EZ Clear Water

With the myriad of choices out there, how do you pick one that provides you with hydration, MINUS the hype? Water companies make fancy claims, but think about it: These companies are competing for your attention in a market where there is really no need for additives. Devise a game plan for water that makes waves!

1. Choose water without artificial sweeteners or added . Terms like Aspartame (brand name Nutrasweet), Sucralose (brand name Splenda), are artificial and have no place lurking in your water! Add lemon, lime, a slice of orange or even cucumber to your beverage for refreshment.  Or, choose a bottled water like Metromint (www.metromint.com) that uses mint essence and natural flavorings. Create a splash of flavor by freezing blueberries and raspberries in ice cube trays. Add the frozen berries to sparkling water and serve in fancy glasses for a special occasion.
2. Become Ingredient Savvy. Just as an embellished “beverage” at your local coffee joint can set you back more calories than a hamburger, flavored waters can have calorie and sugar levels that rival soda. Check the ingredients and look for the term “water” without a list of lots of other ingredients.
3. Beverages aren’t Real Food. With the exception of soups and smoothies, beverages do not provide us with a feeling of fullness or satiety, the way a meal does. For example, an ounce of almonds contains 160 calories, 3 gm fiber and 6 gm protein, and can help tide us over between meals. But sip a 160 calorie sugar-infused water and you’re likely to be just as hungry as you were before, if not more. The sugar causes your body to secrete insulin and you may find yourself on a high/low blood sugar rollercoaster.
4. Steer clear of terms that belong in your science textbook. In other words, many waters use coloring, flavors and preservatives that are anything but natural. If you can’t decipher the terminology on the bottle, cruise on to clearer waters. It may surprise you, but preservatives such as sodium benzoate (known to be carcinogenic or cancer-causing) are still used in beverages you find on the grocery store shelf. Scary, huh?
5. Bottled isn’t always Better. Interestingly, bottled water is not necessarily any healthier than tap water, despite what water companies would have you believe. “20/20″ took five bottles of bottled water plus a sample of tap water and sent them to a microbiologist to test for bacteria. Surprisingly, there was no difference between the tap water and the bottled waters.  To help the environment, you might also think about investing in a permanent water bottle such as our stainless steel water bottle. 
6. Sail past the waters with hyped up health claims. Because it is difficult for one water company to distinguish itself from another, companies use clever packaging and fancy words to compete for consumers’ attention. They convince you that you will feel younger, more invigorated, soothed, energized, beautiful, etc. if you drink their water. Now, let’s be realistic. If there exists a fountain of youth, it is simply this: Eat Well, Get Adequate Rest and Exercise and Take Care of Your Spirit.

Sometimes less is more, and with water, this is the case, plain and simple.

This article was written by Brooke Benlifer, R.D.,  for Sheer Balance.

So what are you waiting for? You know your family deserves the best. Check our home page to see which products would work best for you!

Still not convinced? Contact us and we are happy to send you more info. Simply fill in your name and email address on the right and we will keep you up to date on what is happening to your water and other tips/recomendations for you to keep your family healthy.

In 1988, a paper published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the possible roundup of debris on stable areas of the Pacific due to global wave patterns. Charles Moore, an ocean researcher, confirmed its existence in 1997 when he came across vast areas of Pacific waters with unusually high concentration of plastic debris. Since then the Pacific Garbage Patch became a global concern.

The Pacific garbage patch is estimated to be as large as 5%-7% of the whole Pacific ocean and grows at an alarming rate. Studies conducted found a large concentration of plastic particulates on the water samples. These are not seen by the naked eye and plastics do not degrade easily they just disintegrate up to molecular level while retaining their polymer structure. Think of it as fine powdered plastic which seemed to dissolve in water but still remains plastic.

We may think that this is far from our homes but we must also consider the fact that the Earth has 97% salt water and just 3% fresh water. On the 3% fresh water only 1% is available for drinking and human consumption. No matter how we try to prevent it, there are still risks that salt water may combine with our water source especially on coastal areas.

The water cycle involves creating freshwater from vapor through precipitation on land. Millennia of this cycle have created fresh water bodies inland. Aquifers are rocks or any semi-permeable substance that isolate debris and other impurities on fresh water which is accessed through wells and streams. In effect, it’s nature’s way of making sure we drink fresh water.

However there are limitations on how effective these aquifers could function. Overuse of groundwater prevents the natural replenishment of aquifers effectively destroying them. Nowadays, saltwater intrusion on groundwater is becoming a problem for coastal communities.

Global warming is slowly causing the rise of sea level. The rise of sea level is directly proportional to the worsening of salt water intrusion. This was best observed when Hurricane Katrina swept large amounts of saltwater on coastal lands. Agricultural yield and soil productivity were largely affected.

We are not sure yet how much worse has the salt water breached the aquifers. The long term effects are not yet defined. But this is what we know, the Pacific garbage patch is not improving and there will come a time that our water source might have plastic particulates which are relatively toxic and are even considered carcinogens due to the leaching of BPA on the water. For now, let’s just do our best to protect what our families drink and eat by using commercial house filters and living a healthy lifestyle.

**image is from the State of Washington Department of Ecology website

Yes, I found the answer to taking better care of my family’s health. I know you too, will be happy with what I found: the Contamin-Eater Whole House water filtration system by Selecto, Inc., the industry leader in commercial filtration innovationand made right here in the USA. Now they’re available for your home right here at ezclearwater!

Donna Hoffman is the owner of http://www.ezClearwater.com , provider of the highest quality, earth-friendly water purification products for home, office, pool and spa. Our goal is to share products that are “Good to You and Mother Earth Too.”