Your Bottled Water is Harming You: What You Need to Know About Reverse Osmosis Water

I can still remember my first client who mentioned that her kids just didn’t seem to be thriving. I was working with the mother, but she was sharing concerns about her kids. She happened to mention that they had a reverse osmosis (RO) water filter.

I wasn’t well-versed in water purification methods at the time, but I did know enough to tell her to start adding minerals to their water right away.

As I’ve looked at many Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) results since then, I’ve seen a common trend. Those who use RO water have very low mineral reserves – in addition to symptoms that go along with mineral loss (low energy, food reactions, mood swings, lack of focus, frequent illness, picky eating, and more!). This is especially true for children.

How Do Water Filtration Methods Work?

While my initial advice to those using reverse osmosis is to add trace minerals to the water, the problem and solution go much deeper. In fact, I don’t typically recommend RO water filtration systems to anyone.

Before you panic, let’s look at some different methods of water filtration. There are many. We’ll just touch on a few here.

Carbon Filtration

Activated carbon filters use activated charcoal to pull pollutants from the water as it runs through. This is a budget-friendly solution, though it doesn’t remove all contaminants.

Ceramic Filtration

A ceramic filter functions as you would imagine – the water runs through small pores, trapping larger particles. This is another low-cost solution, though it is limited in what it filters.

Distillation

Distillation is a more labor-intensive process that involves boiling water in order to create steam and then cooled. This process kills bacteria and removes most toxins, however, it is slow and inefficient.

Water Softener

While not always thought of as a filter, a water softener uses ion exchange. In this process, calcium and magnesium are exchanged by sodium ions to soften hard water. This does not, however, filter contaminants.

Sand and Sediment Mesh

This system works like a colander, filtering large particles like clay and rust. Sand and sediment mesh does not, however, purify water.

Ionized Water

Water ionization is performed through electrolysis. In this process, acidic and alkaline water are generated. The alkaline ionized water is used for drinking. Some claim it restores the ph balance of the body. However, it doesn’t necessarily filter contaminants.

Activated Alumina

If you need to remove arsenic, fluoride, or selenium from water, activated alumina could be an option. It is a highly porous ceramic compound that works via adsorption (not absorption). The toxins are actually bonded to the materials in the filter. The concern with this filter is the aluminum. The leaching of aluminum into the water depends on the pH and composition of the treated water.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis filters use semipermeable membranes that only let water molecules through. This captures and removes bacteria, metals, viruses, and chemicals. While purifying water, this process also wastes a lot of water and removes beneficial substances. 

Benefits of Various Water Filtration Methods

Although the filtration options can feel a bit overwhelming, the important thing to remember is just how important water filtration truly is. And it goes way beyond taste!

Sadly, most water today is contaminated. This can include heavy metals (such as arsenic, uranium, and cadmium), bacteria, excess iron and fluoride, chlorine, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and fertilizers. What is in your water will depend on whether you have city water, well water, or another source. Contaminants also vary by geographical location. Some states, for example, tend to have high uranium in the soil and water.

To better assess what type of water filter will meet your family’s needs, a good starting point is getting your water tested. Then you will know what potentially harmful substances need to be removed.

Understanding the Health Effects of Reverse Osmosis

Although water filtration is essential for good health, reverse osmosis should not be at the top of your list.

I once heard a fellow practitioner refer to reverse osmosis water as “dead water.” And it is an apt description. It is true that RO filtration removes all contaminants (metals, chemicals, parasites, etc.). However, it also removes everything that’s good about water, particularly minerals.

Water is one of our best sources of essential minerals. A foundation of good health is hydrating with mineral-rich water. Unfortunately, RO does not provide this.

Ultimately this goes back to your mindset on health. Do you focus on the toxins and what you should remove or restrict? Or do you focus on what you need to add and improve? I call this an expansion mindset (versus contraction). When we overfocus on the negative, we miss out on all the good stuff. That is definitely true when it comes to reverse osmosis water filtration.

Should You Be Concerned About Drinking Reverse Osmosis Water?

You may be reading this and breathing a sigh of relief that you don’t drink RO water. But wait, there’s more.

If you regularly drink bottled water you need to listen up. It turns out that most bottled water is actually RO water!

It makes sense, right? It needs to have a long shelf life. Plus it can’t contain potential impurities that could make people sick. In that respect, RO is the right choice for bottled water manufacturers.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for your family’s drinking water. Just as if you did the filtering at home, bottled water will leave you depleted and lacking key minerals.

I have noticed lately that some bottled waters now have a few minerals added (yes, you have to read the labels even on water bottles!). However, these are poor forms that are not well-utilized by the body. So it doesn’t do much good.

Bottom line – it’s best to skip bottled water most of the time. Periodically at an event when that is what’s offered is OK. But it should not be a regular part of your hydration routine. Plus it’s not good for your budget or the environment! Health, finances, and the environment – three pillars of Kitchen Stewardship^®.

Where I Buy Magnesium

From sleep to morning sickness to constipation to muscle soreness, magnesium works wonders!

I found a gentle, yet effective, magnesium lotion that is safe for kids and a favorite of our whole family. One problem with some magnesium in oil form is those products can hurt sensitive skin or be itchy (yikes)! The Magnesium Lotion shop has a wonderful product that doesn’t burn or itch.

It’s so calming, and you can choose from original or lavender scent. It smells so good and has only ingredients you would want (magnesium oil, apricot oil, mango butter, beeswax), and none that you don’t!

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Alternatives to Reverse Osmosis: Healthier Water Options

If reverse osmosis is not the right choice, then what is? That really depends on your health, your budget, your environment, and what you have access to.

How you choose to filter your tap water will depend on the metals and toxins in your water and soil. Make sure you get a filter that removes most of the contaminants in your water. As mentioned, this requires some testing. But it’s not hard.

A few good options for water filter brands include Berkey, Aquasana, Pure Effect, ProOne, and Radiant Life.

Alternatively, if you have access to fresh spring water that is the best option in my opinion. It is so mineral-rich! Though most will not have this option.

Another popular choice is Fiji water. While not the most cost-effective, it can be helpful to replenish minerals for a season.

RELATED: Hydration Tips and Tricks for Fighting Off Illness

How to Make Reverse Osmosis Water Healthier

For those of you who currently use reverse osmosis to filter your water, I’m sure you are wondering what to do.

First, there is no way to fully overcome the harm done while continuing to use RO filtration. It’s unfortunate, but true. You can’t mimic the natural mineral content of water after it’s been taken out. There are so many trace minerals. We can’t replicate God’s design accurately.

Second, if continuing to use RO is your only option, it is imperative that you add at least some minerals back to all water that is used for drinking or cooking.

You can do this by using trace mineral drops such as Energetix SpectraMin, Cellcore CT Minerals, and Concentrace Trace Mineral Drops. Unrefined sea salt such as Real Salt, Celtic Sea Salt, and Baja Gold can also be used to add minerals to water. However, you do have to be careful to balance it with sufficient potassium. You can read more about balancing electrolytes here.

In order to overcome the loss you may have to use a higher dose of minerals than usual. However, you should start low and gradually increase. You may need to work with a practitioner for mineral balancing. This is especially true for growing kids as they need an abundance of minerals.

For a more intense mineral boost, make your own “smart” water at home!

The Truth About Reverse Osmosis: Health Implications

Is RO ever a good option? It may be helpful in rare cases for short-term use if there are excessive amounts of contaminants in your water. But it shouldn’t be a long-term solution.

Personally, I would take mineral-rich water with a few chemicals over RO water. My body can handle some toxins but it can’t handle a lack of minerals. That is the road to disease.

Do you use reverse osmosis water filtration? Have you noticed any negative impact?