Water, water everywhere but what should you drink?Bottled water has become increasingly more popular than tap water among water connoisseurs. In many areas of the country, bottled water tastes much better than the local tap. When the water tastes good it is easier to keep hydrated hy·drat·ed adj. Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a hydrate. Adj. 1. hydrated - containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate) hydrous with a minimum of eight to ten glasses a day (much more for runners). Many of us feel better about drinking bottled water. We think that it is purer than municipal sources that may be contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. with pollutants pollutants see environmental pollution. and bacteria. But a new report will make you reconsider your feelings about the quality of bottled water. The study compared 57 samples of bottled water purchased from local stores in Cleveland, Ohio "Cleveland" redirects here. For the Cleveland metropolitan area, see . For other uses, see Cleveland (disambiguation). Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. , with samples of tap water from Cleveland's four processing plants. Only three of the bottled water samples were as pure as the local tap water. Tap water was purer than 15 of the bottled samples with bacterial counts bacterial count Public health The concentration of coliform bacteria in water, a quantity that loosely correlates with the level of contamination of drinking and recreational waters. See Public water. ranging from twice those of the tap water to 2,000 times! Of the contaminated bottled water samples, 14 of the 15 contained at least 10 times the bacteria of tap water, and six samples contained at least 1,000 times the bacteria of tap water. The results are alarming. The authors were also interested in the levels of fluoride fluoride, a salt of hydrofluoric acid; see hydrogen fluoride. See also fluoridation; fluorine. in bottled water versus tap water. Parents need to be particularly attentive at·ten·tive adj. 1. Giving care or attention; watchful: attentive to detail. 2. Marked by or offering devoted and assiduous attention to the pleasure or comfort of others. to fluoride for their children (and it's also important for adults as well). As predicted, the bottled water samples failed to meet fluoride standards required of tap water for public health. These authors recommend that bottled water manufacturers be required to include fluoride in their products. The athletic individual is faced with the important job of replacing lost fluids, up to three liters an hour during intense exercise, in addition to the usual recommendations for eight to ten glasses a day. Where does this leave the health-conscious consumer eager to do what is best? Sport drinks provide one palatable pal·at·a·ble adj. 1. Acceptable to the taste; sufficiently agreeable in flavor to be eaten. 2. Acceptable or agreeable to the mind or sensibilities: a palatable solution to the problem. alternative for fluids lost during exercise, but they can't satisfy total fluid needs. Water filters on home tap water are an alternative to bottled water, but home filter systems should also be monitored regularly for bacteria. If your local water tastes good, this report should give you more confidence in drinking it. But for many of us the municipal taste will send you running for the bottle. Whatever you decide, don't cut back on fluids. (Archives of Family Medicine, 2000, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 246-250, or go to ww.americanrunning.org/webarticles/fluids_nutrition/fluid_nutr.htm) |
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