Why is demineralised water (produced by Reverse Osmosis [RO] filters) not suitable for consumption? - Read full report by the WHO

There are three evident reasons:

1. Demineralised water is highly aggressive.
   Its distribution through pipes and storage tanks is not possible because the aggressive water would leach metals and other materials from the pipes and other plumbing materials.
2. Demineralised water has poor taste and thirst-quenching characteristics.
   This is again due to its lack of minerals.
3. Demineralised water has been proven to have adverse health effects for humans, due to the deficiency of certain constituents.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has formed the International Symposium on Health Aspects of Calcium and Magnesium in Drinking Water. The symposium of about 200 medical researchers are evaluating studies suggesting possible links between insufficient magnesium consumption and a greater human susceptibility to heart attack, hypertension and even type 2 diabetes since many people in regions with mineral-rich or hard drinking water seem to have a lower incidence of heart attack or high blood pressure."

Some of the water concerns raised by WHO researchers and scientists include;

1. Abnormal metabolism and mineral homeostasis
   Low mineral content water negatively effects homeostasis. An increase in urine output is associated with an increase in excretion of major intra- and extra cellular ions from the body.
   
   
2. Increased cardiovascular risk
   Many epidemiological studies report that water low in magnesium is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease.
   
   
3. Essential microelements
   The modern diet of many people may not be an adequate source of minerals and microelements. Even a relatively low intake of the element with drinking water may play a relevant protective role as minerals are usually present in water as free ions and are therefore more readily absorbed from water compared to food.
   
   
4. High loss of calcium, magnesium from foods
   When used for cooking, soft water was found to cause substantial losses of all essential elements from food (vegetables, meat, cereals). Such losses may reach up to 60 % for magnesium and calcium or even more for some other microelements (e.g., copper 66 %, manganese 70 %, cobalt 86 %).
   
   
5. Possible increased dietary intake of toxic metals
   Low-mineral water is unstable and therefore, highly aggressive to materials with which it comes into contact. Such water readily dissolves metals and organic substances from pipes, coatings, storage tanks hose lines and fittings.
   
   
6. High acidy of demineralised can raise the risk of Type 1 Diabetes - read research results

Possible bacterial contamination of low-mineral water
Independent tests have found that reverse osmosis units are prone to bacterial re growth, primarily due to the removal of residual chlorine. R/O tanks also contain rubber, a surface favourable for bacterial growth.

To appreciate waters role in these health problems we need to understand water and its natural cycle.

Water & The Hydrological Cycle

Apart from rainwater (created by a distillation process) and ice, pure water cannot been found nature outside of laboratory conditions. In the natural cycle, rainwater falls to the ground and penetrates the soil collecting minerals as it makes its way down to the water table or aquifer.

After many years, sometimes thousands, water makes its way back up through natural fissures in the earth, collecting yet more minerals on its way back up. It then reappears on the surface as a natural spring.
This is why most spring water is considered healthy and ideal to drink - it's natural cycle is complete. By collecting rain before it has a chance to re-mineralise we interrupt the natural cycle.

Water Stability

Water also has “calcium saturation index”, known as the Langlier index that shows how stable water is in relation to the chemicals and minerals in its immediate environment. Water naturally seeks balance or neutral index.

• If water has a strongly positive reading (hard water - lots of minerals) it will tend to precipitate dissolved minerals. E.g., Hard water (strongly positive index) deposits scale in pipes or hot water heaters.
  
  
• Water with a strongly negative reading (soft water - no minerals) is aggressive and prone to dissolve minerals and metals from its immediate environment.
  
  E.g., Concrete pipes carrying desalinated (Reverse Osmosis) water suffers from accelerated degradation as water leaches out the minerals. The concrete pipes are literally eaten away.

Water produced from distillation or reverse osmosis has the most negative Langlier index possible. When you drink small quantities of this water for short periods of time, it has the ability release toxic substances in the body and helps flush them away. However, it is the long-term consumption of this water where the problem lies.
The same demineralised water that leaches minerals from concrete pipes is the same water that is leaching minerals from your bones. Apart from the aforementioned problems, soft water is also thought responsible for loss of bone density.

 

'If it can't be found in Nature - Don't put it in your body.'

 

 

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