Are you drinking 2 litres water per day?
This is the average recommendation for all adults – even more if you are doing heavy exercise, its hot or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Simple water is the best drink you can possibly have. It not only truly quenches thirst but it keeps our skin and body young, helps us maintain our body temperature, helps with memory and concentration (80% of our brain is water!) and transports all the minerals, vitamins and other nutrients around our bodies…. Not bad!
Not getting enough on the other hand makes us dehydrated, tired, can result in stomach and headaches, lack of concentration, bad breath, urinary infections, constipation…
Which water should I drink?
Tap water is the most controlled and tested substance that we consume… 60 criterion of quality - therefore it is absolutely no problem to drink the water from your tap.
Is bottled water not healthier?
Not according to me or this little film: The Story of Bottled Water
But sometimes it tastes funny…
Tap water is a natural product whose taste can vary. Sometimes an inoffensive amount of chlorine is added to stabilise bacteria and it may have a slight chlorine smell. But chlorine is volatile and evaporates off when the water is poured into a jug or carafe with a large opening, so try pouring your water out a few minutes before you drink it.
Also water can differ in levels of calcium, magnesium, iron etc. – this will have an influence on taste (same with bottled water). Careful - bottled water also contains much more salt (sodium).
If you need some time to adjust to the taste (taste buds change very fast), add a slice of lemon or cucumber or a few mint leaves to your water.
My tap water looks milky
Milky coloured water comes from tiny air bubbles and depends on the pressure and temperature of the water. Again leave for a minute and they will disappear.
Should I filter?
Filtering water reduces its quality… the filter, if not changed regularly enough, can become a bacteria nest, that could irritate stomach and intestines.
Water in Brussels is so hard – should I use a softener?
Softeners on taps take out the magnesium and calcium and replaces with sodium – not good for heart, arteries and blood pressure. Don’t worry your body temperature is not the same as the temperature you heat your kettle to - your insides will not look like the inside of your kettle! Hard water is high in magnesium and other minerals and actually is much better for your health than soft water.
Not yet convinced?
Drinking 1,5 litres of tap water per day costs you less than 2 euros PER YEAR!!
How does that compare to buying bottled water? A 1,5 litre bottle of water will cost on average 2 euros (depending on whether in the supermarket or in the restaurant). Drinking from your tap is saving you over 700 euros a year - not to mention the added costs on the environment of all that plastic.
For a family of four - that’s a pretty big budget!
So go on - why not make that switch to the wonderful tap water?