What are the Harms of Purified Water?
We all know how important it is to drink 7-8 glasses of water a day. It is only natural that we question the harms of something we consume so often, namely purified water, and the quality of water in general.
Taking the self-filtration of natural spring water as an example, water purification technologies aim to purify water by filtering out unwanted substances. Especially today, when water resources are limited, these methods have become increasingly important. The idea of purifying the water flowing from the tap in our homes in a practical way and making it drinkable has become possible with these technologies.
These are the topics we will cover in this article:
- Why Do We Need Water Treatment?
- What Does Water Treatment Mean?
- What are the Possible Hazards of Purified Water?
- What should we pay attention to when using water purifiers?
- Does Purified Water Cause Cancer?
- Does Purified Water Cause Diarrhea?
- Does purified water cause bloating?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do We Need Water Treatment?
Today, technological devices are among our priorities, saving time and offering practical solutions. When choosing these devices, the time savings and practicality they offer have become an important reason for preference as well as their health. Since we cannot drink tap water directly in most cities, we turn to water purification methods. However, while purifying water, we should also investigate the potential harms of purified water.
It is a great comfort to have access to purified and potable water flowing from the tap. Using purified water is a method we often prefer because it is both convenient and economical. Especially since the 1990s, the increasing market of water purifier devices has been affecting us in this regard. When the benefits and harms of purified water are compared, practical use and time saving are the most decisive factors.
What Does Water Treatment Mean?
In our age, access to healthy water is becoming increasingly difficult. Various methods are being tried to find solutions to this situation, and one of them is to clean the water flowing from the tap with purification devices. Considering that experts emphasize that it is vital to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, it is better understood how critical it is to consume healthy water.
What are the Possible Hazards of Purified Water?
The minerals and vitamins in the water we drink are of great importance for its quality. When discussing the harms of water treatment, the most common issue that comes up is the removal of both good and bad minerals from the water. In addition, it is noteworthy that the vitamins in the water are also destroyed or reduced. With the disruption of the natural mineral and vitamin balance of water, the water actually becomes artificial. The most basic harm of purified water starts right at this point. Inadequate mineral and vitamin intake can lead to serious health problems in the body. Experts have observed that consumption of purified water can trigger various ailments or exacerbate existing problems.
The most vital organ that comes to mind when we think of water is the kidneys, and we often wonder about the effects of purified water on kidney health. If we consume purified water for a long time and alone, we cannot get enough minerals and vitamins that are necessary for our body. If we do not support or supplement these deficiencies with different types of nutrition, our kidney health can be seriously damaged. Especially people with kidney disease should consult their doctor before using purified water.
Long-term consumption of purified water can also negatively affect our bone health. This water, which has been stripped of all its healthy minerals, can lead to tooth decay and bone resorption because it cannot meet the minerals that bones need. It can even affect the bone structure of growing children and cause growth retardation.
Purified water, which has become a one-way “mineral store”, can also pose a risk to cardiovascular health. When the mineral and vitamin balance in water is disturbed, the incidence of diseases such as hypertension may increase.
Purified water also lowers the pH value of the water. A decrease in pH value causes the water to become acidic. Acidic water can cause digestive and metabolic disorders.
Among the harms of purified water is the destruction of chlorine, which de-microbializes water. Water that is deficient in chlorine is enriched in bacteria and germs. This can invite diseases transmitted by bacteria and germs.
The plastics and chemicals used in the filtration systems of treatment devices can contain carcinogens. These substances can trigger breast, uterine and prostate cancer. They can also damage the hormone balance in the human body and lead to thyroid disorders.
Another harm of using purified water for a long time is that it affects the electrolyte balance in the body. Purifiers can separate oxygen and hydrogen when purifying water, which disrupts the electrolyte balance of water. People who consume purified water for a long period of time in this way may suffer from water toxicity (poisoning).
Use of Water Purifiers
Water purifiers provide great convenience in our homes with their practical use. However, in order to minimize the potential damages of purified water, it is essential to pay attention to some important points during the selection and use of the device.
When buying a purifier, you should check whether your kitchen is suitable for a healthy and practical installation. During the installation of the device, it is important that your kitchen installation and countertop are examined by the company and that the right decisions are made in this process.
When choosing the device, you should investigate how well it filters the minerals and vitamins in the water. While doing this research, you should check whether the device has been inspected and approved by the Ministry of Health.
The biggest advantage of purifiers is that they meet the need for potable water for a long time. However, an important detail that consumers often neglect is not keeping track of filter change times. Filters that are not cleaned or replaced for a long time seriously reduce water quality; many experts even warn that this water can turn into “poisonous water”. Unchanged filters can cause germs, fungi and viruses to grow inside the appliance and these can get into the water. In addition, the fact that filter replacement costs are quite high in some companies can cause this solution, which initially seems economical, to become expensive over time. It is also advisable to test the quality of the water taken from the water purifier you will have installed in your home in the relevant laboratories.
Does Purified Water Cause Cancer?
Consumption of purified water does not directly cause cancer. However, some plastic products and carcinogenic substances can be found in the filtration systems of purifiers. As a result of the contact of these plastic materials with water, carcinogenic components can enter our body by mixing with water.
Long-term consumption of these carcinogenic plastics in purifiers can increase the risk of breast cancer. It can also increase the risk of other types of cancer, such as prostate cancer and uterine cancer. These plastics can lead not only to the formation of cancer cells, but also to hormonal disorders. Continuous exposure to carcinogens in water is very dangerous and people who consume this water regularly may have an increased risk of cancer. To summarize, treated water itself does not cause cancer, but if the plastic materials used in treatment systems get into the water, there may be a risk of cancer.
Does Purified Water Cause Diarrhea?
While there are many known harms of drinking purified water, diarrhea is not one of them. Diarrhea is usually related to the intestinal flora, and harmful bacteria that enter the intestines cause diarrhea. The process of purifying water removes the harmful bacteria from the water. Therefore, purified water is unlikely to cause diarrhea. However, it is important to remember that during water purification, beneficial bacteria are destroyed along with harmful bacteria. So, while purified water does not harm the intestines, it may not have any obvious benefits either.
Does purified water cause bloating?
In general, excessive consumption of fluids or food can cause abdominal bloating. A similar bloating condition can be seen in the consumption of purified water. It is necessary to consume mineralized water to prevent bloating. However, since purified water does not contain enough vitamins and minerals, it can cause bloating and does not help relieve bloating.
Consuming purified water alone may not immediately cause bloating. However, continuous consumption of purified water can damage a person's digestive system. Due to digestive problems, people may experience constant bloating. Therefore, it is useful to avoid consuming purified water continuously and alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the healthiest water?
We consume many different types of water such as purified water, instant water, spring water and tap water. Natural spring water is undoubtedly the healthiest. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find clean natural spring water due to environmental pollution.
Purifiers can cause serious health problems by lowering the pH of water and reducing the minerals and vitamins it contains. In addition, in some cities, substances such as arsenic from old mains pipes can make water toxic.
Is Purified Water Harmful?
Many experts have observed that long-term and uniform use of purified water has negative effects on our bodies. One of the main harms of water purification is the decrease in the mineral-vitamin value and pH balance in the water. Disruption of this natural balance of water can lead to serious health problems.
Are There Benefits of Purified Water?
There are also some known benefits of using purified water. Purified water removes harmful bacteria, which greatly reduces the intake of harmful bacteria into the body. In addition, purified water has a clearer structure than normal water, which prevents the consumption of turbid water. Treatment systems connected to taps also offer some economic advantages; since purified water can be consumed directly from the tap, the need to constantly buy water from outside is eliminated.
By purifying the water, the hardness of the water is also reduced and a softer water consumption is ensured. Substances such as small grains of sand and mud in the water are also cleaned thanks to the purification system. Such impurities can cause people to get sick, as well as some chronic diseases are known to occur due to this situation. Water purification can help prevent these chronic diseases. However, it is important to remember that while harmful substances are destroyed during water treatment, useful ones are also destroyed.
What are the Benefits of Purified Water Consumption for Skin?
Some purification systems help to purify tap water, not only for drinking, but also for washing dishes, showering and many other processes with water. Showering with purified water has been shown to have some benefits for the skin. Washing with purified water can greatly reduce the problem of hair loss. It also contributes to the skin gaining a more vibrant and fresh appearance. Especially for people with dry skin problems, washing with purified water can help moisturize their skin.
Is Purified Water Useful in the Kitchen?
Brewing tea with purified water can be very advantageous. The most important reason for this is that purified water does not cause calcification. Thus, teapots or coffee pots do not scale. It is also possible to use purified water for food preparation; there is no change in taste or odor. Purified water can also be used to prevent calcification in other electronic devices that require water (e.g. irons).