Mineral Water

Mineral Water

is water that contains minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it a therapeutic value. Salts, sulfur compounds and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in water. Mineral water can be prepared or can be produced naturally.

Traditionally, mineral water was used or consumed directly from its source, which was commonly known as taking the waters or taking the cure, and such sites were referred to as spas, baths or wells. Spa was used when water was consumed and used in baths, baths when water was not widely consumed, and well when water was not generally used in baths. Frequently an active tourist center would grow around a site of mineral waters (even in ancient times, see Bath). Such tourist developments resulted in spa towns and hydrophonic hotels (usually abbreviated as Hydros).

In modern times, it is much more common for mineral waters to be bottled in the source and distributed for consumption. Traveling to mineral water sources for direct access to them is now uncommon, and in many cases is not possible (due to exclusive commercial property rights). There are more than 3000 mineral water brands commercially available worldwide.

Origin

The mineral water is that which is extracted from the subsoil already mineralized naturally from its origin, due to the materials through which it crosses and, the deeper the source is, the purer it will be. This is because it is further away from micro-biological and chemical contamination of the earth's surface. The biggest differences we can find between a natural water and a mineral water are the taste, the smell and its mineral content. These characteristics are provided by the rocks and sands by which, in most cases, they are filtered and give a unique and special touch depending on the area from which it is extracted.

Mineral contents

Slightly carbonated mineral water.
Source of ferruginous water.

According to its mineral content water is classified as:

Mineralization very weak: Its dry residue (total minerals present) is up to 50 mg / l.
Mineralization weak: They are those that contain less than 500 mg / l.
Strong Mineralization: Contains more than 1500 mg / l dry residue.
Bicarbonate: Contains more than 600 mg / l of bicarbonates.
Sulfated: Contains more than 200 mg / l of sulfates.
Chloride: It has more than 200 mg / l of chloride.
Calcium: Contains more than 150 mg / l of calcium.
Ferruginous: Contains more than 1 mg / l of iron.
Acid: Contains more than 250 mg / l of CO2.
Sodium: It has a content higher than 200 mg / l sodium.
Magnesium: Its content exceeds 50 mg / l of magnesium.
Fluorinated: Contains more than 1 mg / l of fluoride.

Benefits to the human being

Benefits that these minerals contribute to our body:

Calcium: Helps strengthen bones and teeth. It also helps give muscle tone and controls nervous irritability.
Magnesium: Helps muscle relaxation, it is a soothing and energizing natural, also participates in the energy balance of neurons, thus keeping the nervous system healthy. Helps to fix calcium and phosphorus in teeth and bones is involved in hormonal balance, helps prevent cardiovascular disease, optimal relaxation and sleep, and control intestinal flora.
Sodium: it is very important in the cellular metabolism, it participates in the transmissions of nerve impulses and in the muscular contractions.
Iron: Helps correct tissue oxygenation and helps oxygenate cells.
Chloride: It participates in the transportation of oxygen to the cells, maintains the correct pH level in the gastric juices and stabilizes the body fluids.
Fluoride: Strengthens the enamel preventing diseases of the teeth. The excess of this compound is toxic and can cause fluorosis, with the opposite effect to the one we were looking for, as it weakens the enamel (causing more cavities), and weakens our bones (decalcification and osteoporosis).
Bicarbonate: They aid digestion and neutralize gastric secretion.
Sulfates: They help the digestive system in general and the skin.
Potassium: Does not generate a notable benefit due to its small amount.

Industry

Natural mineral water is currently being used as a luxury product since, in addition to the different origins and forms of extraction, the industry is taking advantage of to give it a touch of exclusivity through its design bottles.

Controversy

Many companies dedicated to the extraction, manufacture and exploitation of this natural resource, are giving false testimonies of the origin, properties and specific classification of its product. Some companies may name their product as mineral water, being that they are actually bottling "purified water", there being a great difference between them.2

Notes

In many Spanish-speaking countries the term "mineral water" is commonly used to refer to "purified water," "demineralized water," or "still water." Precisely, mineral water contains these minerals that characterize it and produce the gas in the water. If the gas is removed from the mineral water it is left with a different flavor to "purified water" or "demineralized water". The correct way to refer to water is "mineral water" if you want to drink sparkling water or "purified water, demineralized or simply water" to refer to the still water.