.
Harm of carbonated water
Natural carbonated water is harmful if you drink it in very large quantities, and also if the percentage of carbon dioxide in it is high. This can lead to the following health problems:
- destruction of bone tissue (due to the high content of phosphorus with a lack of calcium);
- exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (due to irritation of the mucous membranes with acids and salts);
- urolithiasis (due to a violation of phosphorus-calcium metabolism);
- gas formation, bloating, flatulence;
- painful colic;
- heartburn.
Highly carbonated mineral water should be consumed only if indicated and under the supervision of the attending physician.
Sugary carbonated drinks cause much more harm to the body. Dyes, flavors and preservatives that are added to them can have a negative impact on human health. Sugar, which is very much in such, has a detrimental effect on the teeth and leads to obesity. In addition, it promotes the production of insulin, which can lead to diabetes.
Carbonated water with additives can cause an allergic reaction in case of individual intolerance to individual components.
You should also refuse drinks in which carbon dioxide is added artificially.
Carbonated water is contraindicated for children under three years of age. Their digestive system does not respond well to carbon dioxide.
Pregnant women should also refrain from drinking soda. They are already prone to increased gas formation, and drinks containing carbon dioxide will only aggravate their condition. In addition, bloating can be transmitted to the fetus, and various chemical additives can interfere with its normal development.
The benefits of carbonated water in the process of losing weight
For people who want to lose weight, sugary carbonated drinks are strictly contraindicated. One liter of this liquid can contain up to half of the daily calorie intake. Even one glass can negate all the daily efforts aimed at losing weight. But sweet sodas do not quench thirst, but provoke it, so you can drink a lot of them unnoticed.
But the use of natural mineral water with gas helps in the fight against extra pounds. For these purposes, it is better to use slightly carbonated water.
1. Carbonated water, especially cold water, improves the swallowing reflex.
2. Mineral water with gas slows down the process of digestion of food, so that the feeling of satiety remains much longer.
3. The use of carbonated water has a beneficial effect on the digestion process. The risk of constipation is minimized, and the body is better cleansed.
4. Mineral water can deceive the feeling of hunger. It fills the stomach, diluting the gastric juice, and hunger recedes for a while.
5. Carbonated water speeds up metabolism, which helps burn fat.
6. The diuretic effect of carbonated mineral water helps to remove excess fluid from the body, thereby eliminating puffiness and reducing weight.
In order to lose weight, carbonated water is better to drink according to the following scheme:
- immediately after waking up to stimulate the intestines;
- before meals to partially fill the stomach;
- instead of a snack, if you want to eat at an inopportune time.
Harm of carbonated water for losing weight
If you drink soda in large quantities and give preference to highly carbonated drinks, you can harm your health and slow down the process of losing weight.
1. Carbon dioxide is able to stretch the walls of the stomach due to bubbles. If you abuse highly carbonated drinks, the amount of food needed to satisfy your hunger will increase all the time.
2. Frequent use of soda can cause stagnation of food in the stomach and intestines. In addition, water with carbon dioxide can start the process of fermentation and putrefaction in the digestive organs.
3. Highly carbonated drinks in an empty stomach irritate the mucous membrane and can provoke a recurrence of chronic gastritis or ulcers.
4. Do not abuse carbonated water during sports. Carbon dioxide can cause an increase in blood pressure, and the load on the heart and blood vessels during exercise is already high.
How to choose healthy sparkling water
When buying sparkling water, you should pay attention to the following points:
1. The liquid in the bottle should be clear, without sediment.
2. If the water is with additives, then they must be natural.
3. When fighting overweight, carbonated drinks with added sugar and sweeteners should be completely abandoned.
4. If there is a history of gastrointestinal diseases, preference should be given to slightly and medium carbonated water.
Thinking about the benefits and harms of carbonated water, it should be remembered that uncontrolled use of even the most useful product can be harmful. Everything needs a measure.
To answer this question, it is worth considering in detail the classification of mineral waters. Table mineral water has a low degree of mineralization and a small amount of biologically active components. Such water can be used constantly by perfectly healthy people without restrictions.
For gastritis accompanied by low acidity, sodium chloride mineral waters are recommended, which are taken for a long time in half a glass 30 minutes before meals.
Therapeutic table mineral water has a mineralization of 1 to 10 g per cubic dm. For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, it is permissible to use such water in limited quantities. That is, medicinal table water is not suitable as drinking water.
Therapeutic mineral water has a high degree of mineralization and contains a large number of biologically active components. It is recommended to use such water only as prescribed by a doctor in a prescribed dose during the appropriate period of treatment for a particular disease. this is especially true for those who have kidneys or other internal organs.
If we look at the ionic components, we can distinguish six classes of mineral waters: chloride, hydrocarbonate, sulfate, mixed, biologically active and carbonated. All classes of mineral water can have different degrees of mineralization and for the treatment and prevention of certain diseases.
The gas composition and the content of specific components make it possible to subdivide mineral water into sulfide, carbonic, nitric, siliceous, iodine, bromine, ferrous, radioactive and arsenic.
Calcium chloride waters with a high degree of mineralization are used for various diseases as prescribed by a doctor.
How to choose mineral water
For daily constant intake in unlimited quantities, choose table mineral water. It can be used by people who do not suffer from chronic diseases.
Basically, mineral water is available in plastic or glass bottles, pre-carbonated with carbon dioxide. Such water retains mineralization for a long time, which allows for treatment in non-resort areas.
When choosing mineral water, carefully read the label. If the mineralization is weak and the bottle says that the water belongs to the dining room, you can drink it instead of regular water without any health problems.
All doctors and fitness instructors loudly and in chorus say that you need to drink more water. In addition, it will be nice if the daily use of mineral water becomes a habit.
If the body does not have enough fluid, metabolic processes slow down, metabolic products are excreted worse. And this leads to a variety of nightmares ranging from flaky skin to severe digestive problems. Lack of fluid can even be the cause of edema - the cells "store" it. Therefore, general recommendations, especially relevant for those who want to deal with erratic eating, systematic overeating and overweight, are as follows: drink 30 grams of water per day for every kilogram of body weight (but not more than 2 liters). There is a nuance: we are talking about water (juices, teas, broths, etc. for the body, not drink, but food). The only problem is choosing what to drink, because, along with toxins and other garbage, the legendary "2 liters a day" flushes out the body of not superfluous minerals at all. The logical way out is to drink mineral water, sending the body what it needs.
Salt to taste
Mineral water has the right to be called a liquid extracted from an officially registered underground source, with the original set of salts preserved. What kind of water is in the bottle should be written on the label. Look for the words "settlement at 180 degrees", "total mineralization" or "total salinity" - they all mean the same thing.
Depending on how many chemical elements and other substances have been dissolved in water, it is declared curative (10-15 g of salts per liter, drunk only as directed by a doctor). You should not abuse medicinal waters - this threatens with the deposition of salts and other rather unpleasant consequences. Medicinal table waters contain 1-10 g of salts per liter, are used for preventive purposes and are also not suitable for permanent use.
Table mineral water contains no more than 1 gram of salts per liter, it can be drunk at any time. And it would be nice if half of those "daily 2 liters" were just such water. With a choice, too, you can not be too smart and focus on your own taste - just drink the mineral water that seems especially pleasant to you. But if you intend to pick up a certain pool of mineral waters for permanent use, for example, as part of a weight loss program or a maintenance course for any chronic disease, you need to consult a specialist.
Mineral waters are classified according to the salts they contain:
- Bicarbonate ( "Arkhyz"). It is recommended for people leading an active lifestyle, infants and patients with cystitis. Harmful for gastritis.
- Sulfate ( "Essentuki №20"). Recommended for liver problems, has a mild laxative effect. It is contraindicated in children and adolescents, since sulfates can interfere with the absorption of calcium, and hence the formation of bones. For the same reason, women over 50, who are at risk of osteoporosis, should not drink it.
- Chloride ( "Essentuki №4", "Aksu"). Regulates the work of the intestines, biliary tract and liver. Harmful for high blood pressure.
- Magnesium ( "Narzan", "Erinskaya"). Helps with constipation and stress, not recommended for citizens prone to indigestion.
- Fluorine ( "Lazarevskaya", "Sochi"). Recommended for pregnant women, people suffering from osteoporosis. Contraindicated in those who have fluoridated tap water at home.
- glandular ( "Marcial", "Polyustrovskaya"). Indicated for iron deficiency anemia. Contraindicated in peptic ulcer.
- Sour ( "Shmakovskaya"). Recommended for low acidity of gastric juice. Harmful for ulcers.
- sodium ( "Smirnovskaya", "Narzan"). Helps with constipation and poor digestion, is not recommended for hypertensive patients and those who are prescribed a low-salt diet.
- Calcium ( "Smirnovskaya", "Slavyanovskaya"). Recommended for milk intolerance, pregnant women, children and adolescents. May reduce blood pressure. There are no strict contraindications.
Most mineral waters contain a large set of salts and therefore belong to several classes at the same time. For example, "Smirnovskaya" - sodium-calcium, "Narzan" - sodium-magnesium, etc. By the way, you don’t even need to cook on “mineral water”, even a dining room - when salt is boiled, they give a precipitate and can form compounds that are not absorbed by the body.
With or without bubbles?
Mineral water is carbonated and without gas. If for medical reasons you drink, for example, "Essentuki 17", which can only be carbonated, you have no choice. If there are no such rigid frames, decide for yourself - water "with bubbles" or without. First of all, the gas can be natural or artificially added. The second option seems dubious to gastroenterologists: "non-native" gas can interfere with the absorption of minerals in the water itself. In addition, there is an opinion that in general any carbonated liquid contributes to the appearance of cellulite. By the way, it happens that gas naturally disappears from natural sparkling water. And before bottling it is again, already artificially, again added to the water. Taking into account all of the above, I would like to dwell on water without gas - sin gas or eau naturelle.
If you still choose "soda", please note: firstly, no more than 2 glasses a day (otherwise, the main effect of the application will be a swollen stomach). Secondly, in chronic gastritis with high acidity and ulcers, mineral water is drunk quickly, almost in one gulp, and in normal and low acidity, slowly, in small sips.
Complex issue
True natural mineral water requires delicate handling from those who bottle it. Of course, the ideal option is to drink water directly from the source. But, since Narzan does not flow from every tap, let's return to bottled mineral water.
Most of the liquids that are declared "mineral water" are born like this: first, water from an artesian well (well, if not from a water pipe) is deeply purified. Such filtration not only removes all harmful impurities, but at the same time rids the water of all useful things that happened to be in it. At the second stage, salts and other minerals are added to the water, bringing the chemical composition to any state. Of course, with this approach, salts may turn out to be more or less than we would like. And even if there is exactly as much “filling” as needed, for example, for Essentuki, it will still not be a “living” medium, but simply a solution of salts. Of course, there is no need to wait for a therapeutic effect from the use of such a liquid.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine what kind of water is in front of you on the supermarket shelf. It is worth focusing on well-known manufacturers and famous sources, glass containers that better preserve the properties of water, and a rather high price. Another fairly safe option is local mineral water, which is simply not economically viable to fake. By the way, in the Moscow region there are quite enough decent sources - in Dorohovo, Monino, Tishkovo, Zvenigorod, Arkhangelsk, Erin, Istra and so on.
If we are talking about a complete (at least safe) product, the following information should be indicated on the label:
- Name of water
- Name and contacts of the manufacturer
- Chemical composition
- Degree and method of mineralization
- Source name
- Storage rules
- Best before date
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