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    • 2 min read

Water Q&A

Heather Bedard, C.H.E.


Let’s go over three of the main questions people ask regarding water:


Is it ok to drink water when I eat?


Water is absorbed through your stomach walls within 20 minutes of drinking it. In some people, drinking water with their meals within this time frame can make them feel full or bloated. The issue with this is that it can be difficult as it is to get the number of calories you need, with the diet that we promote, due to the high fiber content (less calorie dense foods). Drinking water and feeling full before you’ve gotten the nutrients that you need can be counterproductive. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but refraining from drinking water 20-30 minutes before and after eating can help eliminate this concern.


What type of water filter is best?


There are a few major types of water filters that include reverse osmosis, distillation, and carbon filters. Reverse osmosis is not preferred because that type filtering removes all the good minerals from the water. Distillation also boils out all of the impurities including good minerals. You want to find a filtration system that leaves in all the good stuff and takes out that bad. A carbon filter system is a good inexpensive option that will leave your minerals intact. Most, if not all, tap water is contaminated with toxins, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals so it’s very important that you find a good filtration system to use and I, personally, would not drink tap water.


Is bottled water ok to drink?


In 2019 bottled water surpassed soda as the largest beverage market in the US. Many people think that bottled water is safe to drink however, a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group in 2008 identified 38 pollutants in 10 brands of bottled water, and 20% of the brands could not be distinguished from tap water. (1) The EPA also reminds consumers that bottled water claims on labels such as "glacier water" or "mountain water" are not regulated. (2) You do not know if what you are getting from that bottle is actually from a mountain or glacier. Most likely....it isn't. Other statements such as "purified", simply mean that the water has been filtered to remove chemicals and pathogens, but potentially not all microbes. Many bottled water brands are simply packaged tap water and some are fluorinated, however they must state that on the bottle. Other concerns revolve around the leaching of plastics into the water and micro-plastics in the water. More research is being done, but if you are concerned about this and must drink bottled water, it is best to find glass bottles when you can.



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