Bottled water; the secret that makes us thirsty for more

Have you ever wondered what's that "familiar" taste in some bottled water that makes you thirsty for more?  At first glance, it just tastes better (for some unknown reason) and you're just proud that you're drinking water.  But once you understand what's in the water, you'll under stand the power behind the "secret" ingredient; SALT!

Several leading bottled water manufacturers have discovered a compelling way to keep us consuming more water by adding an addictive ingredient to the mix: Salt.  By adding sodium the water becomes slightly flavored with an ingredient that not only provides a tastier product, but a product that makes our thirst hard to satisfy.  Salt is very addictive and destructive if taken in excess.  So what's the harm of a "little" salt in the water?  When we drink more sodium than we realize our body experiences hypertension amongst other problems.   Although the FDA regulates the contents of any packaged food/beverage, including bottled water, it's our responsibility to read the label.  To better understand how to read a label on a bottle of water, visit the FDA's website at  http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm046894.htm).

To gain a better understanding of the "how and why" bottled water is produced using certain products and methods read the following article from "Go ask Alice" at http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2007.htmld water.  Below is an excerpt from this website regarding the types of water, of which some we commonly consume:

Artesian water is obtained from a well that gets its water from a confined aquifer (a water bearing rock, rock formation, or group of rocks) and whose water level must be higher than the natural water table.

Distilled water is the product of distillation, which involves evaporating and condensing water so that it no longer contains dissolved minerals.

Purified water is produced by suitable processes that meet the U.S. Pharmacopoeia standards for purified water, including distillation, deionization (passing water through resins that remove most of the dissolved minerals), or reverse osmosis (the use of membrane filters to remove dissolved solids).

Spring water is obtained from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface, or would if it were not collected underground through a borehole where a spring emerges. If an aquifer were tapped (a hole is bored, drilled, or constructed in any other way), the resulting water would be called "well" water.

Mineral water must originate from a protected underground water source and contain at least 250 parts per million in total dissolved minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, etc.

It's very important to become aware of sodium, when and where it exists in our food and beverage products, and how much we're really consuming on a daily basis.  The average sodium intake of an individual needs to be between no more than 2400 milligrams per day (that's about 1 teaspoon of salt!).  While we need sodium for our muscles and part of our nervous system, we need to keep the level of sodium we intake reasonable versus excessive.  Excessive sodium simply leads to poor health (high blood pressure) and inadequate amounts of sodium cause a decrease in blood volume.  The average person consumes about 3300 milligrams per day of sodium, which causes bloating/water retention and high blood pressure. 

My "7-21 Day Diet and Wellness Guide" program is designed to help you detoxify your system (of excessive sodium and toxins, cravings) while restoring/rebuilding and renewing your body, mind and spirit for complete wellness.  Visit http://www.prayfasteatlive.com/store.html  to order a copy of the "Wellness Guide; four steps to freedom, unlocking the door to change" and receive a free "7-21 Day Diet" plan to help you learn how to reach your goal of reaching a wellness that lasts a lifetime.

When you learn to read the labels, ask the chef preparing your food and take control of your eating habits you take charge of your health and wellness.  In the end, you win!