Mineral water brands have flooded the market. And we, as consumers, often buy the one brand that we like most in terms of label or taste.
But did you know that the different types of mineral water may have a different impact on your health and wellbeing?
Well, this article guides you through all the different types of mineral water and explains their benefits!
So that you can choose the best one for you!
What are the types of mineral water?
Usually, the mineral water is classified based on its mineral content, anions, and cations. For example, if one particular mineral water brand has high calcium content, it is classified as “calcic water.”
That being said, a 2016 review paper in the Official Journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Medicine suggests that there are 8 categories of mineral water, as each of them offers certain health benefits and can be recommended for specific groups of people. [1]
The information below is based on information presented the review paper mentioned above.
Calcic water
(>150 mg calcium/liter)
Calcium (as mineral) is responsible for supporting bone and muscle health, as well as metabolic functions, nerve transmissions, and heart health. [2]
That being said, mineral water with calcium content can be recommended for adolescents, pregnant women, older adults, vegans, and all people who fail to consume enough calcium from their diet. It can also be beneficial to people who have a calcium deficiency to prevent hypertension and osteoporosis.
Bicarbonate water
(>600 mg bicarbonates/liter)
This type of mineral water is alkaline, has low mineral content, and can be associated with many beneficial health properties including:
- Balance body pH (in the gastrointestinal tract)
- Neutralize acid secretion in the body
- Support digestion
- Act as diuretic (prevent fluid and water retention in the body)
As a result, bicarbonate water is often recommended for people who have a slow metabolism or who suffer from frequent acid reflux (stomach acid flows into the food pipe).
Sulphate water
(>200 mg sulphur/liter)
Sulphur is a mineral that you usually get from the proteins in your diet. Consuming enough sulphur is essential to keep your body healthy and functioning properly. That being said, this mineral is associated with health and gastrointestinal health, immune system support, hormone synthesis, cartilage formation, and others. [3]
Sulphate water is often recommended for people who suffer from chronic constipation, troubled digestion, and liver/biliary-related diseases.
Chloride water
(>200mg chloride/liter)
Chloride is essential electrolyte in the blood. People usually supply it through the consumption of salt (sodium chloride), and for that reason, this mineral often goes in combination with sodium. That being said, if your mineral water contains salt, you should be careful with the amount of water you consume as part of your diet (keep in mind that too much of it can lead to hypertension and other related condition).
Nonetheless, chloride water can also be associated with various health benefits, including intestinal health and electrolyte balance. It is often suggested for people who experience digestion issues and troubled gastrointestinal health (like chronic diarrhea).
Magnesiac water
(>50 mg magnesium/liter)
Magnesium is a mineral that plays key role in muscle and bone development, nervous system health, as well as transportation of other minerals like calcium and potassium. [4]
Magnesiac mineral water can promote proper bowel movement and gut health, and are often recommended for people who have digestion issues or suffer from gynecologic pathologies, PMS, menstrual crams, and others.
Fluorurate water
(>1 mg fluoride/liter)
Specialists often recommend fluorurate water consumption only for kids up to 3 years and in fuoride concentrations no higher than 1.5mg/liter. The health benefits of this water may include proper teeth and bones structure development, as well as tooth decay prevention.
However, mineral water rich in fluoride can impose health risks to adults. Adults should avoid fluorurate water, as it may contribute to fluoride toxicity. Signs of such toxicity include the cancer development, weak teeth enamel, and brittle bones.
Ferrous water
(> 1 mg iron/liter)
Iron is essential mineral, electrolyte, and hemoglobin component. It plays important role in tissue, muscle, and bone growth and development, as well as hormone synthesis and nervous function health. [4]
There are two types of ferrous water: sulphate-ferrous and bicarbonate-ferrous. And while the first one does not have significant positive health effects, the bicarbonate ferrous water may have beneficial properties on people who suffer from iron deficiency and anemia, but also who have eating regime poor in iron.
Sodium water
Sodium-rich water (>200 sodium/liter)
As already mentioned, the regular consumption of mineral water containing sodium and chloride can be associated with development of hypertension-related diseases. Therefore, this water is not recommended for people who are at risk of developing, or already have high blood pressure (those include heart disease patients, as well as people with high total and LDL cholesterol levels).
On the other hand, sodium-rich water can be a good option for athletes, as it replenishes the salts in the body, which are lost through sweating. Besides, this mineral water is recommended for people with chronic and acute diarrhea.
Low-sodium water (<20 mg sodium/liter)
This type of mineral water can be suitable for people suffering from hypertension.
How to choose the best mineral water?
When you choose your water, just check the label. The information about the minerals content is shown there, and you can easily see if a particular brand sells ferrous, sodium or another type of water. You can refer to this guide to recognize if a particular water bottle contains high amounts of minerals!