We\u2019re told time and time again about the importance of staying hydrated \u2013 which, to be fair, is pretty reasonable considering that we need water to stay alive. But does the type of water that we drink matter?<\/p>\n
Of course not \u2013 water\u2019s just water, right? Not if you take a wander down the bottled drinks aisle. There you can often find all kinds of water: mineral, vitamin, alkaline, electrolyte. There\u2019s tap water back home, of course, but some corners of the internet will tell you that one of the bottles in the confusing array at the grocery store is far better for you.<\/p>\n
Save your pennies \u2013 it\u2019s not. \u201cThere’s no physiological basis that there’s some metabolic benefit to these specialty waters over just regular, plain old water,\u201d Roger Fielding, professor of biochemical and molecular nutrition at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, told TuftsNow<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, what is it about these different types of water that\u2019s led people to perceive one as \u201cbetter\u201d than the others?<\/p>\n Alkaline water<\/p>\n One draw is the possibility of more effective hydration. For example, it\u2019s often claimed that alkaline water \u2013 a type of water with a higher-than-normal pH \u2013 is more hydrating than regular water. If you\u2019re someone who\u2019s always forgetting to drink, that would come in pretty handy.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, there doesn\u2019t seem to be any truth to such claims. As of yet, there\u2019s no strong scientific evidence<\/a> to suggest that alkaline water is any more hydrating than any other type of drinking water, nor is there enough to demonstrate that it has any other significant health benefits. It probably isn\u2019t going to cause any harm for most people either, but it\u2019s not really worth the extra money if tap water does the same job.<\/p>\n Vitamins and minerals<\/p>\n With mineral and vitamin water, the appeal might lie in a quick and easy way to get in these essentials, but the amount isn\u2019t always guaranteed. While the Food and Drug Administration stipulates<\/a> that mineral water must contain at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids, beyond that, the amount can vary widely. Tap water can also contain minerals (including fluoride<\/a>), and again, how much can differ<\/a> depending on where you live.<\/p>\n If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s likely best to just drink whatever\u2019s cheapest and do what\u2019s normally recommended for most people to get enough minerals \u2013 eat a varied and balanced diet<\/a>. It\u2019s a similar story for vitamin water; tap water doesn\u2019t have added vitamins<\/a>, but most people will get what they need through regular ol\u2019 food anyway.<\/p>\n Electrolyte water<\/p>\n A post-workout electrolyte drink might seem like a better choice than tap water after all that sweating<\/a>, but according to Fielding, it\u2019s \u201cvery difficult to induce an electrolyte deficiency\u201d, even if you\u2019re a top athlete.<\/p>\n \u201cThe electrolyte concentrations inside our cells, and also in the fluids that are outside our cells, like the blood for example, are very tightly controlled and regulated,\u201d said Fielding. \u201cThat\u2019s because they have an impact on how our muscles function, how our kidneys work, and how our hearts sort of beat 72 times every minute. So, increasing the electrolyte concentrations by consuming a beverage is not going to influence the overall electrolyte concentrations in our bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n Stay hydrated<\/p>\n The bottom line? Bottled water with fancy additions isn\u2019t necessarily any better for you than regular tap water \u2013 but if that\u2019s what keeps you drinking<\/a>, it really doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n As Fielding put it: \u201cIf you have a preference for a beverage and that’s going to make you drink more and you\u2019ll be more attentive to rehydrating with that beverage, and you have the resources to purchase that beverage, well, have at it.\u201d<\/p>\n