Dr. Mercola June 19 2004 2,489 views
Researchers may have found a link between infectious disease and drinking bottled water. According to a study of 238 inner-city households in New York, bottled water was linked to doubling the risk of infection. One caveat: Scientists recommended further study to determine if the bottled water was already contaminated or if more than one family member drank from the same bottle. To date, the body of evidence regarding the purity of more than 600 brands of bottled water has been contradictory.
The study was considered to be one of the first focusing on home hygiene, although much research has already been done in nursing homes and day care centers.
Researchers believe the importance of the study is to distinguish which decisions and habits truly prevent the spread of disease and those that have no effect or even promote disease. Along those lines, the survey found products like soaps that use antimicrobial ingredients were no more effective than those that didn’t have them. In fact, the persistent use of antimicrobials could actually boost the growth of drug-resistant bacteria.
The use of bleach and hot water to wash laundry was found to reduce the risk of disease ranging from 25 percent to 30 percent. The study also showed that a water setting between 178 to 194 degrees reduced the infection rate. Unfortunately, most washers are only set to generate temperatures between 78 and 140.
Another potential risk: Households that avoid using bleach and use lower water temperatures due to growth of synthetic, no-iron clothes recommended for washing in cold or warm temperatures only and with no bleach.
Respondents were contacted weekly, monthly and quarterly during the 48-week survey.
Nursing Research May/June 2004;53(3):190-7
Drinking clean water is essential to your health. Nevertheless, there is much debate over how clean bottled water really is. No question, you must drink pure water if you are expecting to gain health benefits. You’re only harming yourself if the water you drink is contaminated. But that doesn’t mean bottled water is necessarily any better.
The reasons I don’t recommend bottled water are pretty simple:
Your best bet to ensure a clean and affordable water source is to filter your water at home. Avoid drinking unfiltered tap water. Chlorine and fluoride, which are added to most municipal water supplies, are toxic chemicals that shouldn’t be consumed in large quantities.
One of the most important steps you should take for the health of yourself and your family is to ensure the safety of your tap water supply. This is an understatement if you, your children, or even your pets ever drink from the tap water supply, but it’s definitely also the case if you cook or clean dishes with, or bathe in, local tap water.
As for antibacterial soaps, they are truly unnecessary and can do far more harm than good.
In fact, this study is another great example of the unintended consequence of antibacterial soaps: They set the table for the creation and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
I’m not advising you or your family to stop washing your hands either. Any good health food store carries simpler chemical-free soaps that are much better for you than antibacterials.
Related Articles:
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Is Your Bottled Water Really Clean?
Drink More Spring or Filtered Water to Improve Every Facet of Your Health
Why I Now Say No to Distilled Water Only
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The Truth About Antibacterial Soaps--And Why You Should Avoid Them