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Treated water
devoid of calcium and
natural minerals acts as an
active absorber.
It will incease
bodily acidity, the risk of
osteoarthritis, osteoporosis,
hypothyroidism, coronary artery
disease, high blood pressure,
premature aging and
cardiovascular disease.
Hard vs. Soft
Water
The hardness of
water relates to the amount of
calcium, magnesium and sometimes
iron in the water. The more
minerals present, the harder the
water. Soft water may contain
sodium and other minerals or
chemicals; however, it contains
very little calcium, magnesium
or iron. Many people prefer soft
water because it makes soap
lather better, gets clothes
cleaner and leaves less of a
ring around the tub. Some
municipalities and individuals
remove calcium and magnesium,
both essential nutrients, and
add sodium in an ion-exchange
process to soften their water.
The harder the water, the more
sodium that must be added in
exchange for calcium and
magnesium ions to soften the
water. This process has
drawbacks from a nutritional
standpoint.
First, soft water
is more likely to dissolve
certain metals from pipes than
hard water. These metals include
cadmium and lead, which are
potentially toxic. Second, soft
water may be a significant
source of sodium for those who
need to restrict their sodium
intake for health reasons.
Approximately 75 milligrams of
sodium is added to each quart of
water per 10 g.p.g. (grains per
gallon) hardness. Finally, there
is epidemiological evidence to
suggest a lower incidence of
heart disease in communities
with hard water. The
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) doesn't set a mandatory
upper limit for sodium in water,
but suggests an upper limit of
20 milligrams per liter (quart)
to protect individuals on
sodium-restricted diets.
If you use a water
softener, two ways to avoid
excess sodium in drinking water
are:
1) use low sodium bottled water,
and
2) install a separate faucet in
the kitchen with a purifier for
unsoftened water.
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