Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
RESEARCH HAS dictated that we should drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Centuries ago man drank mainly from rivers and streams, however, modern living technology has revolutionised drinking water.
The human body is composed of 70 percent liquid and the brain is higher in its water content at about 75 percent. Therefore to maintain its homeostasis (a relatively stable state of equilibrium) our food intake should reflect this liquid ratio. But the average food we consume, are very low in moisture explains nutritionist Dr. Aris La Tham, "Primarily rich proteins, starches, fats, and concentrated sugars, therefore it is readily advisable that we supplement our fluid intake with eight glasses of water daily to maintain the body's proper moisture level," he said.
Today, to replenish daily supply of water humans may choose from filtered, tap (pipe water), bottled or cold (ice-water), and the list continues. However, which of these is most essential? Which should be our eight glasses per day consumption? For these answers, and more on water, Food asked two nutritionists about water is best for drinking.
Filtered water....is water from which a porous device is used to remove impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas. Filtering is the removal of visual particles and matter from water; such as dirt, leaves and critters so it can be properly purified. Filtered water is also often mixed up for purified water, which is the removal of all invisible bacteria, germs and other harmful elements from the water. So, before untreated water is consumed it has to be filtered and then purified.
Tap water ....this is the most available water. Although many persons swear that they would not drink water straight from the tap as they consider it to be impure, corporate public relation manager, at National Water Commission, Charles Buchanan said that Jamaica's water is of top quality. In keeping with local and international standards, water has to be tested to meet potability (water reaching drinkable standard from a health perspective) standards. Standards that have to be met, Buchanan said, are those particularly of World Health Organisation (WHO) Water Standards and that of Jamaica Water Quality Standard that was developed to keep within WHO standards and is monitored by the Ministry of Health. "Within international water circles it is well known that Jamaica has the best around the world. It has been ranked as being among the top five or 10." There is two water sources: underground such as wells and surface sources like rivers and springs. The water, he said, when taken from its sources go through various stages of treatment before its ready to be distributed through pipelines to customers.
UNDERGROUND SOURCES: WELLS
Chlorination
Disinfection
SURFACE SOURCES: RIVERS AND SPRINGS
Screening and aeration
Coagulation
Sedimentation
Disinfection (and a residual amount of chlorine is left in water)
Bottled water.... is everywhere as it's chic to be seen drinking a bottled water. Last September there were 19 registered brands of bottled water in Jamaica passed by the Bureau of Standards. A few of the more popular registered brands are Catherine's Peak, Mivida and WATA. It must be noted that bottled water does not necessarily means that it is spring water. Spring water is just defined by it's origin that is an underground water source. Other types of water, like mineral and purified, are packaged in bottle and sold as bottled water.
The nutritionists say:
Aris Latham...coconut water is best
As to the consumption of additional water in the diet to compensate for the high intake of foods that are extremely low in moisture, the water from the young coconut is by far superior to all other waters, like mineral, filtered, purified, distilled, micronized, spring water-mountain or underground, and others. First of all it is the only one that is living (like mother's milk, it will spoil when exposed to air). When consumed fresh, it is the highest form of electrolytes and its organic minerals will easily assimilate into the blood stream. The coconut tree is nature's distiller, which is activated by solar energy; it pumps water from the earth (primarily mineral rich sea water) through its roots and packs it into hermetically sealed nuts. The coconut water is the only water available to us that is capable of permeating and nourishing all of our cells while bathing and filtering the blood as well (as grandma said: it washes the heart). It also supplies our organism with an electrical charge that stimulates bowel movement. No other water has this capability as they are all dead and they possess minimal health value aside from hydrating our dense diet.
The next best water to young coconut water is rainwater that is collected directly from the sky into a stainless steel or glass container but not from a zinc top roof. Today's techno water, like distilled and micronized, is human's expensive and wasteful efforts to replicate nature's gifts of rainwater and young coconut water. On the topic of expensive waters, the world needs to know the sound business reasoning as to why bottled water, with no value added and minimal investments is almost as expensive as gasoline from petroleum with high value added and intensive capitalisation for super high-tech processing and delivery?
This is an excerpt from Dr. Aris Latham's forthcoming book, 'Aris Latham is RAWSOME, The Sunfired Edible Art Philosophy' debuting in May.
Heather Little-White, nutritionist and lifestyle specialist....
Purified or distilled water is probably the best water to drink. The distillation process is very simple. Distillation removes natural and man-made contaminants by the process of deionization by reverse osmosis. It involves heating water to boiling point, capturing and condensing pure steam to get pure distilled water bottled for consumption. Purified water is free of the taste and smell that would come from contaminants that could lead to toxicity in the body. Most of these types of water are often bottled water, however, consumers can make a choice by reading the labels of the various brands of water.
Persons with HIV/AIDS, and others with weakened immune systems will benefit from purified water, free from microbial contaminants. Pure distilled water is the preferred drinking water among top athletes and sporting bodies. The benefits of purified water are extended if they are used as ice cubes, making beverages and cooking.
