Learn more the health benefit of various non-alcoholic commercial drinks

Fruit Juice, Soft Drink,

Carbonated Mineral Water Drink,

Ion Supply Drink,

Sport Drink / Isotonic Drink,

Energy Drink.

Different concepts for different purposes!!!

Soft Water and Hard Water:

Soft water is treated water in which sodium [Na⁺] is the only ion, soft water is not for drinking, is neither healthy nor desirable for drinking, we should not drink soft water.

Hard water is water that contains a big quantity of dissolved minerals, like calcium [Ca²⁺] and magnesium [Mg²⁺], calcium and magnesium are two minerals which make water hard, calcium is essential in our diet.

Water hardness is measured either in grains per gallon [GPG] or as calcium hardness in milligrams per liter [mg / l] or parts per million [ppm]. GPG is based on calcium hardness, equivalent to calcium hardness ppm, divides by 17.2.

• soft or slightly hard water…...........<3.5>
• moderately hard water……….........3.5 to 10.5 GPG;
• very hard water:……….....…….>10.5 GPG.

The human body’s mineral content and the human’s sweat mineral content:

The human body's mineral content: in most cases is an optimal level of minerals [macro minerals and micro minerals] that must be present in the body in their correct balance, excessive consumption as well as deficiency of minerals is generally undesirable.

The human body’s mineral content are as the followings:

1. Macrominerals [essential]:

· Sodium……….1.37 gram / liter [ 0.137 %],

· Potassium……3.42 gram / liter [ 0.342 %],

· Calcium……..16.70 gram / liter [ 1.670 %],

· Magnesium….0.53 gram / liter [ 0.053 %],

· Silicon………..0.46 gram / liter [ 0.046 %].

2. Microminerals: Iron 0,00638 %, Zinc 0,00365 %, Lead 0.000243 %, Copper 0.000 137 %, Chromium 0.0000091 %, Nickel 0.0000167 %, Aluminium 0.0000988 %, Cadminum 0.0000608 %, Barium 0.0000344 %, Cobalt 0.0000304 %, Vanadium 0.0000304 %, Tin 0.0000228 %, Selenium 0.0000228 %, Arsenic 0.0000228 %, Manganese 0.0000198, Mercury 0.0000190 %, Molybdenum 0.0000122 %, Bismuth 0.0000045 %, Lithium 0.00000, Uranium 90 mcg.

When we exercise, many of the minerals contained in our body are either burnt up or excreted through perspiration / sweating, an isotonic drink help fill again / replenish these lost minerals as well as topping up our energy levels, isotonic drink is essentially just water, minerals and glucose [sugar] with some added vitamins, the glucose will give us an energy boost.

Composition of human sweat:

Human sweat contains mainly water, but it also contains minerals, as well as lactate and urea, mineral composition will vary with the individual, the acclimatization to heat, exercise, sweating, the duration of sweating, and the composition of minerals in the body, the human sweat’s minerals content are as follows:

• Sodium........... 0.9000 gram / liter [0.090 %],
• Potassium……0.2000 gram / liter [0.020 %],
• Calcium…….. 0.0150 gram / liter [0.150 %],
• Magnesium…. 0.0013 gram / liter [0.013 %].

many other trace elements are excreted in sweat: Iron 1.0 mg / liter, Zinc 0.4 mg / liter, Lead 0.05 mg / liter, Copper 0.3 - 0.8 mg / liter, Chromium 0.1 mg / liter, Nickel 0.05 mg / liter, humans sweat is hypo-osmotic relative to plasma.

Fruit juices / Fruit beverages:

Fruit juices are nutritious beverages that have been enjoyed by adults and children for decades. 100% fruit juices can play an important role in a healthy diet because they offer great taste and a variety of nutrients found naturally in fruits. These juices are fat-free, high nutrients, rich in vitamins, minerals and naturally occurring phyto-nutrients that contribute to good health.

Drinking 100% Fruit juice is associated with lower risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome: if we enjoy a glass of 100% fruit juice as part of our daily routine, chances are we also have fewer risk factors for several chronic diseases when compared to other non juice-drinking persons of the same age [ peers]. New research presented today at the Experimental Biology (EB) 2009 meeting highlights this association among adult men and women, with evidence showing that 100% fruit juice drinkers were thin and healthy [leaner], had better insulin sensitivity and had lower risk for obesity and metabolic syndromes, a cluster of conditions that increases risk for stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

Beverages with high phytochemicals / phytonutrient values:

Vitamin C, Antioxidants, flavanoids, phytoferols etc.

Pomegranate juice......[Punica granatum, family Lythraceae]
Concord grape juice...[Citrus paradise, family Rutaceae]
Pineapple juice……...[Ananas comosus, family Bromeliaceae]
Cranberry juice……. [Vaccinum oxycoccos, family Ericaceae]
Guajava juice ………[Psidium domentorum, family Myrtaceae]

Banana juice………. [Musa paradisiacal, family Musaceae]

Watermelon juice…...[Citrullus lanatus, family Cucurbitaceae]

Annona juice………..[Annona squamosa, family Annonaceae]

Blackberry juice…….[Robus argatus, family Rosaceae]

Avocado juice……....[Persea americana, family Sapotaceae]

Melon juice………....[Cucumis melo, family Cucurbitaceae]

Apple juice…………[Malus domestica, family Rosaceae]

Orange juice……… .[Citrus sinensis, family Rutaceae]

Tomato juice……….[Solanum lycopersicum, family Solanaceae]

Blueberry juice……..[Vaccinum angustifolium, family Ericaceae]

Red wine juice……..[Vitis vinifera, family Vitaceae]

Starfruit juice............[Averrhoa carambola, family Oxalidaceae]

Non Carbonated Natural Mineral Water,

Carbonated Mineral Water, Soft Drinks:

Non Carbonated Natural Mineral Water:

Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts, fruits of the coconut palm [Cocos nucifera, family Palmae], coconut water has long been a popular drink in the tropics, especially in tropical Asia, Central America like Costa Rica, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and other Caribbean islands, where it is available fresh [young fresh nuts] or bottled or in Tetra Paks containers, they call it Agua de pipa, and marketed as a sports drink because of its high potassium and mineral content, it is naturally fat-free and low in food energy [16.7 calories or 70 kilojoules per 100 grams], coconut water is a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood, it's the fluid of life, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict, as a matter of fact, regularly used coconut water siphoned directly from the nut, to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Composition of coconut water:

Water…………….95.50 %

Nitrogen…………...0.05 %

Phosphoric acid……0.56 %

Potassium………….0.25 %

Calcium oxide……...0.69 %

Magnesium oxide…..0.59 %

Iron………………..0.50 mg /100g

Total solids………...4.71 mg /100g

Reducing sugars……0.80 mg /100g

Total sugars………..2.08 mg /100g

Ash………………..0.62 mg /100g

[Source: Pandalai, K. M. (1958). Coconut water and its uses. Coconut Bull. 12, No. 5, 167-173]

Coconut water is the very stuff of nature, biologically pure and sterile, full of natural sugars, minerals / salts, and vitamins to keep away fatigue, according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization [FAO]:

• coconut water contains more potassium, at about 294 mg / 100 ml than most sports drinks [117 mg / 100ml] and most energy drinks.
• coconut water has less sodium, 25 mg / 100 ml, where sports drinks have around 41 mg / 100 ml and energy drinks have about 200 mg / 100 ml
• coconut water has 5 mg / 100 ml of natural sugars, where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25 mg / 100 ml of altered sugars.
• coconut water is very high in chloride at 118 mg / 100 ml, compared to sports drinks at about 39 mg / 100 ml.

The Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] recommended the young coconut juice as the natural rehydration liquid and the energetic drink, was suitable for anyone especially the athletes and they who had the quite high activities, FAO recommended that the young coconut juice was patented and marketed in the package without reduced its content of electrolytes, glucose, protein and vitamins, traditionally, coconut water freshly taken from young coconut nut can also be used as an antidote / a substance that acts against the effects of a poison such as food poisoning.

Sample of Coconut Water Drink in Tetra Paks container: Fatigon Hydro+ Natural Health Drink, contains each 250 ml: sodium 110 mg, kalium 270 mg, magnesium 14 mg, kalsium 12 mg, vitamin C 20 mg, vitamin B₃ 4 mg, vitamin B₅ 2 mg, vitamin B₆ 1 mg.

Carbonated Mineral Water / Soda Water:

Water with few minerals is described as being soft water, mineral water can be prepared or can occur naturally, mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the water, mineral water can often be effervescent, in many places, mineral water also means carbonated water, usually carbonated mineral water, traditionally mineral waters would be used or consumed at their source, the U.S. FDA classifies mineral water as water containing at least 250 ppm [parts per million] total dissolved solids [TDS], and also is water coming from a source tapped at one or more bore holes or spring, originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source, no minerals may be added to this water.

Soft Drinks are beverages which are labeled as sparkling water / seltzer water / fizzy water ^[1] / soda water / tonic water, or club soda, they do not contain alcohol, in contrast are the hard drinks / alcoholic drinks, soft drinks like soda, soda pop, coke, are called carbonated soft drinks / fizzy drinks / beverages having small bubbles of gas in the drinks. another beverages that also belong to soft drinks are flavored water, iced tea, sweet tea, lemonade, squash, and fruit punch, conversely, beverages which do not classified as soft drinks are: hot chocolate, hot tea, coffee, milk, tap water, fruit juice and milkshakes.

Health effect of carbonated soft drinks: carbonated soft drinks are bad for our teeth because plaque bacteria act upon the sugars in the drinks, leading to tooth decay, moreover, regular drinking of carbonated soft drinks, even the sugar-free varieties, can add considerably to the amount of dental erosion because these drinks are just a solution of carbonic acid [HCO₃], these acidic drinks tend to affect our body's pH level, so that the body will need to neutralize this effect using its stores of calcium, if we are not getting enough calcium in our diet, osteoporosis may develop.

Samples of Soft Drinks: Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Coke. Gatorade thirst quencher.

^[1]. Fizzy Water / Fizzy Drinks [effervescent]: CO₂ gas is forced into the drink at low temperatures under pressure, it dissolves quite well, then the drink is kept under pressure by the closed container, when we open it, the pressure that keeps the bubbles dissolved into the drink goes away, forming the fizz [hissing sound], when the drink is left for too long once that pressure is removed, the CO₂ gas all escapes the liquid, it becomes a flat drink liquid.

Despite using CO₂ gas, CO₂ gas in carbonated soft drink can be made from chemical reaction of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid: NaHCO₃ + 3C₆H₈O₇ è 3H₂O + 3CO₂ + Na₃C₆H₅O₇

Sport Drinks: Hypotonic Drinks, Isotonic Drinks,

Hypertonic Drinks, Ion Supply Drinks.

Electrolytes are commonly found in sports drinks, and in oral rehydration therapy [ORT] - see below additional note ^[2], electrolyte drinks containing sodium and potassium salts replenish the body's water and electrolyte levels after dehydration caused by exercise, diarrhea, vomiting, intoxication or starvation, some sources state that more than sixteen minerals called dietary minerals, are required to support human biochemical processes by serving structural and functional roles as well as electrolytes functions, they are:

Sodium [Na]……......RDA / AI: 1500 mg

Potassium [K]……....RDA / AI: 4700 mg

Calcium [Ca].............RDA / AI: 1000 mg

Magnesium [Mg].......RDA / AI: 420 mg

Zinc [ Zn]..................RDA / AI: 11 mg [trace]

Ion [Fe].....................RDA / AI: 8 mg [trace]

Manganese [Mn].......RDA / AI 2,3 mg [trace]

Copper [Cu].............RDA / AI: 900 μg [trace]

Selenium [Se]……....RDA / AI: 55 μg [trace]

Molybdenum [Mo]....RDA / AI: 45 μg [trace]

Iodine [J₂]……….....RDA / AI: 150 μg [trace]

Chloride [Cl^-]…........RDA / AI: 2300 mg

Phosphorus [P].........RDA / AI: 700 mg

Other trace elements: cobalt, nickel, chromium, floride, sulfur, arsenic, boron, bromine, cadmium, silicon, tungsten, vanadium.

1. Hypotonic drinks are dilute carbohydrate electrolyte solutions which are less concentrated than body fluids and are therefore rapidly absorbed by the body. they begin the rehydration process while simultaneously helping to replenish carbohydrate energy reserves.
2. Isotonic drinks have a similar carbohydrate and electrolyte concentration to the body's own fluids, they are best used later in the recovery process to boost energy intake while still encouraging fluid uptake during the final stages of rehydration. an isotonic drink is a sport drink whose osmolarity^[3] is between 250 mosm / liter to 340 mosm / liter.

^[3]. osmolarity is the concentration of particles in the blood, the similar concentration of particles in the isotonic drink to what is found in the bloodstream, the human body has an average osmorality of 250 mosm / liter to 340 mosm / liter, so that its absorption will be faster and will require less extra energy from the body for its assimilation.

3. Hypertonic drinks are solutions with a higher carbohydrate and electrolyte concentration than the body fluids, in general these types of drinks contain large amounts of carbohydrate and are therefore best used as energy supplements during periods of heavy training, when energy expenditure is likely to be high, if we prefer to drink water alone [plain water] after exercise, it is impossible to achieve adequate rehydration, so solid food which replaces lost of the carbohydrates and electrolytes should be consumed at the same time, but if this is not possible, some form of electrolyte solution is essential to be consumed like hypertonic drinks.

But this does not mean we should never drink water after exercise, we need to take account of our levels of fluid and electrolyte losses, where losses are high and large volumes of fluid need to be consumed in a short period, it is important to consume sodium in combination with carbohydrate and water,

Glucose is a carbohydrate which is stored as glucose in the liver and muscles and is the most efficient source of energy as it requires less oxygen to be burnt than either protein or fat, during exercise, there is in an increased uptake of blood glucose by the muscles, to prevent blood glucose levels falling down, the liver produces glucose from the body carbohydrate stores [glycogen], during hard exercise, carbohydrate can be depleted at a rate of 3-4 grams per minute, if this is sustained for 2 hours or more, a very large fraction of the total body carbohydrate stores will be exhausted and if not to be replaced will result in reduced performance, for complete recovery of the muscle and liver glycogen stores after exercise will normally require 24-48 hours, consuming carbohydrate before, during and after exercise will help prevent blood glucose levels falling too low and help maintain the body's glycogen stores, many athletes cannot consume food before or during exercise and therefore a formulated sport drinks / isotonic drinks that will provide carbohydrate is required.

Samples of Sport Drink: Powerade Sport, Pocari Sweat Isotonic Drink .

Samples of Ion Supply Drinks: Pocari Sweat Ion Supply Drink, Fatigon Hydro⁺ Natural Health Drink.

Energy Drinks :

Energy drinks are soft drinks that provide energy to improve all sorts of physical activity of the drinker, these drinks are designed to increase the drinker's mental alertness and physical performance by the addition of caffeine, amino-acids, vitamins, and herbal supplements which may interact to provide a stimulant effect, the central ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine, energy drinks do not provide food energy [in calories], generally, energy drinks contain amino-acid taurine [effective substance taurine is the fundamental substance of energy drinks], caffeine, vitamin-B groups [B₃, B₅, B₆, B₁₂], other amino-acids like lysine, choline, carnitine, polysccharides like inulins, inositol, and herbs like ginseng [Panax ginseng, family Araliaceae], ginkgo biloba [Ginkgo biloba, family Ginkgoaceae], and sugar / glucose, royal jelly / honey bees [Apis florea, family Apidae] consumption of a single dose energy beverage will not lead to excessive caffeine intake; but consumption of two or more doses of energy beverages in a single day should be cautioned of excessive caffeine intake.

Caffeine [a xanthine derivative]:

Caffeine that belongs to xanthine derivatives, is naturally found in certain leaves, seeds, and fruits of over 60 plants worldwide, the most common sources in the diet are coffee [Coffea arabica / Rubiaceae], tea leaves [Camellia sinensis / Theaceae], cocoa beans [Theobroma cacao / Malvaceae], cola [Cola acuminate / Sterculiaceae], caffeine is the common name for 1,3,7-trimethyl-xanthine, a white powder with intensely bitter taste, will provide a distinctive taste in soft drinks, after ingesting caffeine, it is completely absorbed within 30 to 45 minutes, and its effects substantially diminish within about three hours, it is eventually excreted, so there is no accumulation in the body, caffeine has been shown to affect mood, stamina, the cerebral vascular system, gastric and colonic activity.

Health effect of xanthine containing beverages:

Xanthine containing beverages are widely consumed, have a mild stimulant effect on the central nerves system [CNS], the adverse effects of xanthine containing beverages are due to their caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine content, common adverse effects are: sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, palpitations, and withdrawal headache.

Taurine [a semi-essential amino acid]:

Taurine is semi-essential amino acid, it plays an important role in metabolism, it is nerve function stimulant and accelerator of nerve air transfer, as the stimulator of brain function, it helps to clear away tiredness, improves / increases concentration and movement coordination, improves psychical resistance and stress toleration, it keeps away fatigue, takes away the feeling of exhaustion, taurine is found in the heart muscle, white blood cells, central nerve system, and skeletal muscle, however, when not enough is made in the body, such as during strong exercises, the deficiency can be corrected by supplementation with for example an energy drink.

Inositol [an isomer of glucose]:

Inositol is an isomer of glucose, has traditionally been considered to be vitamin-B substance although it has an uncertain status as a vitamin, deficiency syndrome has not been identified in human, sources of inositol include whole-grain cereals, fruit, and plants, in which it occurs as the hexaphosphate, fytic acid, it also occurs in both vegetables and meats in other forms, the usual daily intake of inositol from the diet is about 1 gram, inositol is an ingredient of numerous vitamin preparations and dietary supplements, inositol is not considered a vitamin itself because it can be synthesised by the body.

Inulins [a polysaccharide / considered to be a fiber]:

Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants, such as from the tubers of Dahlia variabilis, Helianthus tuberosus, and other genera of the family Compositae, they belong to a class of fibers known as fructans, inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and is typically found in roots or rhizomes, most plants which synthesize and store inulins do not store other materials such as starch, inulin is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, it is considered to be a fiber, it is a soluble fiber as opposed to cellulose which is an insoluble fiber.

Choline bitartrate [an amino acid]:

Choline is acetylcholine precursor, it involves in lipid metabolism and acts as a methyl donor in various other metabolic process, choline has traditionally been considered to be a vitamin-B substance although its functions do not justify its classification as a vitamin, choline can be synthesized in the body, sources of choline, which occurs mostly as lecithin include egg-yolk and vegetable and animal fat.

Lysine [an amino acid]:

Lysine is a basic amino acid that is an essential constituent of the diet, lysine acetate and lysine hydrochloride are used as dietary supplements.

Carnitine [a quaternary ammonium compound / a non-essential amino acid]:

Carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound biosynthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine, carnitine is a non-essential amino acid, is found in nearly all cells of the body, in living cells, carnitine is an essential co-factor of fatty acid metabolism, in the heart, liver, and skeletal muscle, it is required for the transport of fatty acids from the cytosol into the mitochondria during the breakdown of lipids / fats for the generation of metabolic energy, carnitine plays a critical role in energy production, it transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria so they can be oxidized / burned to produce energy, it also transports the toxic compounds generated out of this cellular to prevent their accumulation, carnitine is concentrated in tissues like skeletal and cardiac muscle that utilize fatty acids as a dietary fuel, the body makes sufficient carnitine as needed.

L-Carnitine is used for body-building supplement:

L-Carnitine is very similar to the non-essential amino acid carnitine and performs the same functions such as helping to metabolize food into energy, L-Carnitine is an important body-building supplement [in synthetic form] capable of generating a handful of benefits to the muscles and body in general, in its natural form L-carnitine is found in red meat and dairy products.

Sample of Energy Drinks: Kratingdaeng Energy Drink, Kratingdaeng-S Energy Drink, Hemaviton Energy Drink, M-150 Energy Drink,

Additional Note:

^[2] Oral Rehydration Therapy [ORT] & Oral Rehydration Salts [ORS]:

Similar but not the same with sport drinks / ion supply drinks are anti diarrhea re-hydration powders / oral rehydration salts, which are used as main / prime treatment for diarrhea patients to prevent from dehydration, these preparations belong to over the counter medicinal products [OTC-pharmaceuticals], sample of the anti diarrhea re-hydration formulas are as the followings:

Anti-diarrhea Rehydration Powder 1 = Oral Rehydration Salt / ORS-Bicarbonate

Anti-diarrhes Rehydration Powder 2 = Oral Rehydration Salt / ORS-Citrate

A joint WHO/UNICEF statement. Geneva, WHO (1983):

The management of diarrhoea and use of oral rehydration therapy[ORT].

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Bottled Drinking Water

Different variants with the same one aim,

“Healthier consumers”

Mountain Spring Water [Mineral Water], Distilled Drinking Water,

Super Oxygenated Drinking Water, Hexagonal Drinking Water,

Let Consumers freely as well as rationally choose the best.

Drinking Water Sources:

Drinking water comes from surface water and ground water, large-scale water supply systems [municipal water / city running water / tap water], public drinking water supply tend to rely on surface water resources, surface water includes rivers, lakes, streams, and reservoirs / dams, smaller water systems [home private drinking water] tend to use ground water [shallow or deep well], ground water is pumped from wells that are drilled into aquifers, aquifers are geologic formations that contain water, the quantity of water in an aquifer and the water produced by a well depend on the nature of the rock, sand, or soil in the aquifer where the well withdraws water, if we have our own drinking water well, we are responsible for making sure that our water is safe to drink, so private wells should be tested annually for nitrate and bacteria to detect contamination, also test for other contaminants, such as radon gas and pesticides.

Another source for drinking water is mountain spring water / mountain valley spring water / artesian water[*], an aquifer provides the water source for an artesian well, an aquifer is the layer of permeable rock, like limestone, sandstone, that absorbs water from an inlet path at high elevation such as the top of a mountain, the water source might be fed by rains, snowmelts, porous stone is sandwiched between a top and bottom layer of an impermeable substance like clay soil or shale rock / soft rock, this keeps the water pressure high, so that when we get to a point below the entryway of the flow, there is enough pressure to bring the water up, an artesian well allows water to rise to the surface that has traveled through porous rock from a higher elevation, this pump-less well seems due to gravity movement because the pressure that builds up between layers of rock gets relieved when the water finds a path to the open air.

[*] An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater that will flow upward through a well without the need for pumping. Water may even reach the ground surface if the natural pressure is high enough, in which case the well is called a flowing artesian well. An aquifer provides the water for an artesian well. An aquifer is a layer of soft rock, like limestone or sandstone, that absorbs water from an inlet path. Porous stone is confined between impermeable rocks or clay. This keeps the pressure high, so when the water finds an outlet, it overcomes gravity and goes up instead of down.

in-organic chemicals in Drinking Water.

WHO's Guidelines for drinking-water quality, set up in Geneva, 1993, are the international reference point for standard setting and drinking-water safety.

EPA Primary Standard protect drinking water quality by limiting the levels of specific contaminants that can adversely affect public health and are known or anticipated to occur in water, this regulation is legally enforceable standard that applies to public water systems.

EPA Secondary Standard is non enforceable guideline regarding contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects, such as taste, odor, color in drinking water.

Bottled Drinking Water:

Bottled water is not necessarily safer than the tap water:

• EPA sets standards for tap water provided by public water systems,
• Food and Drug Administration sets bottled water standards based on EPA's tap water standards, FDA has adopted EPA standards for tap water as standards for bottled water, standards for contaminants in tap water and bottled water are very similar, bottled water may be no more pure than tap water, this is because there are simply no government standards that require bottled water to be any better.

The FDA describes bottled water as water that is intended for human consumption and that is sealed in bottles or other containers with no added ingredients, except, it may contain a safe and suitable antimicrobial agent, fluoride may also be added within the limits set by the FDA.

FDA also has established regulations specifically for bottled water, including standard of identity regulations, which define different types of bottled water, and standard of quality regulations, which set maximum levels of contaminants (chemical, physical, microbial and radiological) allowed in bottled water.

Each time the EPA establishes a standard for a chemical or microbial contaminants, the FDA either adopts it for bottled water or makes a finding that the standard is not necessary for bottled water in order to protect the public health.

Production of bottled water also must follow the current good manufacturing practices (CGMP) regulations set up and enforced by the FDA. Water must be sampled, analyzed and found to be safe and clean / sanitary, these regulations also require proper plant and equipment design, bottling procedures and record keeping.

Bottled water sources:

1. Artesian well water. water from a well that taps an aquifer / layers of porous rock, sand and earth that contain water, which is under pressure from surrounding upper layers of rock or clay, when tapped, the pressure in the aquifer, commonly called artesian pressure, pushes the water above the level of the aquifer, sometimes to the surface, according to the EPA, water from artesian aquifers often is more pure because the border layers of rock and clay inhibit the movement of the contaminants..

image from FDA website, for illustration purposes only.

2. Mineral water: water from an underground source that contains at least 250 parts per million [250 ppm] total dissolved solids, it should be noted that the minerals and trace elements must come from the source of the underground water itself, they cannot be added from outside sources.
3. Spring water: derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the earth's surface. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring, if some external force is used to collect the water through a borehole, the water must have the same composition and quality as the water that naturally flows to the surface.
4. Well water [shallow or deep]: water from a hole bored or drilled into the ground, which taps into an aquifer.

Water treatments in Bottled Drinking Water manufacturing:

1. Distillation: in this process, water is turned into a vapor, since minerals are too heavy to vaporize, they are left behind, and the vapors are condensed into water again., if comply with US Pharmacopoeia, it can be labeled as purified water ^[1].
2. Water Filters: there are two main types of filters: sediment and activated carbon, the basic concept behind nearly all filters, however, is fairly simple, the contaminants are physically prevented from moving through the filter either by screening them out with very small pores and / or, in the case of carbon filters, by trapping them within the filter matrix by attracting them to the surface of carbon particles, the process of adsorption.
3. Reverse osmosis: water is forced through membranes to remove minerals in the water, absolute 1 micron filtration, water flows through filters that remove particles larger than one micron in size, such as cryptosporidium ^[2] a parasitic protozoan, if comply with US Pharmacopoeia, it can be labeled as purified water.
4. Ozonisation: bottlers of all types of waters typically use ozone gas, an antimicrobial agent, to disinfect the water instead of chlorine [Cl₂], since chlorine can leave residual taste and odor to the water.
5. 
   

^[1]. US Pharmacopoeia 23- 1995: Purified water is water obtained by distillation, ion-exchange treatment, reverse osmosis, or other suitable process, it is prepared from water complying with the regulation of the federal EPA with respect to drinking water, it contain no added substances. pH between 5.0 and 7.0, total solid not more than 0.001 %.

^[2]. Cryptosporidium is a small parasitic organism that infects the small intestine of a variety of mammals, including humans, leading to the illness cryptosporidiosis, cryptosporidium is present in aquatic environments, usually in small numbers, and is found more commonly in surface waters than in ground waters, cryptosporidiosis is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever, cryptosporidium can be transmitted from one infected person to another, from contact with an infected animal or from contaminated food or water.

[ 1 ]. Bottled Mountain Spring Drinking Water [Mineral Water]:

For hundreds, even thousands of years, pure water has flowed beneath the mountains, some of the underground water reservoirs emerge onto the surface as mountain spring water. Water from mountain springs filter up from deep within the earth through layers and layers of sand and stone so that when it finally reaches the surface it has been thoroughly filtered naturally and carries with it the gift of a wide variety of minerals, this is what makes mountain spring water special besides its purity; the balanced mineral content that is so important [vital] to the human body, the water is pure, clear, and free from any bacteria, the water is safe to drink even before processing, the mountain spring water carry balanced levels of the minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and sodium.

The manufacturing process begins with filtering of the mountain spring water to eliminate any large particles carried up from the depths of the earth, the water then goes through the sanitation process to guarantee that it is completely free of any disease cause by bacteria, the water is immediately and hygienically filled into newly created PET food grade material bottles at the time of processing through in-line filling system..

[ 2 ]. Bottled Distilled Pure Drinking Water [Purified Water]:

We need minerals, but the source of minerals for the body is food we eat, not the water we drink, plants have a unique ability to convert inorganic minerals absorbed from the soil and water into organic forms our bodies can use, people have the mistaken belief that essential minerals are derived from water they drink.

Among several types of water, such as: rain water, snow-melt water, raw water, hard water, filtered water, soft water, de-ionized water, boiled and distilled water, only distilled drinking water is pure and virtually free of all contaminates, as a result, distilled water has no taste, no color, no odor, no bacteria, no heavy metals, no acids, no organic minerals, no toxic chemicals, no poisons, in an emergency, boiling is the best way to purify water that is unsafe because of the presence of protozoan parasites or bacteria.

Distillation: in many ways, distillation is the reverse of boiling, to remove impurities from water by distillation, the water is usually boiled in a chamber causing water to vaporize, and the pure steam leaves the non volatile contaminants behind, like salts, sediments, metals and anything that won't boil or evaporate will remain in the distiller and then be removed, the steam moves to a different part of the unit and is cooled until it condenses back into liquid water, the resulting distillate drips into a storage container, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will evaporate and condense with the water vapor, so a vapor trap, carbon filter, or other device must be used along with a distiller to ensure the more complete removal of contaminants including the VOCs.

Advantages of distillation process:

• A good distillation unit produces very pure water, that is one of the few practical ways to remove nitrates, chloride, and other salts that carbon filtration can not remove them.
• Distillation also removes pathogens in the water, mostly by killing and leaving them behind when the water vapor evaporates, if the water is boiled, or heated just short of boiling, pathogens would also be killed.
• As long as the distiller is kept clean and is, working properly the high quality of treated water will be very consistent regardless of the incoming water, no drop [constant] in quality over time.
• No filter cartridges to replace, unless a carbon filter is used to remove VOCs [volatile organic compounds].

Health effects:

Bottled water processed with distillation or reverse osmosis lacks fluoride ions [ F] which are sometimes naturally present in ground water, the drinking of distilled water may conceivably increase the risk of tooth decay due to a lack of fluoride ion element.

[ 3 ]. Bottled Super Oxygenated Drinking Water [Oxygenated Drinking Water]:

Benefit claims by the manufacturer:

• Extra supply of oxygen to the body for overall health improvement
• Enhancement of the brain function for clearer thinking and alertness
• More oxygen to the muscle to increase energy and performance
• More oxygen to skin cells for healthier, younger looking skin
• Enhanced metabolism and waste removal
• Enhancement of the body's ability to fight bacteria and viruses
• Better absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients

The Oxygenated Water assessment:

1. The concept of obtaining significant amounts of oxygen through the digestive system makes a physiological sense as quenching your thirst by inhaling a glass of water into our lungs.
2. The primary way to transport oxygen in the body is bound to hemoglobin in the red blood cells, in normal healthy exercisers, hemoglobin leaving the lungs is already 97 % to 98 % saturated with oxygen, the structure of the circulatory system ensures that any oxygen picked up in the digestive system would go through the lungs before reaching the muscles and other tissues, in the lungs any extra oxygen in the blood will reduce the amount of oxygen transferred to the blood, the final oxygen saturation of the hemoglobin would still be 97 % to 98 %.
3. Oxygenating water has no effect on the body's ability to absorb the oxygen into the bloodstream or transfer it throughout the body.
4. The water that we drink can take up to an hour or more to travel to the intestines where it is absorbed, but the oxygen [O₂] we inhale into our lungs will absorb into our bloodstream almost immediately, so doesn't it make sense to supply oxygen by drinking a glass of water.
5. Oxygenated water makes sense for fishes that have specialized structures for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in an aquatic environment, but not for humans.
6. Similarly to, the human digestive system is designed to absorb water and nutrients, not oxygen.

A single breath of air contains more oxygen than a bottle of oxygenated water, there is no scientific evidence or logical rationale to suggest that drinking super oxygenated water can in any way increase the amount of oxygen in the blood stream, therefore, any potential benefits of super oxygenated water would undoubtedly be attributed to the placebo effect, there's very little reliable evidence to show that super oxygenated water has any significant effect on exercise performance, energy levels, or recovery, this water isn't going to hurt its consumer, but there's no reason to believe it's going to help the consumer substantially.

[ 4 ]. Hexagonal Drinking Water:

Hexagonal water theory:

Dr. Mu Shik Jhon, President of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, and the Honorary Chair-Professor of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and a world authority in water research, is the originator of the hexagonal water theory and has been actively disclosing its relationship with cancers and aging mechanism as well as possible healing effects. Professor Jhon says that here are three different shapes of water.

1. hexagonal hook-shaped,
2. pentagonal hook-shaped,
3. hexagonal chain-shaped,

He confirmed that there are more hexagonal water around the normal protein than around cancerous protein.

Water clusters: the Science

Chemists have long recognized water as a substance having unusual and unique properties that one would not at first sight expect from a small molecule having the formula H₂O. It is generally agreed that the special properties of water stem from the tendency of its molecules to associate, forming short-lived and ever-changing polymeric units that are sometimes described as "clusters", these clusters are more conceptual than physical in nature; they have no directly observable properties, and their transient existence (on the order of picoseconds) does not support an earlier view that water is a mixture of polymers (H₂O)n in which “n” can have a variety of values, instead, the currently favored model of water is one of a loosely-connected network that might best be described as one huge "cluster" whose internal connections are continually undergoing rearrangement.

Penta water: supposed five-molecule clusters of water [water pentamer – polymer formed from 5 molecules of monomer], is a commercially sold brand of bottled water that is claimed by its manufacturer to be structurally different from normal water, it is advertised as the ultimate bottled water, penta process subjects water to high energy sound waves, creating sonoluminescence ^[3] reduces the average size of the water clusters present in liquid water, this supposedly makes it easier for water molecules to pass through cell membranes, it is further claimed that water so treated improves the survivability of cells, the various claims made by Penta are classed as pseudoscience ^[4] by scientists, as they have never been scientifically established, and contradict laws of nature, penta water is filtered water no different from ordinary water.

^[3].Sonoluminescence is a mysterious phenomenon caused when ultrasound waves excite a liquid, creating tiny bubbles which emit light when they collapse. The effect is magnified when the bubbles contain a noble gas. The phrase sonoluminescence means "sound light".

^[4]. Pseudoscience is a methodology, belief, or practice that is claimed to be scientific, or that is made to appear to be scientific, but which does not adhere to an appropriate scientific methodology, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, or otherwise lacks scientific status

3 kinds of Drinking Water Containers:

PET-Bottles #1, PP-Cups #5, PC-Gallons #7

Also Read:

PET / PETE Bottle. its advantages, and its Health issues.
Safely use of Baby Feed Polycarbonate Bottles.
Safely use of Plastic Food Packaging.
Growing up Green, for Healthy Newborn Babies.

Lear more the health benefit of various non-alcoholic commercial drinks: