Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Water Misgivings...

I'm sure you all have seen it, you know the image: Cool college student, slim trim ahtletic build, talking and laughing with friends, and chug-a-lugging any one of the numerous branded bottled waters; and if they are particularly chic and sophisticated, then they have the fruit-flavoured variety for just a few cents more.

Okay, I'll be honest with you, I just dont get this bottled-water thing. I've never gotten it. I mean do we really need to drink soooooooooooo much water. Yes, I know it's about 75% of our body make up and so forth, but I just don't think it's natural to be constantly satiated with water... unless you're a fish.



Sidi Hakim Archuletta did a seminar in the DC area, and naturopathically speaking, drinking so much water is unnatural and in some cases dangerous. A couple of years ago, a police officer/cyclist actually died from overhydration. According to Sidi Hakim, previously, humans never took in as much water as we do now; it's become an image thing.

In addition to this -- and although I realize the concerns regarding the DC-area tap-water supply -- it may just be best to use a filter attached to the tap. I do realize that in certain parts of the world, it is better to drink the bottled water rather than the tap water even with a filter; but honestly speaking, we don't live there.

So consider careful consumption; substituting the bottle of water with foods that are high in water (specifically fruits and vegetables coz everyone needs their greens anyway!); and try kicking the water bottle habit...because it's not just about the water, it's about the bottle too...

Finally, something I came across this morning: talk about wasteful consumption, here comes Bling H20 at $55 a pop!...Funny thing is, most people during a blind taste test preferred Manhattan tap water to Bling H20...perhaps image is everything...truth be told though, that bottle looks kinda cool...Swarovski crystals and all.

So drink up if you must, but instead of a bottle, use a non-disposable cup! :)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do drink about 8 glasses of water a day, more if I am working out. As for the bottled water. I am not about to continue to through out one plastic bottle after another. Normally I buy one liter bottle and then refill it with filtered water from my tap. I do drink about 8 glasses of water a day, more if it is workout day. I do notice a difference when I do not drink an adequate amount of water as it influences my memory, my hunger.

Here's my question. Are people really drinking that much water? From what I understand the majority of society does not drink enough water and a lot of people are dehydrated.

Also like the idea of eating water enriched fruits and veggies. Go Veggies!

Omaira said...

See, here is the thing: sensible intake and moderation. Many people require more water depending on their lifestyle, and others require less. Adequate water is important to sustain human life.

What is being constantly promoted is that we need SO MUCH LIQUID water. And it makes sense, right, coz we're made up of mostly water. This works for advertisers because who is going to argue with a scientific fact.

For me, till Sidi Hakim's seminar, and news of the officer who died I didnt realize the extent to which overhydration could be harmful.

Add the water bottles that litter everywhere and you've got a pretty serious problem emerging...

I think also we need to start thinking of ways of cleaning up our current water supply, and not being so wasteful with it in the first place...

I'm sure you guys know a lot more than me about this, but there is just a lot to consider with water and it's place in any society...

Anonymous said...

I think Omaira you have it right. The really solution is looking at how we can clean up our water supply. Do you guys remember where the entire bottled water think started from?

Sanjana said...

one of the things that i find amazing about fresh water supplies around the world is that there is more than enough water for the current human population but it is quite unevenly distributed. with climate change, the challenge of providing fresh water is expected to get much worse. (see this report on adaptation and this on the ogallala aquifer - possibility of another dust bowl?)

the bottled water industry has been getting a bad rap as of late. i think they've perpetuated this "myth" that bottled water is better than tap. but generally large public water supplies in the US are pretty good/clean in the first place, even though they might not taste the same. but i hate the taste of bottled water, ew.

Anonymous said...

I preferr the taste of my filtered water (yummy).

Isn't it interesting that there is always more than enough. I mean when looking at the natural world there is always abundance. A few people I know who garden tell me that they can feed themselves from their gardens for 6 to 7 months. I went to visit a comminity garden two weeks ago and was blown away by how much one small tomatoe plant was growning and continued to grow.

Sanjana said...

http://www.thinkoutsidethebottle.org/