Is mineral water healthier than natural water and purified water?

There are many types of mineral water, natural water and purified water on the market. Is mineral water the healthiest?

The truth: Not really

The main purpose of drinking water is to replenish the body with water. No matter what kind of water you drink for a long time, the health effects are the same.

There are many types of drinking water. Common packaged drinking water can be roughly divided into three categories: purified water, natural water or natural spring water, and mineral water. The mineral content in different drinking water will be slightly different. The most important nutrient that drinking water can provide is water rather than minerals. In other words, whether it contains minerals, what kind of minerals it contains, and how much is the content are not the key factors that determine its health value. As long as it meets the relevant national drinking water hygiene standards, it is qualified drinking water. The World Health Organization points out that the minerals needed by the human body mainly come from daily diet, not drinking water. Because the mineral elements contained in water are trace, even if an adult needs to drink 1500 ml to 2000 ml of water every day, the total amount of minerals that can be provided is far from what the human body needs, let alone cereals, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, meat and other foods. Therefore, a reasonable diet is the best way to supplement minerals.

Author: Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center