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Minerals in Tap Water – It’s That Healthy

Tap water comes straight from the tap and provides us with essential fluids and minerals. We clarify which minerals are actually dissolved in tap water and how healthy mineral-rich tap water is.

These minerals are found in tap water

Minerals get into the water during the migration through layers of rock and earth. These are inorganic minerals or mineral salts. How many minerals are dissolved in the water varies greatly from region to region, as the mineral content depends on various factors such as temperature and flow rate?

The following minerals, which are important for the body, are usually dissolved in drinking water:

  • Calcium: Elementary component of bones and teeth. This is the mineral that occurs most frequently in the human organism.
  • Magnesium: Important for the heart and circulation, but also crucial for the activation of enzymes and the function of nerve and muscle cells.
  • Potassium: Guarantees heart and muscle activity and are also crucial for water balance.
  • Sodium: Also responsible for regulating the fluid balance in the body.
  • Iron: The most important trace element in connection with blood formation and energy metabolism.
  • Sulfate: Essential mineral in the formation of nails and skin, also aids in digestion.
  • To find out how high the mineral content is in your own tap water, you can have it tested. A sample can be given to a local laboratory. This test can also tell you if your pipes are leaking contaminants into the water.

This is how mineral-rich water affects health

Minerals play an important role in human nutrition and health. But how healthy is mineral-rich water and what is the difference between mineral and tap water?

  • The assumption that a particularly large number of minerals can be found in purchased mineral water is widespread. However, the Stiftung Warentest proved in a test that only eight of the 30 mineral glasses of water tested had a higher value than the tap water richest in minerals.
  • However, the mineral content of tap water varies from region to region. It is therefore difficult to make a definitive statement as to which water is better. There are certain regions in which bottled water performs better than that from the tap.
  • In addition, experts have shown through studies that we usually cover our mineral requirements with what we eat and drink every day without much additional effort. So most of us don’t need to make any specific efforts to get enough minerals.
  • Due to its biophysical structure, tap water contains many mineral compounds that the body finds difficult to absorb. It is assumed that it is only 5 percent of the minerals contained.
  • Minerals are added to mineral water in an already dissolved form, which the body can thus process more easily. So if you have a mineral deficiency, mineral water is a good way to compensate.
  • For most people, however, the question of whether you prefer mineral-rich or mineral-poor water is simply a matter of taste.
  • Drinking a lot is important, so there is a lot to be said for tap water. It’s unbeatably cheap, it’s strictly controlled, you don’t have to lug around heavy bottles and it’s also very resource-efficient because it doesn’t generate any waste.
  • However, the quality of water from the tap depends on many more factors than that of bottled mineral water. The condition of the pipes in your house in particular has a major impact on the water quality. If these are outdated, leaky, or rusty, the water can be contaminated.
  • Even if the water sits in the pipes for too long, germs can develop.
  • If you want to be on the safe side with tap water, you should first let some water run off before you take it out of the tap.
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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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