THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF DRINKING SPRING WATER
The consumption of bottle water has increased by 400% (2) in United States and Canada alone, and the worldwide market of bottle water is worth over US $5.7 billion (4). Bottle water has taken an important role in the diet of North Americans, because most people believe that it is micro-biologically and nutritionally superior then tap water. Several health benefits have been attributed to the mineral and trace element content of spring waters. However, it cannot be assumed that all bottle waters provide the same health benefits due to the variation in their mineral content from manufacturer to manufacturer. The objective of this report was to identify the potential benefits of our spring water (Jackson Springs Natural Premium Spring Water) in the human body in terms of mineral composition.
1. Water for Life
Water is essential to human life. Approximately 60% of the total weight of most individuals is water. Water is involved in most body functions, regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body, moistening oxygen for breathing and helping the body absorb and synthesized essential nutrients. Our bodies need a certain amount of water intake on a daily basis to function appropriately; the minimum amount is about one liter. Water requirements vary with activity and age, but most active persons need two to three times the basic amount. Basic fluid intake serves to replace the fluids which are required to perform our normal body functions. If we consume less or lose more fluid than needed, the net result is dehydration. More generally, dehydration is referred to as “the excessive loss of water from the body.” The fluid loss may even be severe enough to become life-threatening.
2. Spring Water Consumption and Health Implications
Spring water is defined by the Canadian Bottle Association as natural water which shall be collected from an underground source and have total dissolved solids content not exceeding 500 ppm. Spring water is characterized by its purity at source, its content of minerals and trace elements (3). Magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium are the main minerals found in spring waters (2,8). The World Health Organization (8) stated that the incidence of osteoporosis and heart diseases might be notably reduced by drinking waters with reasonable concentrations of magnesium and calcium. However the consumption of spring waters with high content of sodium may induce hypertension in some populations. (2) Jackson Springs Natural Premium Spring Water is sodium-free.
2.1 Minerals significance
2.1.1 Magnesium: Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is presented in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong (5). It is estimated that the body requires between 220 and 410 mg of magnesium on a daily basis. Studies have shown that some populations in North America do not meet the daily requirements of magnesium consumption (6). Magnesium deficiency may encourage coronary artery vasospasms, leading to myocardial ischemia and sudden death (1).
2.1.2 Calcium: The standard adult’s weight is made up of about two per cent calcium. The bulk of this mineral is found in the skeleton and teeth; the rest is stored in the tissues or blood. Calcium is vital for healthy teeth and bones and also plays a crucial role in a range of body functions, such as the health and functioning of nerves and muscle tissue. As we age, the skeleton loses calcium. Women lose the most calcium from their bones in the five years around the age of menopause. However, both men and women lose bone mass as they grow older and should increase the amount of calcium in their diet (800 mg per day). Low intakes of Ca, contribute to rickets in children and osteoporosis in women worldwide (8). A diet high in calcium cannot reverse age-related bone loss but it can slow down the process.
2.1.3 Sodium: In the human body, sodium is an electrolyte that plays an essential role in regulation of fluids and blood pressure. Many studies in diverse populations have shown that a high sodium intake is associated with higher blood pressure.
However, most evidence suggests that many people at risk for high blood pressure reduce their chances of developing this condition by consuming less salt or sodium (7). The average sodium intake in North America is estimated to be between 4000 and 6000 mg. per day. The American Heart Association has recommended reducing the intake levels to less than 3000 mg per day (2).
3. Jackson Springs – The Healthier Spring Water
Garzon and Eisenberg (1) analyzed the content of magnesium, sodium and calcium in 48 commercially available European and North American spring waters. They found a great variation in their mineral content with ranges from 0 to 126 mg per liter for magnesium, from 0 to 1200 mg per liter for sodium, and 0 to 546 mg per liter for calcium. Since the mineral content of spring water varies remarkably, it would be erroneous to state that all spring waters are beneficial to human health.
A recent mineral analysis showed that “Jackson Springs Premium Spring Water” had four times as much magnesium as the median concentration found in 28 North American spring waters (2) (Table 1). In addition, the concentration of calcium was five times higher in Jackson Springs Water than that detected in the same number of North America Spring waters.
Drinking “Jackson Springs Natural Premium Spring Water,” which is high in magnesium and calcium, may help individuals achieve the recommended daily allowances of these essential minerals. Furthermore, there is a substantial body of epidemiological data supporting the inverse relationship between calcium and magnesium concentrations in drinking water and ischemic heart disease mortality (8). Similarly, consumption of “Jackson Springs” waters rich in calcium and magnesium may also provide the same health benefits in our consumers. Consumption of “Jackson Springs Natural Premium Spring Water” have the added benefit of having50% less sodium than the median North American Spring water (2), thereby reducing the intake of sodium while gaining the benefits of a spring water, a health benefit particularly important in people with hypertension conditions.
The high calcium, magnesium and low sodium concentrations of our spring water qualify it as ideal because these mineral proportions maximize the potential beneficial effects of our product on human health (2). In keeping with the study of Garzon and Eisenberg (1) and the mineral contents of our water, it can be said that Jackson Springs Natural Premium Spring Water is the best consumer choice taking in consideration of the potential benefits associated with its consumption.
