With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment industry, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.

While many a consumer is concerned about maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle, it can be very easy to overlook the essential nutritional value of water. Whether you are looking to lose weight or simply wish to maintain a healthy diet, you are likely to be familiar with proteins, carbohydrates and fats, but you may not appreciate the crucial value water can add to your life and overall health.

So Why H2O?

With the range of sports drinks, sodas and juices accessible on supermarket shelves, you may judge water to be a boring alternative. While bright colored drinks may seem like a more vibrant option, good quality water is still the best choice, whether you lead an active or sedate lifestyle. Water contains no calories, sugars or artificial coloring agents, and although tap water may contain contaminants, a good quality water filtration system can ensure that you have access to an economical, yet high quality water supply.

While sodas and sports drinks can cause a blood sugar spike, water offers a number of advantages to health and hydration, which typical bottled beverages do not. Water flushes out human waste and toxins, oxygenating the blood. Proper hydration, through water, can also boost the immune system, help digestion, keep joints lubricated and improve concentration.

Water can also be a great aid to weight management and can help one feel fuller without feeling lethargic. Additionally, since a 20-ounce soda may contain roughly 240 calories, switching to water can reduce your caloric intake drastically.

How Much Water Should You Consume?

Science shows that only 20% of your total water intake is obtained from the foods you consume. It is recommended that women have a total water intake of 91 ounces, while men intake 125 ounces. There is no upper limit to the amount of water you can consume, since it contains no calories or fat. In fact, research has shown that water can make you feel fuller for longer.

Often hunger pangs are actually a symptom of dehydration, not real hunger for food. It is important to drink water regularly throughout the day, since feeling thirsty is actually a sign that your body is already dehydrated. Other symptoms of mild dehydration include dry skin, headaches, constipation, lack of concentration and fatigue.

The Magnitude of Good Quality Water

Another chief aspect of the nutritional value of water is the quality of the water itself. Poor quality water often contains contaminants such as bacteria, heavy metals or excess minerals, which can negate the health benefits.  For this reason, there are a number of water treatment options and filtration systems available for domestic consumers. These can remove potentially harmful contaminants or unpalatable elements which can compromise the look and taste of the water. Many of these systems offer a cost effective solution, providing high quality water for far less than the cost of bottled water. Additionally, you will not have to deal with the environmental concerns surrounding plastic bottles from overflowing landfills to toxins such as BPA leaching into the water from a poor quality plastic bottle. Domestic water treatment solutions are available as under sink R.O. units or whole house systems.